Crystal clear skies make for starry-nights and sun-drenched days—a logical choice for mountain-top observatories and vast expanses of vineyards that traditionally produced table grapes and aromatic white varieties for Chile’s distilled spirit Pisco. Recent wine grape plantations wind their way up the hillsides to more than 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level, making this not only Chile’s northernmost, but highest wine region as well. Cabernet Sauvignon leads the wine-grape production, but it is the cool-climate Syrah that has attracted the most attention. The Elqui Valley’s unique combination of geographic, geological, and climatic factors result in surprisingly fresh and spicy wines.