28 - Chile Flashcards
Despite eight degrees of latitude, Chile’s climate is fairly consistent across most regions. Describe that climate.
- Warm, Med → long, dry, sunny growing season
- low latitude → intense sunlight
- rainfall varies → as low as 80mm in Elqui
- El Nino → higher than ave rainfall every 2-10yrs (reverse is El Nina) → vintage variation
Describe what impacts the growing environment of different regions.
Coastal vineyards cold Humboldt current → afternoon breeze + morning fog
Coastal Ranges 300-800m protect regions inland from → some gaps in valleys running E-W
Central Valley between CR and Andes → greater continentality with very dry, hot conditions
Andes rise up to E - altitude + cold air descending → plantings in foothills
Which soil types are found in Chile and where?
- Alluvial → rivers valleys
- Gravel → Coastal ranges
- Granite → Andes
- Limestone outcrops → Limari Valley
What are the opportunities and challenges of vineyard management in Chile? (4+, 3-)
+ Sunny, warm → heathy/ripe grapes → tannin, anthocyanins
+ Dry → disease pressure → cost of sprays, organics
+ Phylloxera free due to Andes + quarantine → many old, ungrafted vines
+ Lots of flat land → mechanisation
- Dry conditions require irrigation (85% of vines) → drip or flood → cost, water availability
- Forest fires → smoke taint
- Nematodes mean many vines still need to be grafted
Name the main exceptions to Chile’s irrigated vineyards
Regions of Bio-Bio and Maule - higher rainfall
Old vines with deep roots
What are the challenges with irrigation? (4)
- water availability - less snowmelt due to warming climate, increased evapotranspiration
- Makes flood irrigation (popular/cheap) → less of an option
- Sloped vineyards must rely on drip irrigation → $, can encourage shallow-rooted vines
- Regions without rivers must build + maintain aquifers
Where in Chile would fungal disease remain an issue?
- Humid coastal regions
- Itata and Bio-Bio → higher rainfall
What are the seven most widely planted grapes in Chile?
Name the style of wine Chile is best known for? How has that been changing?
Cheap, fruity, early-drinking from Cab, S.B, Merlot
- Improving Q + price point
- diverse array of grapes
- old-vine Pais
- aromatic whites
- array of winemaking tech
Describe the range of styles produced using Cabernet Sauvignon, where the grape is commonly planted and any notable winemaking techniques.
- Cheap, simple, fruity - Central Valley
- Complex, age-worthy - Andes foothills → vigour + ripe
- Blended with Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah
Where is most Chilean Merlot planted? In what style?
Central Valley → cheap, fruity with med body for export market
Describe the characteristics of Carmenere. Describe its flavour and structure.
- late-rip - 2-3 weeks after Merlot
- Likes warm, sunny sites to avoid too much herbaceousness + underripe tannins
- Can easily become too alcoholic
- med acid, high tannin, full-body
- (good-VG)
Why is the style of Carmenere likely to continue evolving?
Research in clonal selection, site selection, harvesting
less extraction + more common usage of oak
Give examples of different regions where Syrah is planted and the style produced by each.
- Cooler e.g. Limari, Elqui
- Warmer e.g. Colchagua Valley
Where is Pinot Noir commonly planted? Very briefly describe the style produced.
Cooler regions → Casablanca, San Antonia
Red fruit, herbal with med-high ABV
Describe the two types of Sauvignon Blanc produced in Chile.
- HQ → cool, coastal regions e.g. Limari and Casablanca → high acid, citrus - tropical, wet stones, herbaceous
- Good Q, cheap Central Valley
Where is Chardonnay widely planted in Chile?
- Cool, coastal areas → Limari - VG with med(+)-high acid, citrus and stone fruit
- Central Valley - high vol, cheap with tropical fruit
What is Chile’s Denominaciones de Origen based on?
Geography w/ minimal winemaking stipulations
Fairly relaxed >75% of grapes from the region
>11.5% ABV
What additional designations exist for Chilean wine?
- E-W labelling:
- Costa
- Entre Cordilleras
- Andes
- → can be added to DOs
- Have been slow to adopt new system
- Superior, Reserva, Reserva Especial, Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva
indicate increasing min ABVs + req for short oak ageing, not really used/doesn’t really mean much
Situate Coquimbo and describe the growing conditions. Name the three DOs of the region.
