Ch. 28 – Chile Flashcards by Ben Taylor

Geography and climate in Chile

Atacama Desert to the north

Fairly consistent climate from north to south.
- warm Mediterranean
- long dry summers (cooler and wetter further south)
- Low latitude = strong sunshine

El Nino phenomenon (high rainfall)
La Nina (drought)
- significant vintage variation

Pacific and Andes are cooling influences
- lengthen growing season
- acidity retention

Humboldt current (from Antarctica)
- brings cold water and cool air
- cool air sucked inland, creating fog
- increased humidity
- coastal ranges (low mountains) protect inland valley
- gaps in coastal ranges allow cooling influence to extend inland

Planting on hills can also provide cooling influence from altitude

Cool air descending from Andes
- high diurnal range

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Soils in Chile

Fertile river valleys (alluvial soils with clay, sand, silt and gravel)

Slopes are less fertile
- Coastal ranges have more gravel with sand and silt
- Andes has volcanic soil, mainly granite

Very limited limestone in Chile (some in Limari)

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Vineyard management in Chile

Reliable ripening
- intense sunshine = high tannins/anthocyanins

Risk of fungal diseases usually minimal
- can be an issue in foggy coastal regions
- sustainable and organic is widely practiced

85% of vineyards are irrigated
- except Itata, Bio Bio
- rivers bring water from melting snow

Forest fires + smoke taint

Phylloxera free
- old ungrafted vines
- new vines often grated to prevent nematodes

VSP is now common
- Mechanization is easy on flat land
- Machine-harvesting still uncommon, due to cheap labour

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Grape varieties in Chile

and winemaking

Until 1990 most common was Pais
- 75% was pulled up since 1980

Recent shift towards international varieties, i.e. Bordeaux

A leading supplier of fruity inexpensive wines

Increasing diversity of wine styles
- experimenting with new varieties like Viognier, Riesling, Gewurtz

Experimentation with less oak, concrete, whole bunches, gentler extraction, skin and lees contact

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Key black grape varieties in Chile

Cabernet Sauvignon
- single varietal or blend with Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah
- Full body, high but ripe tannins, pronounced dark fruit
- Often herbaceous (mint, eucalyptus) character
- best sites in poorer soils of Andes

Merlot
- Usually inexpensive, exported
- soft tannins, med body, dark fruit

Carmenere
- officially identified in 1994 (confused with Merlot)
- full body, high tannin, med acidity, black fruit, herbaceous, spice
- Site selection is important
- Ripens 3 weeks later than Merlot (needs warmth and sun)
- Can get overly alcoholic

Syrah
- cooler-climate peppery style to warmer-climate style in Colchagua Valley

Pinot Noir
- improving rapidly

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Key white grape varieties in Chile

Sauvignon Blanc
- cooler areas
- very good quality, high acidity, citrus to tropical
- often herbaceous
- sometimes lees contact and oak

Chardonnay
- med+ (high) acidity
- citrus, stone fruit
- oaked or unoaked

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Official wine law (DOs) in Chile

1995 Decominaciones de Origen (DOs)

6 main regional DOs (mainly along political boundaries)
- e.g. Central Valley

Sub-regions (following river valleys)
- e.g. Rapel Valley

Zones within sub-regions
- e.g. Colchagua

Areas (can belong to zone or sub-region, if zone does not exist)
- e.g. Apalta

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Addition to DO system in Chile

‘East to west classification’

2011 addition to DO system

Costa (coastal influence)

Entre Cordilleras (between)

Andes

(slow to adopt this system)

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DO requirements in Chile

75% of grapes must come from the region
(or 85% if exported to Europe)

Varietal labelling
- 75% from that variety
- or 85% if exported to Europe

Minimum alcohol 11.5%

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Legally recognised labelling terms in Chile

Reserva (min 12%)
Reserva Especial (min 12%)

Reserva Privada (min 12.5%, min 6 mths in oak)
Gran Reserva (min 12.5%, min 6 mths in oak)

Some producers use these to distinguish between wines in their portfolio

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4 main wine producing regions in Chile

Coquimbo

Aconcagua

Central Valley

Southern

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Sub-regions in Coquimbo

Elqui

Limari

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Sub-regions in Aconcagua

Aconcagua Valley

Casablanca Valley

San Antonio
- includes Leyda Valley zone

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Central Valley sub-regions

Maipo Valley
- Alto Maipo Area

Rapel Valley
- Cachapoal Valley Zone
- Peumo Area
- Colchagua Valley

Curico Valley

Maule Valley
- Cauquenes Area

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Sub-regions of Southern region

Itata Valley

Bio Bio Valley

Malleco Valley

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Coquimbo region general

Traditionally source of grapes for Pisco

Low latitude
- high summer temperatures
- intense sunlight

Cooling influence from Pacific and mountains
- intense fruit flavours, fresh acidity, alcohol can be high

Humboldt Current brings morning fogs and cooling breezes

On the edge of Atacama Desert
- almost no rainfall
- irrigation is essential

Difficult growing conditions
- small-volume production

Elqui

River Elqui

Lack of coastal mountains and route carved by river allow morning fog to reach further inland
- Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc
- high acidity, fresh fruit flavours

