Casablanca Valley

Casablanca is Chile's coolest established quality region, sitting between Santiago and the Pacific port of Valparaíso. The Humboldt Current pulls cold ocean air inland through morning fog and reliable afternoon breezes, producing crisp Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay plus credible cool-climate Pinot Noir. The valley is a relatively young region and growth has been rapid since the 1980s.

Famous appellations

• Casablanca DO

History

Pablo Morandé planted the first Casablanca vines in 1982, choosing the cool valley specifically for whites at a time when Chile was almost entirely focused on Maipo reds. Concha y Toro, Veramonte, and others followed. The valley remains a benchmark for Chilean white wine and increasingly for Pinot Noir as plantings move closer to the coast.