The northernmost sector of the 3-valley 'Southern Region,' Itata is no newcomer to wine. Some of the earliest vineyards were planted near the port city of Concepción during colonial times. The Spanish black grape País still predominates in the area, although Cabernet Sauvignon leads the selection of French varieties. Muscat of Alexandría is the front-runner in white grape production, but its Chardonnay is the attention-getter. In colonial times, it was the abundant water supply that attracted winemakers. Annual rainfall is concentrated during the winter months and averages more than 1,100 mm (per year, alleviating the need for extensive irrigation systems. Interest dwindled as winegrowing became more viable closer to Santiago. Today however, improving transportation systems and the drive for new terroirs have led a handful of new wineries to set up in Itata, where shining stainless steel tanks and vertically-trained vines provide odd contrast to traditional head-trained vines and ancient wooden vats. Contrary to apparent logic, this valley is often much hotter than Maipo, which is more than 500 km (310 mi) closer to the equator! Temperatures swing widely during the course of the day, and the quality of the light encourages excellent color development in the grapes.