28. Chile

Question 1

Describe the climate in Chile

Answer 1

Climate and Growing

• 4000km long, 175km wide
• Four key geographical areas:
  
  • Pacific ocean west / Andes East
  • Coastal mountain ranges
  • South is a large depression between two mountain ranges commonly referred to as Central Valley
• Warm Mediterranean climate
  
  • consistent from N to S
  • Dry, sunny grow seas (low lat > intense sun) > ripe fruit, hi tann, anthocyanins
  • North dry – low rain Elqui = 80mm/y – irrig ess
  • South/coast wetter – BioBio1200mm/y
• El Nino years – increase in rain
• La Nina years – drought possible
• PLUS plantings in climatically extreme areas >> variable vintage

Question 2

Describe the Growing Env in Chile - incl the moderating factors

Answer 2

SOIL

River valleys - Fertile, alluvial, clay, silt, sand, gravel

Coastal Ranges - More gravel, some silt/clay

Andes Volcanic, mainly granite

Only limestone in Limari Valley >> best CH

Moderating factors (n-s; e-w; ocean breeze/fog; mntn cool air; flat plain)

• Valleys E-W ocean – mnts cool either side (slows ripening /retain acid/aromas, length grow seas)
• Cold Humboldt current from Antartica
• Cool winds blow inland along river valleys
• Regions close to the coast – fog (humidity) (warm air rises, cool air sucked in from ocean)
• Foothills of Andes – cool air comes down from the mountains overnight – causes large diurnal temp range
• Coastal mntns + Andes merge in north
• South they open creating sheltered expanse of flat land easier to cultivate (Central Valley – hi vol/inexp)
• Sustainable and organic growing and winemaking are promoted by authorities

Question 3

Key factors in vy mgmt in Chile??

Answer 3

Vineyard

Water!!

• Mostly dry - the coastal areas wetter (fog)>> rot
• 85% vineyards irrigated
  
  • Biobio, Itata, Maule can rely on rain – old vines (Semillon, Pais), deep root systems survive drought years (La Nina)
  • Irrig - snowmelt decreasing (CC)
  • Irrig from aquifers/wells
• Forest fires – indirect damage -smoke
• Phyloxera free – ungrafted, old vines, new vy are using grafts to protect
• VSP training most common
  
  • Mech easy on flat areas, % vy machine harvested is low.

Question 4

Describe the typical winemaking styles in Chile and how these are changing.

Answer 4

• Winemaking / Wine Styles
• Diversity in varieties
  
  • main CS, SB, Mer, CH, Carm
  • (experiments with Viognier, Gewurz, Riesling & Med var > Gren, Carignan, Mourv)
• Diversity in wine style
  
  • Known for SS inexp fruity early drinking
  • Capable of G/VG Q as well as OS wines - to do this
    
    • Less new oak, old oak, concrete, amphora, whole bunch & gentle extr (reds); skin cont/lees (whites) - G/OS styles for prem-sprem prices
  • & Rose….

Question 5

Describe the Region and Sub Regions of Coquimbo

Answer 5

COQUIMBO

• intense sunshine (low lat)> mod inf sea breeze/mountain air>cool/slow ripening> acidity, flav accum
  
  • RISK = water
    Desert N, cold Humboldt curr=cool breeze & fog BUT do not sub for rain (100mm/a) – snowmelt decreasing
• Elqui Valley (follows Elqui River…over plains into foothills of Andes..)
  
  • no coastal mountains >> morning fog reaches further inland than other regions
  • SB and Syrah do well in fog affected areas (Syrah fresh exp)
  • planting in east up to 2200m >> even MORE intense sun + wide diurnal
    
    • int flav & deep col, fresh Syr
• Limari Valley (Limari River cuts valley through coastal range…..)
  
  • pockets of calcareous soil = Limestone= keep the very little water avail for vines
  • CH (most planted) coastal side light body hi acid and inland fuller b, fruitier
  • Along valey floor (warmer) CS/Mer/Carm

Question 6

Describe the Aconcagua Region

Aconcagua Valley

Casablanca Valley

San Antonio & Leyda Valley

Answer 6

ACONCAGUA

• Steep sides on either side of flat plain, narrow valley
• 250mm/a rain – irrig essent
• Cool pm breezes from coast.

Aconcagua Valley

• Among first to use new labelling because of huge diff in grow condiions and wines prod in 1 region.
• Aconcagua “Entre Cordilleras”
  
  • Enjoys some cooling influence from ocean, and Andes Moutnains
  • Fertile alley floor > warm
  • Classic red wine area > f body, h alc, h tann, CS, Mer
• Aconcagua Costa
  
  • Morn fog, ocean breezes unimpeded by hills
  • Fresh whites SB, CH. Also PN and cool climate Syr
• Aconcagua Andes
  
  • VY at 1000m asl
  • Days sunny, warm, night air cold off Andes > diurnal range
  • Reds >> pron ripe fr; bal fresh acid

Casablanca Valley

• Among coolest in Chile >>Cool breeze from west trapped by hills north/east>> cold nights, although close to sea, too far for it to moderate thus morning frost in low areas.
• SB, CH,PN, cool climate Syr (means pepper and spice)
• Small vols therefore prem price

San Antonio & Leyda Valley (zone)

• Close to the coast, hills gives aspects / soils
• warmer sites for PN, CH, but flagship = SB wth hi acid, m body, citrus & herbaceous +wet stones.