What kind of wine production is it best known for?
- Situation most N area
- Low latitude → sunlight, summer temps
- Humboldt current / mountains
- Extremely low rainfall/dry
- DOs: Elqui, Limari, Choapa
- Wines: previously grapes for Pisco, now small-production prem wines due to remoteness
Compare and contrast the growing environments of Elqui and Limari and the styles of wine they produced.
River Valleys
- allow coastal influence incl morning fog to travel far inland (no coastal mountains)
- S.B does well in coastal Elqui, Chardonnay in Limari
Altitude
- influence E of each region up to 2,200m in Elqui → Syrah does well
Soils
- Limari → calcareous → moisture P.N, Syrah, Chard
Warmer further inland
- for both valleys
- → range of Chard produced in Limari as well as Cab S, Merlot, Carmenere
Why is Aconcagua able to produce such a variety of wine styles?
- vast range of growing environments
- from hot/dry/flat → cool
Describe how the growing environment of Aconcagua Valley changes and how this influences the style of wine produced.
Aconcagua Costa
- morning fog/ocean breeze
- S.B, Chard, PN, cool-climate Syrah
Aconcagua Entre Cordilleras
- warm, dry
- ripe, full-bodied, high ABV
- Cab S, Merlot, Syrah, Carmenere
Aconcagua Andes
- 1000m → dirunals
- red wine with lower ABV, more acid
Describe the growing environment and wines of the Casablanca Valley.
Briefly compare and contrast San Antonio / Leyda Valley.
- Hills to N + E trap cool, humid air → 1 of coolest regions
- Cold nights → spring frost risk
- HQ S.B, Chard, PN + some Syrah
San Antonio
- better protected due to W hills
- SB is flagship with high acid, med body, citrus, herbaceous, wet stones
Describe the growing environment of the Central Valley and very briefly any distinctive characteristics of its four different sub-regions and the wines that they produce.
Central Valley
- flat
- fertile
- irrigated plains
- mostly cut-off from coastal influence
1. Maipo completely cut off, E better Q → Cab, Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah
2. Rapel
Cachapoal warm, fertile → cheap Cab, Carm, Syrah. Good shit from Peumo
Colchagua larg, warm, fertile centre; hill areas in centre → Apalta → HQ
3. Curcio Valley rivers → irrigation, large variety → high vol
4. Maule high vol, rep for HQ, slightly cooler, wetter old vine Pais + Muscat
Using the examples of Puemo, Apalta and Maule, explain how the Central Valley is able to produce HQ wines which sell for premium prices.
Puemo (Cachapoal)
- receives coastal winds due to river valley
- → reduces frost risk + extends growing season
- → perfect for late-rip Carmenere
Apalta (Colchagua)
- hills for S-facing amphitheatre which catches cool breezes + has poor soils
- → controls vigour + slow rip of Cab, Syrah, Carmenere
Maule
- further S so cooler + wetter in winter
- → possible to dry farm + stock of 100-200yr old vines of Pais + Muscat de Alexandria
Describe the style of Pais produced in Maule.
Traditionally → high vol wines for local market
HQ from cooler sites + old vines:
→ pale, red fruit, spicy, herbal, med acid, med(-)/med tannin but rough → gentle extraction e.g. carbonic
Which other grape variety is being revived in Maule?
Carignan - VINGO growers association promotes old vines, dry-farmed examples in Cauquenes
Red and black fruit, spice, med-high acid and tannin, VG/prem
Describe the growing environment of the southern region.
Name the DOs and any notable characteristics and styles.
Coastal influence due to fewer, lower coastal hills
Rainfall higher, 1000mm in Bio Bio → fungal disease
Cooler with temps rarely above 30c
Higher latitude so longer days during growing season
Itata Valley
- 3/4 planted with old bush vines of MdA, Pais, Cinsault
- int’l varieties planted → climate change + lack of water
Bio Bio
- mix of dry farmed and trad varieties
- Riesling, Gewurtz, PN, SB
Malleco - see above
Why is disease pressure not as high as it might be in the southern regions?
- Despite wet climate, strong coastal breezes improve evaporation
- Enables organic e.g. Emiliana world’s largest organic produce