Some of the highest vineyards (up to 2200m)
- intense sunshine and diurnal range
- deep color yet fresh Syrah

Limari

Western part:
- Cooled by fog and breezes
- Limari River cuts narrow steep valley through Coastal Mountains to the west
- No coastal mountains to the north

Eastern part:
- Cooling influence from mountains (up to 1500m)
- Pockets of calcareous soil (unusual for Chile) with good water holding capacity (useful in desert like conditions)

Chardonnay
- lighter-bodied in west, riper in east

Syrah is the most successful red

Experimenting with Pinot Noir

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere grown in the warmer east

Aconcagua Valley

Andes, Costa, Entre Cordilleras is very clear here and widely used

Central part
- dry and warm
- lightly moderated by coastal breezes
- low rainfall (irrigation essential)
- ripe full-bodied reds with high alcohol and tannin
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- also Syrah, Carmenere

For fresher styles, producers are moving to the valley sides and the east and west parts

Aconcagua costa
- morning fogs and breezes
- ideal for whites
- Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Aconcagua Andes
- up to 1000m
- sunny, warm days
- cold air descending at night
- large diurnal range
- reds with pronounced ripe fruit, fresh acidity

Casablanca Valley

Coastal hills are very low
- allow coastal breezes

Higher hills in north and east restrict cool, humid air from escaping valley
- one of the coolest regions

Spring frost can be severe in low-lying areas

Reputation for whites
- Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay

Pinot Noir (red berry, herbaceous)

Cool climate Syrah

Small production
- mid to premium priced

San Antonio

West of coastal range
- heavily influenced by ocean

Hilly
- Variety of soils, aspects, exposure

Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Leyda Valley Zone (Sauvignon Blanc)
- few miles from ocean
- foggy mornings
- cool breezes
- bright afternoon sunshine

Central Valley region
general (Chile)

sheltered from maritime influences by coastal ranges

warm fertile, well-irrigated plains

Ripe, inexpensive fruity wines

Now also quality minded sub-regions with premium wines
- typically in the parts closest to the Andes or the coast

Maipo Valley

Coastal ranges shelter area from maritime influences
- warm and sunny

Dominated by black varieties
- known for Cabernet Sauvignon (cassis, minty)
- Carmenere, Syrah

Almost entirely surrounded by mountains
- producers increasingly planting at altitude (up to 1000m) in Andes foothills
- Alto Maipo Area known for outstanding Cabernet and Bordeaux blends
- nights cooled by descending air

Rapel Valley

sub-divided into two zones (Rapel rarely on label)
- Cachapoal Valley
- Colchagua Valley

Cachapoal Valley

zone of Rapel Valley warmer - cut off from maritime influences warm fertile valley floor makes inexpensive reds - Cabernet, Carmenere, Syrah Area around Puemo is recognized for very good full-bodied Carmenere - sheltered from cold weather from Andes but wind is funneled in from coast - reduced frost risk, long warm growing season for Carmenere - best sites for Syrah and Cabernet are near the Andes

Colchagua Valley

zone of Rapel Valley wide variety of wines Warm, fertile central part (inexpensive) Some less fertile, cooler areas - some of Chile's most prized wines Apalta - south-facing slopes slow ripening - cool breezes from west - poor soils - Cabernet, Carmenere, Syrah Western end - fully exposed to coast - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir Just east of coastal ranges - warmer but with coastal breezes - Syrah, Carmenere

Curico Valley

reputation for inexpensive wines from the warm, fertile land in the central part Easy irrigation due to several rivers Summers are warm and dry, sheltered from any coastal influence Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay

Maule Valley

Most plantings of Chile Traditionally known for high volumes - changing toward quality - dry-farmed vines and old vines Slightly cooler and wetter than Curico - wines can be lighter and higher in acidity Old bush vines of Pais and Muscat of Alexandria (100-200 years) - Pais is pale in colour, med body and acidity, strawberry, spicy, herbal, low (med-) tannins - carbonic sometimes used, since tannins can be rough VIGNO association of growers of old vine dry-farmed Carignan - Cauquenes area is particularly known Typical Chilean varieties (Cab, Merlot, Carmenere) increasingly being grown, along with whites in Andes foothills

Southern Region general (Chile)

coastal hills diminish - less protection from Pacific - cooler, wetter - problem of fungal diseases (ocean breezes and good canopy management help) high latitude means longer days, aiding ripening

Itata Valley

Historically cheap blending grapes but seeing revival due to concerns over climate change and water shortages Mostly old bush vines - Muscat of Alexandria and Pais - dry-farmed high quality wines + old-vine Cinsault New wineries - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Bio Bio Valley

some dry-farmed old bush vines of traditional varieties Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer over 1000mm of rain

Malleco Valley

only a handful of producers Cool climate - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir High acidity

Wine Business in Chile

Fourth largest exporter in world - exports 70% of its production (domestic consumption is low) - low average value per unit Promotional body - Wines of Chile - works on promoting premium wines Number of free-trade agreements - China, South Korea, USA; Japan, UK, Brazil 80% of whole production is by 4 companies: - e.g. Concha y Toro, Santa Carolina - also own wineries in Argentina Chile attracted some foreign investors - Torres, Mouton Rothschild, Kendall-Jackson - cheap land and running costs