Question 7

Describe the Central Valley high level

List the Sub Regions of C Valley.
Short list where the better wines are coming from?

Answer 7

• South from Santiago to Itata Valley
• Vast, warm, fertile, flat, irrigated prot from ocean by coast ranges,
• means hi vol, ripe, fruity inexp – successful on export market
• Labelling will be sub region. C Val only where combined fruit, hi vol .
• HOWWEVER……
• Some more complex, eleg wines from valley sides /Andes foothills or vy close to Pacific. Small vol – prem/sperm prices

VG to OS Wines from:

• Alto Maipo VY in foothills of Andes up to 1000m
  
  • vg/os CS due to diurnal range mnt air at night
  • elegant fresh styles CS & Bord Blends
• Puemo Area (Cachapoal)
  
  • Winds funneled fm coast, reduces frost risk, lengthens the grow seas for late-ripe Carmenere, also vg CS, Syr.
• Colchagoa - Apalta
  
  • ​ – s-f amphitheatre captures cool breeze from west, s-f slopes slow ripening, poor soils cont vigour CS, Syr, Carm blends with ripe fruit & good structure
  • West end of valley – full exp to ocean & wind, HiQ SB, CH, PN
• Maule Valley
  
  • oldes wine prod region – signif old bush Pais, Muscat A ut 200yrs old
    
    • low tannin but rough >> carb mac
  • Carignan 60yrs old
    
    • Cauquenes area
    • pron red fr, black plum, spciey. m+/h acid, m+/h tann. VG – prem price.

Question 8

Describe Central Valley Maule Region

Answer 8

Maule Valley

• More south so so cooler, higher rainfall in winter – sustains vines >> dry farming
• Still - warm, fertile soil, more south
• Most nb source (biggest in Chile) for fruit for inexpensive blended red and white wines
• NEW TRENDS
• oldes wine prod region – signif old bush Pais, Muscat A ut 200yrs old
  
  • new wm techniques prod vg ex of wine –
  • pale, m body, m acid, red fr with spice/herbal m- tann (rough)
  • requires gentle techniques carb mace
• Carignan 60yrs old
  
  • Cauquenes area

pron red fr, black plum, spciey. m+/h acid, m+/h tann. VG – prem price.

Question 9

Central Valley Rapel consists of two main ZONES Describe-

Answer 9

(Rapel )Cachapoal Valley

• Warm area, cut off from ocean breezes
• Warm fertile valley floor inexp hi vol Carm; CS; Syr.
• Puemo Area
• Winds funneled fm coast, reduces frost risk, lengthens the grow seas for late-ripe Carmenere, also vg CS, Syr.

Colchagua Valley

extends from coast to Andes foothills

1. Facing Pacific - CH, SB, PN (cool, exp to ocean wind)
2. Just east of coastal mnt - Syr and Carm can ripen - fresh styles
3. Central flat valley hi vol inexp
4. Apalta within central part but - sf amphitheatre, captures cool breeze, avoids frost, slows ripening, poor soils on slopes cont vigour, therefore ripe fruit and good structure wines from CS, Carm, Syr.

Question 10

Describe Chile’s Cent Valley Maipo Valley S-region

Answer 10

• Maipo Valley
• Warm, sunny, prot frm ocean by coastal ranges
• Valley floor >black var, CS soft tann, int aroma cassis, mint > g/vg
• Alto Maipo VY in foothills of Andes up to 1000m
  
  • vg/os CS due to diurnal range mnt air at night
  • elegant fresh styles CS & Bord Blends

Question 11

Describe key factors around Chile’s Wine Business

export markets

investors

Answer 11

Wine Business

4th largest exporter in the world

• Low ave val per vol – only Spain and SA demonstrate lower ratios
• Wines of Chile focus on prom of more prem styles
• FTA agreements
  
  • China, S Korea, (China biggest exp vol)
• Also USA, Japan, UK
• 4 Co prod 80% of wine
  
  • Concha y Toro
  • Santa Rita
  • Santa Carolina
  • San Pedro
  • Own vy, buy from growers
  • Operate brands/wineries in Chile and Argentina
• Foreign invest:
  
  • Torres
  • Mouton Rothschild
  • Lafite Rothschild
  • Jackson Family Wines
  • Attraction = cheap land & running cost. tb offset against import materials, equip.

A small number of ind prod are promoting themselves - dom /exp markets

Question 12

Which region is famed for its Carmenere?

Identify a top producer / wine made from Carmenere:

Answer 12

Cachoapal - Puemo

Viña Montes’ “Purple Angel”

Question 13

What 4 labelling terms can be seen on Chilean wines?

What do these terms indicate?

Answer 13

Reserva & Reserva Especial > min 12% abv

Reserva Privada & Gran Reserva > min 12.5 % abv PLUS mandatory time in oak.