The Casablanca Valley is Santiago's gateway to the sea. Anyone making the 1.5-hour trek between the capital and the major port of Valparaiso cuts directly across the valley, now heavily planted to vines. Given that the highway is one of the country’s most heavily traveled thoroughfares, the valley's vineyards are among the most visible in the nation. This wasn't always true however; the first vineyards appeared little more than twenty years ago. Credit for the 'discovery' of the valley is generally given to winemaking pioneer Pablo Morandé, who was looking for a cooler sector more appropriate for white grapes. Time, temperature, and maritime influence—not to mention international recognition—have long since confirmed his hunch, and the number of hectares dedicated to winegrowing expanded radically in the 1990s. Today a score of producers tend nearly 4,000 hectares of vines in the valley. Knowledge of the area has expanded along with the plantations, and the valley is no longer considered homogenous. An ample diversity of soil types and myriad microclimates are now recognized and incorporated into the decision-making process when new vineyards are planned. The higher, warmer, frost-free sections are suitable for some more forgiving black varieties, while the lower, cooler areas produce excellent fruit for cold-loving Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Frost-prone sectors along the valley floor are often equipped with windmills that churn the icy pre-dawn air to keep the temperatures just above freezing to protect the fruit. In recognition of certain similarities between Casablanca and California’s Napa Valley, the two valleys signed an alliance in 2002, prompting Casablanca to create a wine route and develop tourist attractions in the area. A number of wineries, some of which offer excellent restaurants, are easily accessible directly from the highway.