Ch.17 – Chile Flashcards

1
Q

One card on Chilean Sparkling wines

A
  • 19th C with Valdivieso
  • Grown rapidly recently
  • Mainly tank fermented and fruity (Brut & slightly sweeter)
  • A few trad method
  • Main garpes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Sauvignon Blanc
  • Most inexpensive, some in export markets mid-priced
  • Acceptable to v good quality
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Where grapes grown for Chilean Sparkling

A
  • Cooler coastal areas, cooler Andean foothills or milder regions in South (some cheap from warm Central Valley)
  • Best quality (high acidity) Pacific or altitude
  • Best wines from specified areas, cooled by Pacific
    • Casablanca
    • San Antonio (Leyda)
    • Limari
    • coastal Curicó
    • Bío Bío (southerly latitude, ocean-influenced)
  • Itata and Maule historically grow Moscatel and Pais
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Irrigation and harvest in Chile

A
  • Irrigation in all areas except Itata (plenty of rain)
  • Harvest early Feb to early March, several weeks earlier than regular harvest, as you’d expect
  • Harvest mainly hand-picked because of steep slopes, bush vines (and cheap labour)
  • Some machine harvest
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Winemaking in Chile

A
  • 90% tank method
  • Very modern, new equipment, so sector grown quickly
  • Chardonnay commonly used
  • Also Sauvignon Blanc to retain aromatic primary fruit
  • 10% traditional method
    • chardonnay & pinot noir
    • some Pais (Blanc de Noirs or rosé)
    • Moscatel
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Wine law in Chile

A
  • Labelling for residual sugar follows EU
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Describe Chilean Sparkling Wine Business

A
  • A few very large cos then several small ones
  • Main producers Valdivieso (over 1/3), Vina Mar, Undurraga, Conch y Toro, Cono Sur, Miguel Torres
  • Domestic sales 2/3 of production, growing fast, esp at premium end
  • Consumption per capita 1.2l, 95% Chilean Sparkling
  • Exports growing, Japan (over 1/3 export market, Columbia, Brazil
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly