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Arboleda wines come from sustainably managed
vineyards in the Valle de Aconcagua, 100 km (60 mi) north of Santiago, the capital of Chile. The cold coastal winds that blow in from the Pacific Ocean to the Andes Mountains, along with a Mediterranean climate allow the grapes to ripen slowly, intensifying the flavors and concentration of our wines. The winds begin in the cold coast of the Pacific Ocean, whose temperature is strongly influenced by the cold Humboldt Current and blow 142 km (88 mi) up the Aconcagua River Valley to the foot of the impressive Mt. Aconcagua, the highest peak in the western hemisphere (6,962 m / 22,841 ft).
The Valle de Aconcagua has a Mediterranean climate with warm summers tempered by the cool breezes of the Pacific Ocean and the Humboldt Current. Total annual precipitation in the valley is 250 mm (9.8 in) and occurs only during the winter months, from May to August, which adds to the tremendous concentration in the wines. The level of rainfall helps viticulturists to control vine vigor, grape berry size, and reach their optimal level of maturation prior to harvest. Irrigation is essential for grape production in the Valle de Aconcagua. Water is supplied by meltwater that descends from the Andes Mountains to the valley below, where it is diverted into irrigation canals and directed to the vineyards through drip irrigation. Soils in the valley are diverse and complex. Fluvial soils are rocky due to the accumulation of stones from the glacial deposits from the Andes Mountains, while soils at the base of the mountains is composed of granitic soils with a high clay and sand content. The valley's soils have a loam and clay-loam texture. Arboleda has two single vineyards in the Valle de Aconcagua, "Las Vertientes" and "Chilhué", both of which are managed under a sustainable viticulture philosophy, in which our passionate technical team works with respect for the environment, in harmony with nature and the neighboring communities, seeking to understand and develop to the maximum the sense of terroir to obtain distinctive world-class wines. Las Vertientes, which means "the springs," receives its name
from the natural springs of water found on the 850-hectare property, more than 80% of which is virgin land, now planted up to 127 hectares of vine. It is located approximately 40 km (25 mi) inland from the Pacific Ocean and is known for its moderately warm temperatures, cool maritime winds and diverse soils that range from alluvial terraces with high stone
content to colluvial piedmont with more clay and hillsides with geological soils. This variety of soil type has proven apt for planting a wide range of varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Carménère, Merlot, Cabernet Franc,
Malbec, Sangiovese and Petit Verdot, as well as experimental plantations of Marsanne, Rousanne, Mouvedre, Grenache,
and Viognier.
Chilhué, which means "place of seagulls" in Mapudungun the
language of the indigenous Mapuche people, is a
1,047-hectare property with 75% virgin lands and 112
hectares planted to vine. This single vineyard presents one of
the lowest temperatures of all of Chile's coastal zones and is
very proximate to the Pacific Ocean, just 12 km (8 mi) away.
The soils on the property's characteristic rolling hills vary
greatly, but are primarily thin with a clay texture over a base
of fragmented rock. The cold climate along with this
tremendous diversity of soils and exposures are ideal
characteristics for growing Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and
Pinot Noir. Syrah has also been planted on an experimental
basis. |
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