Chile and Argentina may share a mountain range but their climates are very different. Here's an overview of the main wine-producing regions
Argentina
Compared to neighbouring Chile, Argentina has a relatively narrow range of climates. Despite spanning 18 degrees of latitude, from 40 degrees south to 22 degrees south, this range in latitude is often compensated by altitude, so the climates where the grapes are grown are quite similar. Temperature decreases by 0.6°C for every increase in altitude of 100m.
70% of all vines are planted in Mendoza where the diversity of soils and climates is greatest. Roberto’s special plot of chenin blanc vines was found in Agrelo around 20 miles south of Mendoza.
Find out more detail in our Argentina wine guide
Chile
This remarkable 3,000-mile-long country includes all the world's climates apart from sub-tropical and tropical. Grape varieties need different climates to prosper and Chile can accommodate them all. Though only on average 100 miles across, there is also a huge temperature variation from the coast, cooled by the Pacific Ocean, to the Andean foothills in the east, where the cooling effect of altitude comes into play.
The largely urban population escapes to the coast or the mountains for rest and relaxation. Toby Morrhall and winemaker Cristòbal Undurraga went to stay at Bucalemu, 37 km south of Pichelemu, which you can see on the map below between the Cachapoal and Colchagua valleys.
For more detail, visit Toby’s guide to Chile.
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