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WSET Level 3 Award in Wines > 36. Chile > Flashcards

36. Chile Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 4 geographical features that define Chile’s vineyards?

A
  1. Pacific Ocean to the west
  2. coastal mountain ranges just inland
  3. Andes Mountains to the east
  4. Central Valley to the south
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2
Q

Describe the climate of Chile. What are the moderating influences?

A
  • 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:

  1. cold Humboldt Current flows up from Antarctica
  2. fog near the coast
  3. cold air from the Andes in the foothills overnight (large diurnal range)
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3
Q

What are areas in Chile’s GI scheme called?

A

Denominaciones de Origen (DOs)

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4
Q

What are the 4 principal wine regions of Chile?

A
  1. Coquimbo
  2. Aconcagua
  3. Central Valley
  4. Southern Region
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5
Q

How many better known sub regions are there?

A

13

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6
Q

What are the subregions split into? Why?

A

Zones - each zone has a more unified climate. The subregions are too large for this; very diverse.

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7
Q

What new degree of classification was released in Chile in 2012? What are the terms and what to do they indicate? Are they required?

A

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)
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8
Q

What are the 4 unofficial quality levels in Chile?

A
  1. Reserva
    2 Reserva Especial
  2. Reserva Privada
  3. Gran Reserva
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9
Q

What are the top 5 black grape varieties in Chile?

A
  1. Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. Merlot
  3. Carmenère
  4. Syrah
  5. Pinot noir
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10
Q

Describe typical Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon.

A
  • very ripe black fruit
  • herbaceous character
  • frequently blended with Merlot, Carmenère, Syrah
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11
Q

Describe the two styles of Chilean Merlot.

A

Style 1:

  • inexpensive
  • medium body
  • fruit

Style 2:

  • fuller body
  • more complex
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12
Q

Describe typical Chilean Carmenère.

A
  • late ripening
  • most successful in the warmest and sunniest sites
  • full body
  • high tannin

-can be overtly herbaceous if overripe
OR
-black fruit, herbal

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13
Q

Describe the two styles of Chilean Syrah.

A

Cooler coast/northern regions

  • lighter in body
  • peppery

Hotter climates like Colchagua Valley

  • intense black fruit
  • full body
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14
Q

Where in Chile does Pinot Noir grow well?

A

cooler sites like

  • San Antonio Valley
  • Casablanca Valley
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15
Q

What are the 2 main white grape varieties of Chile?

A
  1. Sauvignon Blanc

2. Chardonnay

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16
Q

Where in Chile does Sauvignon Blanc grow well? Describe the wines.

A

cooler sites

  • Casablanca Valley
  • San Antonio Valley
  • high acid
  • intense fruit: apple, citrus, tropical
  • herbaceous
  • some have richness/texture with lees stirring and oak
17
Q

What is the third most planted white grape variety in Chile? What is it typically used for?

A

Muscat of Alexandria

-mostly used for the production of the grape brandy Pisco

18
Q

What other white grapes are grown in Chile? In what type of sites do they grow well? Name two examples.

A
  1. Viognier
  2. Riesling
  3. Gewurztraminer

-fresh, fruity wines in cool regions (Bio Bio Valley, Itata Valley)

19
Q

Where is the Coquimbo region located? Describe the climate.

A
  • 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
20
Q

What the the three winemaking sub-regions of Coquimbo? What wines do they specialize in?

A
  1. Elqui Valley - Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah
  2. Limari Valley - Chardonnay
  3. Choapa Valley
21
Q

What are the three main winemaking sub-regions of the Aconcagua region?

A
  1. Aconcagua Valley
  2. Casablanca Valley
  3. San Antonio Valley
22
Q

Describe the climate and geography of the Aconcagua Valley. What wines thrive here?

A
  • steep sided narrow valley
  • cooling influences from ocean and Andes mountains
  • fertile valley floor = warmest

Red wines:

  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Syrah
  • Carmenere
23
Q

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?

A

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

24
Q

Describe the climate and geography of the Casablanca Valley and the San Antonio Valley. What types of wine thrive here?

A
  • 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
25
Q

What is the most widely planted black grape variety in the Casablanca Valley and the San Antonio Valley? Why?

A

Pinot Noir (cooler sites)

  • red berry fruit
  • herbal notes
26
Q

What black grape (other than Pinot Noir) is successful in the Casablanca Valley? Where in particular? Describe the wines.

A

Syrah

  • warmer vineyard sites
  • well structured
  • peppery edge
27
Q

Describe the geography and climate of the Central Valley. What types of wines are made here?

A
  • vast, warm, flat
  • majority of Chilean vineyards found here
  • grapes ripen easily
  • inexpensive, fruity wines
28
Q

What are the main grapes of the Central Valley?

A
  1. Merlot

2. Chardonnay

29
Q

What are the 4 main sub-regions of the Central Valley?

A
  1. Maipo Valley
  2. Rapel Valley (Cachapoal Valley, Cochagua Valley)
  3. Cirico Valley
  4. Maule Valley
30
Q

What sub-region is considered the heartland of the Chilean wine industry? Why?

A

Maipo Valley

-proximity to the capital city Santiago

31
Q

Describe the geography and climate of the Maipo Valley. What wine is prominent here and what’s it like?

A
  • almost completely surrounded by mountains
  • very little coast influence
  • premium sites located in the foothills, cooled by descending air

Cabernet Sauvignon: particularly minty character

32
Q

Describe the climate of the Cachapoal Valley. What grapes are grown here?

A
  • 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
33
Q

Describe the climate of the Colchagua Valley. What grapes are grown here?

A
  • 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

34
Q

Describe the geography and climate of the Curico Valley and the Maule Valley. What wines are prominent here?

A
  • 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)
35
Q

What are the three main sub-regions of the Southern Region?

A
  1. Itata Valley
  2. Bio Bio Valley
  3. Malleco Valley
36
Q

Describe the climate of the Southern Region.

A

cooler and wetter the farther south you go

37
Q

What two grapes dominate the plantings of Itata Valley and Bio Bio Valley? What are they typically used for?

A
  1. Pais
  2. Muscat of Alexandria
    - mainly consumed locally
38
Q

What varieties are showing promise in the Bio Bio Valley?

A
  • Pinot Noir
  • Chardonnay
  • aromatic varieties
39
Q

What is the smallest and most southerly wine region in Chile? What grapes are grown here?

A

Malleco Valley

  • Charonnay
  • Pinot Noir

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (41 decks)

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