The Elqui Valley is one of Chile’s most distinctive and extreme wine regions, located in the country’s far north between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Known for its high-altitude vineyards and desert climate, the valley offers a rare combination of intense sunlight, low rainfall, and cool nighttime temperatures, creating ideal conditions for producing fresh, expressive wines.
Vineyards in the Elqui Valley benefit from significant day-to-night temperature variation, which slows grape ripening and helps preserve natural acidity while enhancing aromatic complexity. Mineral-rich soils and clean mountain air further contribute to the purity and character of the wines grown here.
Once considered unsuitable for viticulture, the Elqui Valley has emerged as a premium wine region thanks to pioneering producers who recognized its potential. Today, it is celebrated for elegant, terroir-driven wines that reflect the valley’s dramatic landscape and unique climatic conditions.
Viña Falernia is located in the Elqui Valley between La Serena and Vicuña, 520 km (323 miles) to the North of Santiago and it is at present Chile’s northernmost winery estate. Chile is isolated geographically, with the long and high ridge of the grandiose Andes Mountain Range acting as a barrier to the East, and the deep and immense Pacific Ocean to the West. The vast Atacama Desert to the North and a long chain of rocky islands reaching south to the Antarctic complete the protective ring.
The soils in our vineyards are composed partly of rubble which has eroded from the Andes Mountains and deposited by glaciers and wind, and partly of alluvial sand and silt deposited by the river. While stony, gravely soils are regarded as poor for most crops, their excellent drainage qualities make them perfect for vine growing. The climate is semi-arid (average annual rainfall is 25-30 mm or one inch) making drip irrigation indispensable during the season.
