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2019-06-03 WSET3 EXAM > C36 - Chile /checked > Flashcards

C36 - Chile /checked Flashcards

1
Q

What fills the gaps in the coastal mountains?

A

River valleys that drain the water from the Andes

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2
Q

What is the general climate of Chile?

A

Warm Mediterranean

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3
Q

What does the mediterranean climate mean for the Chilean weather and conditions for growing grapes?

A
  1. Summers are warm and dry

2. Fungal disease is kept to a minimum

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4
Q

How is the shortfall in rainwater in Chile generally dealt with?

A

Irrigation

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5
Q

What is the difficulty with irrigation inChile, particularly in the north?

A

Water for irrigation is in increasingly short supply

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6
Q

How are conditions different in the southern part of Chile?

A

They are cooler and wetter here

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7
Q

What can affect Chile’s weather pattern some years?

A

El Niño and La Niña

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8
Q

What are the comparative impacts of El Niño and La Niña respectively on Chile?

A

Rainfall levels can dramatically increase during El Niño years
Drought may occur during La Niña years

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9
Q

Describe the major climatic ocean current influence which applies to all parts of coastal Chile , and how it affects Chile

A

The cold HUMBOLDT CURRENT flows up from Antarctica along the Chilean coast and prevailing winds blow cool air inland along the river valleys

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10
Q

What can be a secondary effect of the Humboldt Current in coastal areas of Chile?

A

It can create fogs

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11
Q

Where is the cooling effect of prevailing Humboldt winds most evident in Chile?

A

Where coastal mountains are at their lowest and in parts of the valleys that are closest to the Pacific

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12
Q

What is cooling effect felt in Chilean foothills specifically (aside winds)?

A

Cold air which descends from the mountains overnight can cause a large diurnal range

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13
Q

Describe weather between the two mountain ranges in Chile

A

It is much more shielded here and the large expanses of flat land are easier to cultivate

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14
Q

What 3 terms were introduced in 2012 through new Chilean labelling laws? (as a result of the two major cooling influences in Chile)

A
  1. Costa
  2. Entre Cordilleras
  3. Andes
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15
Q

What alternative winemaking practices are widespread in Chile?

A

Sustainable and organic grape

Sustainable and organic grape growing and winemaking are widely practiced by a number of small and large winemaking estates

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16
Q

Why are sustainable and organic winemaking practices widely practiced in Chile?

A

A number of well respected winemakers as well as the authorities have done a lot to promote this

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17
Q

What is the most planted grape variety in Chile?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

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18
Q

What style is Cabernet made into in Chile?

A

A variety from simple and fruity to full-bodied premium examples

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19
Q

Describe premium Cabernet wines of Chile

A

Usually with very ripe black fruit aromas and flavours, often with a herbaceous character

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20
Q

What are blending partners for Chilean Cabernet? (3)

A
  1. Merlot
  2. Carmenère
  3. Syrah
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21
Q

Describe styles of Merlot in Chile

A

Inexpensive, medium-bodied and fruity (has been very successful on export markets)
Fuller-bodied and complex is also found

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22
Q

What are the most important viticultural characteristics of Carmenère?

A

Late ripening and most successful in warm, sunny conditions

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23
Q

Describe Carmenère wines

body, tannin, flavour

A

Full-bodied
High levels of tannin
Overtly herbaceous when not fully ripe
Good examples achieve a balance between black fruit and herbal aromas

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24
Q

What is thought of as Chile’s signature variety?

A

Carmenère

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25
Q

Describe Syrah wines from hotter regions in Chile

Give 1 example of such a region

A

Greater intensity of black fruit flavours
Fuller body

Colchagua Valley

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26
Q

Which grape variety is showing particular promise in cooler locations such as San Antonio and Casablanca Valleys?

A

Pinot Noir

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27
Q

Which 3 white varieties dominate white plantings Chile?

A
  1. Sauvignon Blanc
  2. Chardonnay
  3. Muscat of Alexandria
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28
Q

Where in Chile does Sauvignon Blanc perform best?

