28. Chile Flashcards

1
Q

Why does Chile have a successful export market? (4)

A

1) It’s dominated by four large businesses
2) It focusses on international varieties
3) It can grow both warm and cool climate varieties
4) It is capable of high volume, inexpensive wine as well as high quality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What’s Chile’s general climate?

A

Mostly Mediterranean - warm and sunny - but progressively wetter and cooler further south

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does Chile’s low latitude mean

A

Intense/longer periods of sunlight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What four topographical features border Chile

A

North - Atacama Desert
East - Andes
South - Patagonia
West - Pacific

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Most of Chile’s vineyards are planted in valleys oriented in which direction?

A

East to west

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How is the orientation of the valleys in which Chile’s vineyards are planted beneficial to the growing environment?

A

The Pacific (east) and Andes (west) are at either side and provide cooling effects and shelter respectively to lengthen the growing season

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the Humboldt Current and what impact does it have on Chile’s wine growing regions?

A

A wind from the Antarctic that brings cold air which is sucked inland as hot air rises during the day creating a cooling effect and bringing morning fog

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Vineyards planted in the Andes’s foothills benefit from what influence?

A

Cool mountain air descending from the Andes overnight leading to high diurnal ranges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What soil type common in many global wine regions is located in Chile and where is most located?

A

1) Limestone
2) Limari Valley

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What three soils are commonly found in and around the valley floor?

A

Fertile alluvial clay, sand, gravel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What soils are commonly found in the Andes?

A

Volcanic granite

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What soils are commonly found in the Coastal ranges?

A

Gravel with sand and silt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How is it that sustainable viticulture is so widespread in Chile?

A

Intense sunshine and relatively dry conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Much of Chile is irrigated except for which three regions?

A

1) Itata

To a lesser extent:
2) Bio Bio
3) Maule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are two hazards found in Chile?

A

1) Earthquakes
2) Forest fires

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Chile is largely phylloxera free, but new vineyards are commonly grafts to protect against what hazard?

A

Nematodes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are Chile’s five leading black plantings?

A

1) Cabernet Sauvignon
2) Merlot
3) Carmenere
4) Syrah
5) Pinot Noir

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What variety is undergoing a renaissance and where?

A

1) Pais (old vine)
2) Maule, Itata, Bio Bio

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are two key white plantings?

A

1) Sauvignon Blanc
2) Chardonnay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Why is site selection important for Carmenere? (3)

A

1) Ripens 2-3 weeks after Merlot
2) Warm sites avoid harsh tannins and herbaceousness
3) Too warm can get overly alcoholic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are four (of six) main regional DOs from north to south?

A

1) Coquimbo
2) Aconcagua
3) Central Valley
4) Southern

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How is the DO system structured? (4)

A

1) Region i.e. Central Valley
2) Sub-region i.e. Rapel Valley
3) Zone i.e. Colchagua
4) Area i.e. Apalta

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What three new regional denominations were introduced
in 2011?

A

1) Costa - with coastal influence
2) Andes - mountain influence
3) Entre Cordilleras - in between

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are two DO status requirements?

