C36 - Chile /checked Flashcards
What fills the gaps in the coastal mountains?
River valleys that drain the water from the Andes
What is the general climate of Chile?
Warm Mediterranean
What does the mediterranean climate mean for the Chilean weather and conditions for growing grapes?
- Summers are warm and dry
2. Fungal disease is kept to a minimum
How is the shortfall in rainwater in Chile generally dealt with?
Irrigation
What is the difficulty with irrigation inChile, particularly in the north?
Water for irrigation is in increasingly short supply
How are conditions different in the southern part of Chile?
They are cooler and wetter here
What can affect Chile’s weather pattern some years?
El Niño and La Niña
What are the comparative impacts of El Niño and La Niña respectively on Chile?
Rainfall levels can dramatically increase during El Niño years
Drought may occur during La Niña years
Describe the major climatic ocean current influence which applies to all parts of coastal Chile , and how it affects Chile
The cold HUMBOLDT CURRENT flows up from Antarctica along the Chilean coast and prevailing winds blow cool air inland along the river valleys
What can be a secondary effect of the Humboldt Current in coastal areas of Chile?
It can create fogs
Where is the cooling effect of prevailing Humboldt winds most evident in Chile?
Where coastal mountains are at their lowest and in parts of the valleys that are closest to the Pacific
What is cooling effect felt in Chilean foothills specifically (aside winds)?
Cold air which descends from the mountains overnight can cause a large diurnal range
Describe weather between the two mountain ranges in Chile
It is much more shielded here and the large expanses of flat land are easier to cultivate
What 3 terms were introduced in 2012 through new Chilean labelling laws? (as a result of the two major cooling influences in Chile)
- Costa
- Entre Cordilleras
- Andes
What alternative winemaking practices are widespread in Chile?
Sustainable and organic grape
Sustainable and organic grape growing and winemaking are widely practiced by a number of small and large winemaking estates
Why are sustainable and organic winemaking practices widely practiced in Chile?
A number of well respected winemakers as well as the authorities have done a lot to promote this
What is the most planted grape variety in Chile?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What style is Cabernet made into in Chile?
A variety from simple and fruity to full-bodied premium examples
Describe premium Cabernet wines of Chile
Usually with very ripe black fruit aromas and flavours, often with a herbaceous character
What are blending partners for Chilean Cabernet? (3)
- Merlot
- Carmenère
- Syrah
Describe styles of Merlot in Chile
Inexpensive, medium-bodied and fruity (has been very successful on export markets)
Fuller-bodied and complex is also found
What are the most important viticultural characteristics of Carmenère?
Late ripening and most successful in warm, sunny conditions
Describe Carmenère wines
body, tannin, flavour
Full-bodied
High levels of tannin
Overtly herbaceous when not fully ripe
Good examples achieve a balance between black fruit and herbal aromas
What is thought of as Chile’s signature variety?
Carmenère
Describe Syrah wines from hotter regions in Chile
Give 1 example of such a region
Greater intensity of black fruit flavours
Fuller body
Colchagua Valley
Which grape variety is showing particular promise in cooler locations such as San Antonio and Casablanca Valleys?
Pinot Noir
Which 3 white varieties dominate white plantings Chile?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Muscat of Alexandria
Where in Chile does Sauvignon Blanc perform best?
2 valleys
In cooler vineyard sites, such as those of
- Casablanca Valley
- San Antonio Valleys
Describe the wines of Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys
acidity, flavours, oak/lees
Excellent wines with high acidity and intense fruity flavours
Occasional herbaceous notes
Some have additional richness and texture from lees-stirring and oak
How are most Chardonnays made in Chile?
In a modern international style with ripe fruit and oak flavours
Which regions other than Limari, produce fine Chardonnays?
Aconcagua Valley and Casablanca Valley
What is the chief use of the grape, Muscat of Alexandria?
For the production of the grape brandy Pisco
Of which white grapes are there small plantings in Chile?
3
Aromatic varieties
- Viognier
- Riesling
- Gewurztraminer
making fresh fruity wines from cool regions such as the Bío Bío and Itata Valleys
What are the 3 winemaking subregions in Coquimbo?
- Elqui Valley
- Limarí Valley
- Choapa Valley
How do the three valleys of Coquimbo compare?
They all have slightly different features, but they all benefit from brilliant sunshine and marked cooling influences
What are the 2 main cooling influences of the valleys of Coquimbo?
- Sea breezes
2. Mountain air
What is the role of altitude in Coquimbo?
Some vineyards are being planted at very high altitudes
What is the biggest viticultural challenge in Coquimbo?
Lack of water
Describe the role of irrigation in Coquimbo
Vital due to lack of water, but expensive because water is less plentiful here compared with some other regions
What 2 varieties is Elqui Valley in Coquimbo known for?
- Sauvignon Blanc
2. Syrah
What variety is Limari Valley in Coquimbo best known?
