36. Chile Flashcards
What are the 4 geographical features that define Chile’s vineyards?
- Pacific Ocean to the west
- coastal mountain ranges just inland
- Andes Mountains to the east
- Central Valley to the south
Describe the climate of Chile. What are the moderating influences?
- Warm, Mediterranean climate
- dry, sunny growing season
- minimal fungal disease
- shortage of water
- irrigation water in short supply
- cooler/wetter to the south
- El Nino: rainfall increases
- La Nina: drought
Moderating influences:
- cold Humboldt Current flows up from Antarctica
- fog near the coast
- cold air from the Andes in the foothills overnight (large diurnal range)
What are areas in Chile’s GI scheme called?
Denominaciones de Origen (DOs)
What are the 4 principal wine regions of Chile?
- Coquimbo
- Aconcagua
- Central Valley
- Southern Region
How many better known sub regions are there?
13
What are the subregions split into? Why?
Zones - each zone has a more unified climate. The subregions are too large for this; very diverse.
What new degree of classification was released in Chile in 2012? What are the terms and what to do they indicate? Are they required?
Classification that categorized vineyard sites according to their distance from the coast rather than their latitude
Note: Not required. The producer can choose to use these terms in addition to the DO.
- Costa (coastal areas)
- Entre Cordilleras (areas between mountain ranges)
- Andes (mountain areas)
What are the 4 unofficial quality levels in Chile?
- Reserva
2 Reserva Especial - Reserva Privada
- Gran Reserva
What are the top 5 black grape varieties in Chile?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Carmenère
- Syrah
- Pinot noir
Describe typical Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon.
- very ripe black fruit
- herbaceous character
- frequently blended with Merlot, Carmenère, Syrah
Describe the two styles of Chilean Merlot.
Style 1:
- inexpensive
- medium body
- fruit
Style 2:
- fuller body
- more complex
Describe typical Chilean Carmenère.
- late ripening
- most successful in the warmest and sunniest sites
- full body
- high tannin
-can be overtly herbaceous if overripe
OR
-black fruit, herbal
Describe the two styles of Chilean Syrah.
Cooler coast/northern regions
- lighter in body
- peppery
Hotter climates like Colchagua Valley
- intense black fruit
- full body
Where in Chile does Pinot Noir grow well?
cooler sites like
- San Antonio Valley
- Casablanca Valley
What are the 2 main white grape varieties of Chile?
- Sauvignon Blanc
2. Chardonnay
Where in Chile does Sauvignon Blanc grow well? Describe the wines.
cooler sites
- Casablanca Valley
- San Antonio Valley
- high acid
- intense fruit: apple, citrus, tropical
- herbaceous
- some have richness/texture with lees stirring and oak
What is the third most planted white grape variety in Chile? What is it typically used for?
Muscat of Alexandria
-mostly used for the production of the grape brandy Pisco
What other white grapes are grown in Chile? In what type of sites do they grow well? Name two examples.
- Viognier
- Riesling
- Gewurztraminer
-fresh, fruity wines in cool regions (Bio Bio Valley, Itata Valley)
Where is the Coquimbo region located? Describe the climate.
- most northerly Chilean wine region
- borders the Atacama Desert
- brilliant sunshine
- cooling influences from sea breezes and mountain air
- challenge = lack of water
- irrigation is essential but expensive
What the the three winemaking sub-regions of Coquimbo? What wines do they specialize in?
- Elqui Valley - Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah
- Limari Valley - Chardonnay
- Choapa Valley
What are the three main winemaking sub-regions of the Aconcagua region?
- Aconcagua Valley
- Casablanca Valley
- San Antonio Valley
Describe the climate and geography of the Aconcagua Valley. What wines thrive here?
- steep sided narrow valley
- cooling influences from ocean and Andes mountains
- fertile valley floor = warmest
Red wines:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Carmenere
What is the traditional style of wine in the Aconcagua Valley? What styles are more recent? What does this mean in terms of where the vines are planted?
Traditional:
- rich
- ripe fruit
- high alcohol
- high tannins
Recent:
- reduce alcohol levels
- more freshness
- more complex fruit flavors
Plantings moving from the valley floor to the slopes or towards the coast
Describe the climate and geography of the Casablanca Valley and the San Antonio Valley. What types of wine thrive here?
- lie between the coast ranges and the Pacific ocean
- cooler sites
- morning fog
- afternoon winds
White Wines
- Sauvignon Blanc (Leyda Valley zone of SAV)
- Chardonnay
What is the most widely planted black grape variety in the Casablanca Valley and the San Antonio Valley? Why?
Pinot Noir (cooler sites)
- red berry fruit
- herbal notes
What black grape (other than Pinot Noir) is successful in the Casablanca Valley? Where in particular? Describe the wines.
Syrah
- warmer vineyard sites
- well structured
- peppery edge
Describe the geography and climate of the Central Valley. What types of wines are made here?
- vast, warm, flat
- majority of Chilean vineyards found here
- grapes ripen easily
- inexpensive, fruity wines
What are the main grapes of the Central Valley?
- Merlot
2. Chardonnay
What are the 4 main sub-regions of the Central Valley?
- Maipo Valley
- Rapel Valley (Cachapoal Valley, Cochagua Valley)
- Cirico Valley
- Maule Valley
What sub-region is considered the heartland of the Chilean wine industry? Why?
Maipo Valley
-proximity to the capital city Santiago
Describe the geography and climate of the Maipo Valley. What wine is prominent here and what’s it like?
- almost completely surrounded by mountains
- very little coast influence
- premium sites located in the foothills, cooled by descending air
Cabernet Sauvignon: particularly minty character
Describe the climate of the Cachapoal Valley. What grapes are grown here?
- zone of Rapel Valley
- warm area cut off from ocean breezes
- Carmenere ripens well on valley floors
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah do well in the coolest eastern end of the valley
Describe the climate of the Colchagua Valley. What grapes are grown here?
- zone of Rapel Valley
- larger, more varied
- Apalta: premium reputation (slope plantings)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Carmenere
-central part, warm, open to some ocean influence
High quality white wines
-further to the west, cooling influence of the pacific
Describe the geography and climate of the Curico Valley and the Maule Valley. What wines are prominent here?
- southern end of Central Valley
- warm climate
- fertile soil
Inexpensive, blended red and white wines
Maule = cooler, wines retain more acidity
- dry-farmed, old vines
- Carignan (full body, concentrated; ancient low yielding bush vines)
What are the three main sub-regions of the Southern Region?
- Itata Valley
- Bio Bio Valley
- Malleco Valley
Describe the climate of the Southern Region.
cooler and wetter the farther south you go
What two grapes dominate the plantings of Itata Valley and Bio Bio Valley? What are they typically used for?
- Pais
- Muscat of Alexandria
- mainly consumed locally
What varieties are showing promise in the Bio Bio Valley?
- Pinot Noir
- Chardonnay
- aromatic varieties
What is the smallest and most southerly wine region in Chile? What grapes are grown here?
Malleco Valley
- Charonnay
- Pinot Noir
