The variations in the interior of the Valley are given by the temperature, which we can measure with the Winkler's Index. Though all the zones show a Winkler cold zone and therefore the complete Valley is cold, there are zones colder than others. At the extremes we have Las Dichas with a colder microclimate and Tapihue and Tapihue Alto as the less cold areas.
Tapihue appears as the least cold zone of the Valley of Casablanca, with approximately 140 degree-days above the coldest zones.
Las Dichas and Lo Orrego (on the way to Algarrobo) appear as the coldest zones, but in Lo Orrego the temperatures are moderated because of the influence of the sea, it is a milder zone, shown by the fall of the cumulative chilling hours and the higher minimum temperature of March (following graph).
Winter temperatures under 8°C in all zones, except Lo Orrego. The sum of heat units, although it does not have a great importance in the physiology of the grapevine (due that it needs few cold hours to activate certain processes), serves to visualize how cold is a zone from the point of view of the minimal temperatures. As we can see, the trend is the same as with the Winkler Index.
Association of Casablanca Valley Viticultural A. G Phone: 56-32-274 37 55 / 56-32-274 39 33 Punta Arenas Nº46, Casablanca, V Región, Chile.
