Curicó has been an independent wine-growing region since 1996.
Miguel Torres is an importan wine personality who bought the small bodega Maquehua in 1978, and soon introduced noble-steel tanks, cooling devices, and imported oak barrels - modern viniculture. He began to make internationall adored wines from the Chilean grape. The neighboring vintners were wakened by his enthusiasm and today Torres has been overtaken by his investing neighbor.
The wines from Montes, Caliterra, San Pedro, and Valdivieso are very successful on the Chilean export market. Some businesse use much capital to expand their yards and on new technologies. Forgeing consultants are engaged.
The region is split into the Teno- and the Lontue-Valley. The majority of the vineyards are around Sagrada Familia, where the two rivers flow together. Curicó differs from Rapel and Maipo by its strong contrast between night and day temperatures, which can be up to 18°C. Since the nights are often cool during the ripening period, this process is slowed. Especially for white wines, like Chardonnay and Sauvingon Blanc there are optimal conditions. Together with the wines from Casablanca the white wines from Curicó belong to Chile's best.
On the western border of the region there is a large unwatered growing-area where rich Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes grow. These harvests are small. Valdivieso has increased the quality of its red wines with these grapes.
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