ATACAMA REGION

The Atacama Region (Spanish: Región de Atacama, pronounced [ataˈkama]) is one of Chile's 16 first order administrative divisions. It comprises three provinces: Chañaral, Copiapó and Huasco. It is bordered to the north by Antofagasta, to the south by Coquimbo, to east with Provinces of Catamarca, La Rioja and San Juan of Argentina, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. The regional capital Copiapó is located at 806 km (501 mi) north of the country's capital of Santiago. The region occupies the southern portion of the Atacama Desert, the rest of the desert is mainly distributed among the other regions of Norte Grande.

The Atacama wine region in Chile's far north produces large quantities of table grapes and other fruit. However wine production is on a smaller scale. Red wine grapes cultivated here include Pinot Noir and Syrah. White wine is made mainly from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Large Maipo-based company Viña Ventisquero is the major player here.  The region is, however, a prolific producer of Pisco, the Chilean eau-de-vie. This is a brandy-like spirit which has been distilled in Chile since the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th Century. Like whisky (or whiskey) in Scotland and Ireland, there is a popular dispute over whether Peru or Chile should be credited with the creation of Pisco.  The Atacama region is extremely hot and dry, as much of it is composed of the Atacama Desert – the driest desert in the world. Most viticulture in the region is concentrated in a thin strip along the coast, where access to water and the cooling breezes of the Pacific Ocean makes it possible to grow wine grapes.