The quality of Chilean wine is excellent, from the full, buttery Chardonnays through crisp, flavoursome Sauvignon to cassis-laden Merlots, Cabernets and Carmenères. Production costs are relatively low and the climate is reliable allowing the Chileans to give Australian producers in particular a good run for their money. Maipo is an alluvial plain just to south of the capital Santiago and is particularly good for red wines. Curicó and Talca, a few hours further south, are more suited to whites as is the Casablanca Valley, whose position between Santiago and the coast affords it cooler growing conditions.