Maipo Valley DO

Overview

Maipo Valley is Chile’s most prestigious wine region and the birthplace of the country’s fine wine industry, producing Cabernet Sauvignon that has put Chilean wine on the global map. Located just south of Santiago, this historic region is home to Chile’s First Growths—Concha y Toro’s Don Melchor, Almaviva, and Seña—wines that have proven Chile can compete with the world’s finest. The valley’s proximity to the Andes provides cool air drainage and diurnal temperature swings that create Cabernet of exceptional structure and elegance.

Geography & Climate

Location: Central Valley; surrounds Santiago; Andes to coast

Size: ~10,500 ha

Elevation: 400-800m (1,310-2,625 ft)

Climate: Mediterranean

Growing Degree Days: 1,700-2,100 GDD
Rainfall: 300-400mm (dry; irrigation needed)
Temperature: Warm days; cool nights (Andes effect)

The Andes Influence:

Cool air drainage at night
Significant diurnal variation (15-20°C)
Snowmelt irrigation
Creates structure in wines

Sub-Zones:

Zone	Character
Alto Maipo	High altitude; finest Cabernet
Maipo Medio	Classic; balanced
Maipo Costa	Coastal; cooler

Soil Types:

Alluvial (river deposits)
Stony/gravel (excellent drainage)
Clay (some)

Key Characteristic: Andes + gravel soils = structured, age-worthy Cabernet.

Wine Styles

Cabernet Sauvignon (Flagship)

Character: Structured, age-worthy

Blackcurrant, cassis
Eucalyptus hints
Fine tannins
Full body
Chile’s benchmark Cabernet

Carmenère

Character: Chile’s signature

Red bell pepper, spice
Chocolate
Medium to full body
Growing prestige

Merlot, Syrah

Character: Blending partners

Quality varietal examples
Bordeaux-style blends

Chardonnay

Character: Limited but quality

Some Alto Maipo sites
Cooler expressions

Alto Maipo

Chile’s Grand Cru Zone

What Makes It Special:

Highest vineyards (600-800m)
Coldest at night
Stony soils
Home to Chile’s iconic wines

Famous Alto Maipo Wines:

Don Melchor
Almaviva
Seña
Casa Real

Classification & Regulations

Chilean DO System:

Level	Description
Valle	Broad valley designation
Subvalle	Sub-region
Zona	Specific zone
Area	Most specific

History

Timeline:

1554: First vines (Spanish)
1851: French varieties introduced
1883: Don Melchor vineyard planted
1994: DO system established
1995: Almaviva joint venture (Rothschild/Concha y Toro)
Today: Chile’s prestige region

French Influence: Silvestre Ochagavía brought Bordeaux varieties (1851).

Almaviva: Bordeaux partnership validated Chilean quality.

Key Constraints & Production Notes

Alto Maipo Focus:

Highest quality
Limited production
Icon wines

Winemaking:

French oak (premium)
Extended maceration
Bordeaux techniques
Long aging (icons)

Aging Potential:

Standard: 5-12 years
Premium: 12-25 years
Icons: 20-40 years

Notable Producers

Quality Benchmarks:

Concha y Toro (Don Melchor)
Almaviva (Rothschild JV)
Santa Rita (Casa Real)
Pérez Cruz
Viña Aquitania
Tarapacá
Undurraga
Cousiño-Macul (historic)
Carmen
De Martino

Don Melchor: Chile’s First Growth; consistently world-class.

Almaviva: Baron Philippe de Rothschild + Concha y Toro; proves Chilean potential.

Chile’s First Growths

World-Class Icons

The Big Names:

Don Melchor: 100% Cabernet; benchmark
Almaviva: Bordeaux blend
Seña: Errazuriz/Mondavi legacy
Casa Real: Santa Rita’s icon

Recognition: Compete with top Bordeaux in blind tastings.

Common Challenges

Water Availability

Cause: Dry climate; snowmelt dependent.
Risk: Drought.
Response: Efficient irrigation; Andean water.

Value Perception

Cause: Chile = value image.
Risk: Underpricing icons.
Response: Quality communication; icon wines.

Food Pairing

Classic Matches:

Chilean beef
Lamb
Game
Empanadas

References

Wines of Chile (2025). “Maipo Valley.” Link
Robinson, J., et al. (2006). “The Oxford Companion to Wine.” Oxford University Press. Publisher Link

Last Updated: January 11, 2026
Data Sources: Wines of Chile, Chilean Wine Association
Research Grade: Technical reference

Permitted Varieties