Chile

Question 1

what are 4 geographical features of chile

Answer 1

west - pacific ocean
inland - coastal mountains
east - andes
south - large depression (central valley)

Question 2

what is the general climate in chile?

Answer 2

warm mediterranean with a dry sunny growing season

Question 3

what are some challenges growers face?

Answer 3

shortfall of rainwater and short supply for irrigation

el niño and la niña

Question 4

what is el niño VS la niña

Answer 4

el niño - excess rainfall

la niña - drought

Question 5

what are some moderating factors of chile?

Answer 5

the cold humboldt current blowing cold air from antarctica along the coast

cold overnight air effect from andes at the foothills

Question 6

areas very close to the river in the valleys inland experience fog from?

Answer 6

humboldt current

Question 7

why is the area between the mountain ranges easier to cultivate?

Answer 7

the land is more sheltered and flat

Question 8

what is Chiles GI system and what are the 4 principal regions?

Answer 8

DO - demoninaciones de origen

coquimbo
aconcugua
central valley
southern region

Question 9

in the GI scheme how is it divided?

Answer 9

DO
REGION
SUBREGION
ZONE

Question 10

what is the classification system that was introduced to Chile in 2012 and what are the terms?

Answer 10

categorizes sites based on their latitude

Costa - coastal areas
Enter Cordilleras - between mountains
Andes - mountain areas

Question 11

why do the terms Entre Cordillers and Andes differ from Costa

Answer 11

they are complimentary terms that can be added by choice in addition to DO

Question 12

Other labeling terms in Chile that can communicate quality?

Answer 12

riserva
riserva especial
riserva privado
gran riserva

Question 13

what is the most planted grap variety in chile?

Answer 13

Cab Sauv

Question 14

what are the 2 styles of merlot being made in Chile?

Answer 14

inexpensive fruity

fuller and more complex

Question 15

which black variety is late ripening and found in the warmest sites of Chile often expressing full body and high tannin

Answer 15

carmenere

Question 16

how does syrah vary from cooler to warmer sites in Chile?

Answer 16

cooler - leaner and more peppery

hotter - greater intensity of black fruit and body

Question 17

which grape is showing promise in san antonia and casablanca valleys?

Answer 17

pinot noir

Question 18

what are the 2 most dominant white varieties in chile?

Answer 18

chardonnay and sauvignon blanc

Question 19

an excellent quality sauvignon blanc from casablanca or dan antonio would produce flavour of?

Answer 19

high acidity, ripe apple, citrus, tropical fruit sometimes herbaceous

some exaples use lee stirring and oak for richness and texture

Question 20

what are the smaller plantings of white varieties?

Answer 20

muscat of alexandria
viogner
riesling
gewurtztraminer

Question 21

what are the 3 subregions of coquimbo?

Answer 21

Elqui
Limari
Choapa

Question 22

what is the biggest challenge growers face in coquimbo?

Answer 22

lack of water for irrigation - expensive

Question 23

what does Elqui valley hold a reputation for?

Answer 23

syrah and sauvignon blanc

Question 24

where is producing some of Chiles best chardonnay’s?

Answer 24

Limari valley

Question 25

what are the sub regions and one zone of Aconcagua?

Answer 25

aconcugua valley
casablanca
san antonio - leyda valley

Question 26

where is some of the warmest growing conditions in Chile?

Answer 26

the valley floor between the costal and andes mountains in aconcugua

Question 27

which warm valley traditionally provided rich ripe red fruit high alc tannic cabs, syrahs, and carmenere?

Answer 27

Aconcugua Valley

Question 28

what are wine makers doing to the reds in aconcugua valley?

Answer 28

reducing alcohol finding more freshness and complex flavour - spreading plantings onto the slopes or towards the coast

Question 29

what makes casablanca and san antonio valleys cooler?

Answer 29

the proximity to the pacific ocean and coastal mountains providing morning fishing and afternoon wind

Question 30

which regions produce high quality sauvignon blanc and chardonnay

Answer 30

Casablanca and San antonio valley

particularly leyda valley

Question 31

which black grapes are being grown with success in Casablanca and San antonio? name a characteristic of each

Answer 31

pinot noir - herbaceous red fruit

syrah - structured

Question 32

what are the 4 subregions of centra valley?

Answer 32

Maipo
Rappel
Curico
Cachapoal

Question 33

what are the 2 sub regions of Rappel and how do they differ?

Answer 33

Cacapoal - warm

Colchauga - larger with more ocean influences with plantings on slopes and some high quality wines from cooler sites

both growing Syrah Carmenere and Cab Sauv

Question 34

describe the growing conditions of Maipo Valley

Answer 34

surrounded by mountains, little coastal influence

premium sites are located in the foothills cooled by the descending air leading to elegance and structure

Question 35

A region producing a minty cab sauv?

Answer 35

Maipo

Question 36

in colchuaga it becomes cooler the further west you go, what is being produced here?

Answer 36

high quality whites

Question 37

what are the Curico and Maule Valley sub regions known for producing and how do the vineyards differ?

Answer 37

inexpensive fruit for red and white blends

Maule is cooler and retains higher acidity, helpful for blending

Question 38

Carignan from ancient low yielding bush vines that are producing intensely concentrated wine are in?

Answer 38

Curico Valley

Question 39

Bio Bio, Itata and Malleco and cooler and wetter and have significant plantings of pais and muscat mostly being consumed locally but there is some promise for which grapes?

Answer 39

Pinot noir
chardonnay
and aromatic varieties