Bolivia Flashcards
What is Singani?
Bolivia’s equivalent to Pisco
What is the elevation of Bolivia’s vines?
1700-2800M, with an average of 2700M
What are the winegrowing valleys of Bolivia?
La Paz
Santa Cruz
Cinti
Tarija
What is Bolivia’s wine capital?
Tarija
Proximity to Argentina made it possible to bring modern wine-making and viticultural techniques across the border
Over 3/4’s of of the industry concentrated there
Who was responsible for spearheading the modernization of Tarija valley?
Julio Kohlberg Chavarria - founded his family winery in 1957 and converted it into a large-scale commercial operation in the 70’s
When was the Singani DO created?
1992
For Tarija, Cinti, La Paz, and Potosi
What is Bolivia’s most-planted grape variety?
Moscatel de Alejandria (Criolla variety)
Accounts for almost a third of all vineyard area
Where would we find the grape Vischoqueña? What is it a crossing of?
Bolivia - a Criolla variety
Moscatel de Alejandria x unidentified red Criolla grape
Likened to a Criolla Pinot Noir
What’s the most-planted international varietal in Bolivia?
Cabernet Sauvignon
The old vines of Bolivia can be found trained around _____
The trunks of molle and chañar trees
How many commercial wine regions does Bolivia have?
3 - Ciniti Valley, Tarija, and Santa Cruz Valleys
70% of the vineyards are located in Tarija
What geograpical features if Tarija surrounded by?
Bowl-shaped alluvial plain and ancient lake basin
Surrounded by the Sama mountains to the west and thick forests/jungle to the east
What are the “southern winds” of Bolivia?
Surazos - cooling, but can be particularly strong and damaging to vines
Moscatel de Alejandria is mostly planted for____
Singani production
What’s notable about Tajira’s UV index?
The solar radiation can reach over 16, some of the most intense solar radiation in the world. (Bordeaux is 8)
Sub-regions of Tarija:
Santa Ana (largest, most traditional)
La Concepcion (one of most important, home to key producers and sandy soil)
San Luis (close to San Jacinto Dam, main water supply)
Santa Cruz Valley’s climate:
High altitude and surazos wind make it Bolivia’s coolest wine region. This region is the gateway to the Amazon Basin.
Sub-regions of the Santa Cruz Valleys:
Samaipata
Vallegrande
Mairana
How do most Bolivians prepare their Singani?
As a “Chuflay”, mixed cocktail of:
50 ml Singani
20 ml lime juice
30 ml simple syrup
30 ml fresh ginger juice
50 ml sparkling water
slice of lime
Would also used store-bought gingerale
What is the primary grape variety for Singani?
Moscatel de Alejandria
What is the only wine region with a Geographical Indication in Bolivia:
Cinti Valley GI (2018)
Which Bolivian wine region is responsible for the majority of production?
Tarija
Name a synonym for Negro Criolla:
Listan Prieto (Spain)
Missionera (Bolivia)
Vischoquena is generally used to produce what style of wines:
Dry reds
What are the subzones of Tarija:
San Luis, Santa Ana, Valle de la Concepcion
Given that Bolivia lies in tropical latitudes, how is viticulture possible?
Vineyards are planted at high altitudes - generally starting at about 1600m
The majority of production in Uruguay is concentrated in which part of the country (N/S/W/E)
South
Besides Bolivia name three other wine-growing regions known to grow Marselan:
France, Spain, California, Brazil, China, Uruguay
What national product is the closest thing to aguardiente in Bolivia?
Singani
How do you make a Chuflay cocktail?
Singani & Ginger Ale and/or Lemon-lime soda on the rocks with a garnish of a lime slice
What is the name for the southern winds that can provide cooling but also damage vines in Tarija, Bolivia?
surazos
If a Bolivian serves you cuy what are you eating?
Guinea pig
When did international varieties reach Bolivia?
1930
1978 $$$
1992
2001
What was the first DO created in Bolivia that included Tarija, Cincinnati, La Paz, & Potosi?
Singani DO, 1992
What is the climate in Bolivia?
High-altitude continental
T/F vineyards in Bolivia are most often found in high-altitude valleys ranging from 1600-3600 masl.
True
Put these grapes in order of most planted (1) to least (5) in Bolivia:
Syrah (3)
Tannat (5)
Moscatel de Alejandra (1)
Cabernet Sauvignon (2)
Malbec (4)
This historic 80 km long canyon represented the heartland of Bolivian wine for centuries and runs along the border of Potosi, Chuquisaca, and Tarija:
Cinti Valley
Since 1960 this Bolivian wine region has experienced a boom from a few hundred hectares to over 3,300 today. It has become Bolivia’s main wine region.
Tarija
Samaipata, Mairana, Valle Grande are the 3 subregions of this maritime/semi-arid continental region.
Santa Cruz Valleys
What is the most planted grape of Bolivia by acreage, and what is it used to produce?
MdA, Singani
Name 3 producers of Singani?
Singani 63, Casa Real, Rujero, Los Parrales