2 valleys

A

In cooler vineyard sites, such as those of

  1. Casablanca Valley
  2. San Antonio Valleys
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29
Q

Describe the wines of Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys

acidity, flavours, oak/lees

A

Excellent wines with high acidity and intense fruity flavours
Occasional herbaceous notes
Some have additional richness and texture from lees-stirring and oak

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30
Q

How are most Chardonnays made in Chile?

A

In a modern international style with ripe fruit and oak flavours

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31
Q

Which regions other than Limari, produce fine Chardonnays?

A

Aconcagua Valley and Casablanca Valley

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32
Q

What is the chief use of the grape, Muscat of Alexandria?

A

For the production of the grape brandy Pisco

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33
Q

Of which white grapes are there small plantings in Chile?

3

A

Aromatic varieties

  1. Viognier
  2. Riesling
  3. Gewurztraminer

making fresh fruity wines from cool regions such as the Bío Bío and Itata Valleys

34
Q

What are the 3 winemaking subregions in Coquimbo?

A
  1. Elqui Valley
  2. Limarí Valley
  3. Choapa Valley
35
Q

How do the three valleys of Coquimbo compare?

A

They all have slightly different features, but they all benefit from brilliant sunshine and marked cooling influences

36
Q

What are the 2 main cooling influences of the valleys of Coquimbo?

A
  1. Sea breezes

2. Mountain air

37
Q

What is the role of altitude in Coquimbo?

A

Some vineyards are being planted at very high altitudes

38
Q

What is the biggest viticultural challenge in Coquimbo?

A

Lack of water

39
Q

Describe the role of irrigation in Coquimbo

A

Vital due to lack of water, but expensive because water is less plentiful here compared with some other regions

40
Q

What 2 varieties is Elqui Valley in Coquimbo known for?

A
  1. Sauvignon Blanc

2. Syrah

41
Q

What variety is Limari Valley in Coquimbo best known?

A

Chardonnay

42
Q

What 3 sub-regions constitute Aconcagua?

A
  1. Aconcagua Valley
  2. Casablanca Valley
  3. San Antonio Valley
43
Q

What is the climate in Aconcagua Valley?

A

Some of the warmest growing conditions in Chile on the fertile valley floor between the coastal range and the AndesSome cooling influences from the ocean and the Andes

44
Q

What varieties is Aconcagua Valley best known for?

3, ranked

A
  1. Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. Syrah
  3. Carmenère
45
Q

How have wine styles changed in Aconcagua Valley in recent years?

A

Producers have been looking to reduce alcohol levels and find more freshness and complex fruit flavours

46
Q

What has been the result on viticulture of the recent shift in desired wine style in Aconcagua Valley?

A

Plantings are less focused on the fertile valley floor and have spread either onto the slopes or towards the coast

47
Q

What’s the result of the locations of Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley on climate? What climatic phenomena are experienced here?

A

The climate is noticeably cooler in these locations due to morning fogs and and afternoon winds that blow off the ocean

48
Q

Which variety has the highest reputation in San Antonio Valley?

Where specifically is the reputation greatest?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

The particularly cool Leyda Valley zone

49
Q

What else is widely planted in San Antonio Valley and to what level of quality?

A

Chardonnay

It’s capable of making fine wines here

50
Q

What is the most planted variety of San Antonio Valley?

A

Pinot Noir

51
Q

Which red grape is particularly successful in the warmer vineyard sites to the east of Casablanca Valley? Describe its wines

A

Syrah

Well-structured wines with a peppery edge

52
Q

Loosely describe the region of Central Valley

A

A vast, warm, flat region

53
Q

What is the significance of Central Valley for Chilean winemaking?

A

It is where the majority of Chilean Vineyards have always been found

54
Q

Describe grape-ripening in Central Valley, Chile

A

Grapes ripen easily here

55
Q

What is a lot of production in Central Valley focused on?

A

Inexpensive, fruity wines, often made from Merlot and Chardonnay

56
Q

What are the 4 sub-regions of Central Valley?

