Casablanca Valley is situated west of Santiago, in the north central section of Chile. The western sector of the valley is within 7-20 miles of the Pacific Ocean; when these vineyards were planted in the 1980s, Casablanca became the first region in Chile to emphasize cool climate varieties, such as Pinot Noir, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and of course, Chardonnay; Sauvignon Blanc also performs well in this valley. Fog and ocean breezes affect this valley, giving it a maritime climate, which preserves acidity. The wines offer bright fruit, very good balance and impressive structure. To date the whites have been the best wines; as they offer excellent varietal purity and are generally not overoaked. For visitors, Casablanca Valley is a must, as several top wineries here have onsite dining rooms or restaurants that offer sublime cuisine that is worth of any large city in the world; of course, the entrées are ideally suited to the wines. (Wine/Appellations)