The Colchagua Valley is home to our Caliterra Estate, located 200 km (125 miles) south of Santiago and 60 km (37 miles) from the coast at 150 meters above sea level (500 feet a.s.l.). Caliterra Estate has approximately 1,085 ha (2,681 acres) with approximately 75% of untouched land and Mediterranean climate, where cool nights and gentle breezes temper the sun’s energy creating perfectly ripe, intense, concentrated and balanced wines.
Caliterra is located in the heart of Colchagua, a protected valley southeast of Lago Rapel and adjoining the Apalta Valley. The vineyards were first planted in 1997, with 210 ha (518.5 acres) of Merlot, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah and smaller lots of Malbec. Of the initial plantations, 55 ha (136 acres) of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Carmenere are in transition to organic viticulture. The valley’s Mediterranean climate is characterized by its winter rains and the strong influence of the cool breezes blowing from Lago Rapel and the Pacific. This climatic pattern allows the fruit to ripen on the vine, reflecting in wines with intense flavors and high tannin concentration. The vineyard has a wide range of soil textures with a high percentage of rock dominating the clay-loam soils.
Hillside plantings have been introduced to reap more of the estate’s potential. 32 ha (79 acres) were added to the initial vineyards in 2005 and 46 ha (113.6 acres) of hillside Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Carmenere and Viognier are being added during 2008 for a total of 288 ha (711.1 acres). Rocks are abundant in the estate’s medium textured soils that range from clay-loam to sandy-loam, making it possible to obtain wines of different tipicities.
For our white varieties we obtain grapes from the Curicó, Leyda and Casablanca Valleys. Our Teno and Molina Vineyards on the slopes of the Curicó Valley benefit from the area’s stable climate and soils suitable for producing Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes with a high natural acidity. At only 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) from the Pacific Ocean you can find our Leyda Vineyards, where the combination of maritime influence and cool temperatures give birth to extraordinary Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Our Santa Marta Vineyard in the Casablanca Valley, one of Chile’s most recognized valleys for quality white varieties, is situated only 40 km from the coast and is the source for our high end Chardonnay.