A
  1. Maipo Valley
  2. Rapel Valley
  3. Curicó Valley
  4. Maule Valley
57
Q

What are the 3 sub-regions of Rapel Valley?

A
  1. Cachapoal Valley
  2. Colchagua Valley
  3. Apalta
58
Q

Describe the geographical identity of Maipo Valley and how this affects its climate

A

It is almost completely surrounded by mountains

Very little coastal influence reaches the grape-growing area to the south of the capital

59
Q

Where are the more premium sites of the Maipo Valley?

A

Many of them are located in the Andean foothills

60
Q

Describe why the location of Maipo’s more premium sites , IS more premium

A

The Andean foothills are cooled by the descending air, lending elegance and structure to the red wines

61
Q

Which specific wine is most associated with Maipo Valley?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon with a particularly minty character

62
Q

What is the more northerly zone of the Rapel sub-region?

A

Cachapoal Valley

63
Q

Describe the Cachapoal Valley

A

It’s a warm area cut off from the ocean breezes

64
Q

Which 3 grapes do best in Cachapoal Valley and where?

A
  1. Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. Syrah
  3. Carmenère

Carmenère ripenswell on the valley floors
Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah perform well in the cooler eastern end of the valley

65
Q

How does Colchagua Valley compare with Cachapoal Valley?

A

It is a larger and more varied area

The centre is warm and open to some ocean influence

66
Q

What 3 grapes is Colchagua Valley best known for?

A
  1. Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. Syrah
  3. Carmenère
67
Q

How does climate and wine style change further to the west of Colchagua Valley?

A

The cooling Pacific influence is greater here and some high quality white wines are produced

68
Q

Which 2 sub-regions form the southern end of the Central Valley?

A
  1. Curicó Valley

2. Maule Valley

69
Q

What is the role of Curicó Valley and Maule Valley for Chilean wine? Explain

A

The most important source of fruit for inexpensive, blended red and white wines

The warmth and fertile soils make this possible

70
Q

Which of the southern Central Valley sub-regions is cooler? What is the effect on its wines?

A

Maule Valley

Its wines retain a higher acidity (useful for blending)

71
Q

What has been the resulting star-variety in Maule Valley as a consequence of the new winemaking trends? What style of wine is made from this?

A

CarignanFull-bodied, intensely concentrated wines from the low-yielding bush vines

72
Q

What are the sub-regions of Southern Region?

A
  1. Itata Valley
  2. Bío Bío Valley
  3. Malleco Valley
73
Q

What is the climate in the Southern Region of Chile/how does it change?

A

It is noticeably cooler and wetter the further south the sub-regions go in Southern Region

74
Q

What 2 varieties dominates plantings in Itata Valley and Bío Bío Valley?

A
  1. País

2. Muscat of Alexandria

75
Q

What is the main market for most wines of Itata Valley and Bío Bío Valley?

A

Local

76
Q

What is made in Malleco?

A

A small quantity of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (though it is increasingly attracting interest from premium producers)

77
Q

Describe Chile’s GI scheme

A

It is divided into several Denominaciones de Origen (DOs)

4 principal regions
13 better known sub-regions

78
Q

What are the 4 principal regions of Chile?

A
  1. Coquimbo
  2. Aconcagua
  3. Central Valley
  4. Southern Region
79
Q

What is Chile’s GI system generally based on?

A

Administrative regions

80
Q

What is the result of Chile’s wine regions being based on administrative regions?

A

They are very broad based and cover very large tracts of land

81
Q

What are the 3 new OPTIONAL terms from the 2012 classification in Chilean law? What do they mean?

A
  1. Costa (coastal areas)
  2. Entre Cordilleras (the areas between the mountain ranges)
  3. Andes (mountain areas)
82
Q

Which other terms may be recognised in Chilean labelling law? What do they mean?

A
  1. Reserva
  2. Reserva Especial
  3. Reserva Privada
  4. Gran Reserva

They have very little meaning, but may be used by winemakers to distinguish their quality levels

2019-06-03 WSET3 EXAM (52 decks)

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