Rapel Valley
Rapel valley vine-growing zone is included in the Central Valley of Chile; Its boundaries are, North the Santiago metro-politan region at 33° 50’ latitude South, and South the Maule region at 34° 45’ latitude south, to the west the Pacific Ocean and to the east the Andes mountains. This viticultural zone is divided into the Cachapoal Valley and the Colchagua Valley.
The Rapel valley vine-growing zone is included in the Central Valley of Chile; it is located about 160 km south of Santiago. It belongs to the 6th administrative region called Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, whose capital is the city of Rancagua. Its boundaries are, North the Santiago metro-politan region at 33° 50’ latitude South, and South the Maule region at 34° 45’ latitude south, to the west the Pacific Ocean and to the east the Andes mountains. This viticultural zone is divided into the Cachapoal Valley with the Rancagua, Mostazal, Requínoa, Rengo and Peumo areas and the Colchagua Valley with the areas of San Fernando, Chimbarongo, Nancagua, Santa Cruz, Palmilla, Peralillo and Apalta.
Denomination of Origin: Rapel
Region: Central Valley
Sub-Region: Rapel
Zone: Cachapoal, Colchagua
Complementary Areas: Costa, Entre-Cordilleras, Andes
Soils
The western slope of the Coastal Range has well-developed soils that evolved from granitic rocks and have clay content in depth. In the sector neighbouring the coast the soils derive from high marine terraces, they are reddish-brown in colour and their relief is flat or softly sloping. In the western slopes of the Coastal Range, soils originate from granitic rocks and have high clay content in depth. Alluvial soils of moderate development are found in the zone of the Central Valley, set between the Coastal Range and the Andes. Most of the irrigated agricultural lands of the Rapel viticultural region have this type of soil. In the precordillera and the sectors of stronger relief of the Andes there are coarse-grained soils derived from volcanic accumulation. The Rapel River and its main affluents, the Cachapoal and Tinguiririca Rivers, constitute the hydrographic system of the Rapel valley. Both rivers meet in the sector called La Junta and feed the Rapel reservoir.
Climate
The Rapel valley region is characterised by a temperate climate with large differences between the coast and its inland valleys. The orographic conditions of the region do not allow sea winds to enter the sunken basin; this causes a wide thermal range, differentiating it from the coast where sea fogs are present during practically the whole year. The difference between the coast and the sunken basin is significant, and shows in the humidity, thermal oscillation and high mean rainfall at some times of the year.