The Elqui Valley is the northernmost wine valley of Chile, located at the southern tip of the Atacama desert, some 250 miles north of Santiago. This is an area with little rainfall, so irrigation is necessary, it is also quite arid. Necessarily, vineyards in the Elqui Valley must be sited at very high elevations; some of them are more than 6000 feet above sea level. Naturally at these heights, temperatures are just fine for successful viticulture. 700 acres of vines are planted here; leading varieties include Syrah, Carmenere, Sauvignon Blanc and even a bit of Pedro Ximenez. (Wine/Appellations)