Chardonnay
What 3 sub-regions constitute Aconcagua?
- Aconcagua Valley
- Casablanca Valley
- San Antonio Valley
What is the climate in Aconcagua Valley?
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
What varieties is Aconcagua Valley best known for?
3, ranked
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Carmenère
How have wine styles changed in Aconcagua Valley in recent years?
Producers have been looking to reduce alcohol levels and find more freshness and complex fruit flavours
What has been the result on viticulture of the recent shift in desired wine style in Aconcagua Valley?
Plantings are less focused on the fertile valley floor and have spread either onto the slopes or towards the coast
What’s the result of the locations of Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley on climate? What climatic phenomena are experienced here?
The climate is noticeably cooler in these locations due to morning fogs and and afternoon winds that blow off the ocean
Which variety has the highest reputation in San Antonio Valley?
Where specifically is the reputation greatest?
Sauvignon Blanc
The particularly cool Leyda Valley zone
What else is widely planted in San Antonio Valley and to what level of quality?
Chardonnay
It’s capable of making fine wines here
What is the most planted variety of San Antonio Valley?
Pinot Noir
Which red grape is particularly successful in the warmer vineyard sites to the east of Casablanca Valley? Describe its wines
Syrah
Well-structured wines with a peppery edge
Loosely describe the region of Central Valley
A vast, warm, flat region
What is the significance of Central Valley for Chilean winemaking?
It is where the majority of Chilean Vineyards have always been found
Describe grape-ripening in Central Valley, Chile
Grapes ripen easily here
What is a lot of production in Central Valley focused on?
Inexpensive, fruity wines, often made from Merlot and Chardonnay
What are the 4 sub-regions of Central Valley?
- Maipo Valley
- Rapel Valley
- Curicó Valley
- Maule Valley
What are the 3 sub-regions of Rapel Valley?
- Cachapoal Valley
- Colchagua Valley
- Apalta
Describe the geographical identity of Maipo Valley and how this affects its climate
It is almost completely surrounded by mountains
Very little coastal influence reaches the grape-growing area to the south of the capital
Where are the more premium sites of the Maipo Valley?
Many of them are located in the Andean foothills
Describe why the location of Maipo’s more premium sites , IS more premium
The Andean foothills are cooled by the descending air, lending elegance and structure to the red wines
Which specific wine is most associated with Maipo Valley?
Cabernet Sauvignon with a particularly minty character
What is the more northerly zone of the Rapel sub-region?
Cachapoal Valley
Describe the Cachapoal Valley
It’s a warm area cut off from the ocean breezes
Which 3 grapes do best in Cachapoal Valley and where?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Carmenère
Carmenère ripenswell on the valley floors
Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah perform well in the cooler eastern end of the valley
How does Colchagua Valley compare with Cachapoal Valley?
It is a larger and more varied area
The centre is warm and open to some ocean influence
What 3 grapes is Colchagua Valley best known for?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Carmenère
How does climate and wine style change further to the west of Colchagua Valley?
The cooling Pacific influence is greater here and some high quality white wines are produced
Which 2 sub-regions form the southern end of the Central Valley?
- Curicó Valley
2. Maule Valley
What is the role of Curicó Valley and Maule Valley for Chilean wine? Explain
The most important source of fruit for inexpensive, blended red and white wines
The warmth and fertile soils make this possible
Which of the southern Central Valley sub-regions is cooler? What is the effect on its wines?
Maule Valley
Its wines retain a higher acidity (useful for blending)
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?
CarignanFull-bodied, intensely concentrated wines from the low-yielding bush vines
What are the sub-regions of Southern Region?
- Itata Valley
- Bío Bío Valley
- Malleco Valley
What is the climate in the Southern Region of Chile/how does it change?
It is noticeably cooler and wetter the further south the sub-regions go in Southern Region
What 2 varieties dominates plantings in Itata Valley and Bío Bío Valley?
- País
2. Muscat of Alexandria
What is the main market for most wines of Itata Valley and Bío Bío Valley?
Local
What is made in Malleco?
A small quantity of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (though it is increasingly attracting interest from premium producers)
Describe Chile’s GI scheme
It is divided into several Denominaciones de Origen (DOs)
4 principal regions
13 better known sub-regions
What are the 4 principal regions of Chile?
- Coquimbo
- Aconcagua
- Central Valley
- Southern Region
What is Chile’s GI system generally based on?
Administrative regions
What is the result of Chile’s wine regions being based on administrative regions?
They are very broad based and cover very large tracts of land
What are the 3 new OPTIONAL terms from the 2012 classification in Chilean law? What do they mean?
- Costa (coastal areas)
- Entre Cordilleras (the areas between the mountain ranges)
- Andes (mountain areas)
Which other terms may be recognised in Chilean labelling law? What do they mean?
- Reserva
- Reserva Especial
- Reserva Privada
- Gran Reserva
They have very little meaning, but may be used by winemakers to distinguish their quality levels