A

1) 75% variety/region (85% if exported to the EU)
2) 11.5% minimum ABV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What are three DOs of Coquimbo?
1) Elqui 2) Limari 3) Choapa
26
What contributes to Coquimbo's scarcity/price? (3)
1) Difficult growing conditions - hot, sunny and near the world's driest desert (Atacama). 2) Difficult to access (the Andes and coastal area merge here) 3) Andes snow melt is lessening
27
Coquimbo's northerly latitude means what for the growing environment? (3)
1) Intense sunlight 2) High summer temperatures 3) Very low rainfall
28
What's Chile's northernmost principal region?
Elqui
29
Despite being Chile's northernmost principal region, Elqui has two key cooling factors. What are they?
1) Chile's highest vineyards - 2,200m 2) No coastal range to prevent cool air along River Elqui bringing fog
30
What growing conditions contribute to deep-coloured and intense Syrah in Elqui? (2)
1) Diurnal range 2) Intense sunlight
31
Describe Limari's growing environment (2)
1) Cooled in the west by morning fog and breezes from the bay via the River Limari 2) Altitude in the east
32
What's Limari's most planted variety?
Chardonnay then Syrah
33
Name three sub-regions of Aconcagua
1) Aconcagua Valley 2) San Antonio Valley 3) Casablanca Valley
34
Where is the 2011 designation most adopted?
Aconcagua Valley as the sub-divisions are clearer here than elsewhere spreading as it does widely from east to west (Pacific to Andes)
35
According to the 2011 designation, how can Aconcagua Valley be split and what wine styles are created? (3)
1) Costa (no coastal range) - fresh whites, Pinot & Syrah 2) Andes (altitude & diurnal range) - reds with ripe fruit and balanced acid 3) Entre Cordilleras (warm and dry) - ripe, high alcohol Cab & Merlot
36
Why is Casablanca Valley one of Chile's coolest regions? (2)
1) There is little protection from the ocean 2) The mountain ranges in the east prevents cool, humid air from escaping
37
Why can spring frost be severe in Casablanca Valley?
It's not near enough to the Pacific to moderate night time temperatures especially in lower altitude vineyards
38
What's the key zone of San Antonio Valley?
Leyda Valley
39
What are the primary varieties of Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys? (4)
1) Sauvignon Blanc 2) Chardonnay 3) Pinot Noir 4) Syrah
40
What's San Antonio's flagship variety?
Sauvignon Blanc
41
Describe San Antonio Valley
South of Casablanca Valley influenced by Pacific with hills offering varied protection/aspect
42
What is the location and benefit thereof of Leyda Valley? (3)
1) Within San Antonio Valley 2) Close to the coast 3) Foggy mornings, cool breezes and bright afternoon sunshine give long periods for ripening
43
Why are the Central Valley vineyards popular for inexpensive export production?
Warm, fertile, irrigated plains largely sheltered from the coastal influences
44
What are four Central Valley sub-regions?
1) Maipo Valley 2) Rapel Valley 3) Curico Valley 4) Maule Valley
45
What are the two zones of Rapel Valley?
1) Colchagua Valley 2) Cachapoal Valley
46
What are Maipo's three flagship varieties?
1) Cabernet Sauvignon 2) Carmenere 3) Syrah
47
What is the Alto Maipo?
The eastern end of the Maipo valley up to 1,000m
48
Describe Cachapoal Valley's location and climate (2)
1) More northerly and closer to the Andes with no vineyard area on the ocean side of the coastal ranges 2) Warmer as cut-off from maritime influence
49
What area in Cachapoal Valley is best known for premium red wine?
Peumo
50
What variety is Peumo most regarded for?
Carmenere
51
Why is Puemo highly regarded?
It is sheltered from the Andes, but the growing season is lengthened by cool winds funnelled from the coast
52
Describe Colchagua Valley (2)
1) Larger than Cachapoal 2) Extends from the Andes to the Pacific
53
What three varieties grow well in the west of Colchagua Valley near the ocean?
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
54
What three varieties grow well in the east of Colchagua Valley?
Syrah, Carmenere, Cabernet
55
What is the area of Colchagua Valley known for premium wine?
Apalta - centre of Colchagua
56
Describe Apalta in the Colchagua Valley (2)
1) It's a south-facing amphitheatre that captures breeze from the west 2) Poor soils
57
Premium expressions of which three varieties are found in Apalta?
1) Cabernet Sauvignon 2) Carmenere 3) Syrah
58
What is Curico known for and why? (2)
1) Inexpensive, high volume - all varieties 2) Sheltered, central, fertile soils with many rivers for irrigation
59
What zone has more vineyard area than any other?
Maule Valley
60
Good expressions of which variety are being produced from old bush vines in Maule?
Pais (& Muscat of Alexandria)
61
Maule Valley has more of what variety than anywhere else in Chile and where?
1) Carignan 2) Cauquenes in the region's south
62
Why might carbonic maceration be used for Pais?
To soften/not overly extract the variety's often rough tannins
63
What are three sub-regions of the Southern region?
1) Itata Valley 2) Bio Bio Valley 3) Malleco Valley
64
The Southern region's climate varies drastically from the rest of Chile. How?
It's cooler and wetter due to the higher latitude and less coastal protection
65
Itata is known for what local variety?
Pais
66
How can grapes ripen in the Southern Valleys given the cool climate?
Higher latitude extends the days during the growing season
67
What is a key feature of Malleco's wines and why?
1) High acid 2) Most southerly established wine region
68
Where is most Chilean wine sold?
Export (70%)
69
Explain why most of Chile's wine is exported (2)
1) Low domestic consumption 2) Strong economy with free trade deals with China and South Korea allowing tariff-free trade
70
What company type dominates Chilean production?
Four large companies account for 80% of production from owned vineyards and purchased fruit
71
80% of Chilean wine is produced by four companies. Name two
1) Concha y Toro 2) Santa Rita
72
Where does Cabernet Sauvignon thrive? Give an example
1) Vineyards nearer the Andes where poor soils keep vigour in check, and cool nights slow ripening 2) Maipo
73
What are the two premium sub-regions of the Alto Maipo?
Puente Alto and Pirque
74
Though inexpensive wines can be made from vineyards in all Central Valley regions, which two sub-regions of the Central Valley traditionally associated with higher volume production?
1) Maule Valley 2) Curico Valley
75
What are the two other regions (north and south?)
1) Atacama 2) Austral
76
Maule's location within the Central Valley means it produces wine that are of what style in comparison with those from the northern sub-region's valley floors?
Light in body and higher in acidity
77
Why has Chile attracted foreign investment from the likes of Jackson Family Estate, Mouton Rothschild etc?
Due to relatively cheap land and running costs
78
What is the Movimiento de Vinateros Independientes (MOVI)?
A group of small producers making quality wine that promote themselves together in domestic and export markets