Chile Flashcards

1
Q

Wine History

A

Spanish settlers in 1550, north of Chile, oxidative style from Pais

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2
Q

19th Century expansion of wine trade

A

Independence from Spain

1851 Silvestre Ochagavia Echazarreta imported vines from Bordeaux

Experimental nursery with European vines

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3
Q

1980’s Wine Trade

A

Return to democracy & free market

Investments in new tech 80’s and 90’s

Focus on quality wine for export, change in style to less extraction & oak, more elegant

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4
Q

Geography

A

Narrowest & second longest country in the world

Atacama desert in north, Andes in east, Pacific Ocean in west, Patagonia glaciers to south

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5
Q

Climate

A

Warm Mediterranean

Growing season is long, dry, sunny (cooler and wetter in south)

Low latitude - intense sunlight

80mm rain in north/inland, up to 1200 in coastal/southern areas

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6
Q

El Nino/La Nina

A

El Nino: 2-10 years, Higher than average rainfall

LA Nina: lower rainfall/drought

Vintage variation

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7
Q

Moderating Factors

A

Valleys running from east to west, maritime influence

Adnes

Coastal range & gaps in range

Humboldt current

morning fog

slopes

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8
Q

Soil

A

Fertile soils in river valleys, clay, sand, silt, gravel

Coastal ranges: gravel with sand and silt

Andes: volcanic granite

Limari Valley limestone

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9
Q

Production levels

A

3-6 million hL in 1990s to 9-13 million hL in 2010s

El Nino effects fluctuations in volume

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10
Q

Hazards

A

Coastal areas - fungal disease

Sunburn

Water for irrigation

Forest fires

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11
Q

Irrigation

A

85% of vineyards

Except Itata and sometimes Bio Bio & Maule - old vines with deep roots

Andes ice melt

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12
Q

Mechanisation

A

easy in flat vineyards, more in Central Valley bc labour shortages

Mostly hand harvesting

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13
Q

Grape Varieties

A
Cabernet Sauvigon
Merlot 
Carmenere
Pinot Noir
Syrah
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
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14
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon

A

most widely planted, single varietal or blended

Full-bodied, high ripe tannin, pronounced dark fruit and blackcurrant with herbaceous mint/eucalyptus.

Sites best near the Andes with poor soils to keep vigour low and cool nights

Also large volume in Central Valley

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15
Q

Merlot

A

Inexpensive, fruity

Soft tannin, medium body, dark fruit

Can have higher end examples

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16
Q

Carmenere

A

Full bodied, high tannin, medium acidity, ripe black fruit, herbaceous, oak

Ripens 2-3 weeks later than Merlot

Clonal selection, site selection, harvest dates, extraction style

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17
Q

Syrah

A

Cooler climate San Antonio, Casablanca, Limary, Elqui - higher acidity, fresh black fruit, pepper, clove

Warmer climate Colchagua Valley - fuller-bodied with intense, riper black fruit flavour

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18
Q

Pinot Noir

A

Casablanca and San Antonio

Red fruit, herbal, moderate to high alcohol

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19
Q

Sauvignon Blanc

A

most planted white grape

Limari, Casablanca, San Antonio: citrus to tropical, wet stone/herbaceous, sometimes lees & oak

Inexpensive, fruity from Central Valley

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20
Q

Chardonnay

A

cool coastal areas like Limari

Medium (+) to high acidity, citrus and stone fruit.

Inexpensive, ripe Charodnnay from Central Valley

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21
Q

DO System

A

Created 1995

6 main regional DOs:

Atacama
Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Central Valley
Southern
Austral (added later)

Divided into subregions, then zones, then areas

geographical/climate designations as well: Costa, Andes, Entre Cordilleras

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22
Q

6 main regional DOs:

A
Atacama
Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Central Valley
Southern
Austral (added later)
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23
Q

Areas with coastal influence

A

Costa

24
Q

Areas with mountain influence

A

Andes

25
Q

Areas in between coastal and mountain

A

Entre Cordilleras

26
Q

DO Regulations

A

75% of grapes must come from region (85% to comply with EU)

min 11.5% abv

27
Q

Labelling Terms

A
Superior 
Reserva - 12% abv min
Reserva Especial- 12% abv min
Reserva Privada - 6 month oak min
Gran Riserva- 6 month oak min
28
Q

Four main wine producing regions

A

Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Central Valley
Southern

29
Q

Coquimbo Region

A

traditionally table grapes and Pisco

Elqui, Limary, Choapa DOs

Low latitute - high temps and sunlight intensity

cooling from mountains and ocean to delay fruit ripneing

Humboldt Current

Atacama Desert

30
Q

Elqui

A

in Coquimbo Region

nothernmost

plains near coast into foothills of Andes

Morning fog

Syrah & Sauvignon Blanc

highest vineyard 2,200m above sea level

31
Q

Limari

A

Coquimbo Region

on Limari river, steep valley

Morning fog & breezes from bay to the north and river valley

Vineyards in foothills

Pockets of calcareous soils which retain moisture

Chardonnay, Syrah, some Pinot Noir nearer coast

Inland: Cabernet, Merlot, Carmenere

32
Q

Aconcagua Region

A

Three sub-regions of note:

Aconcagua Valley
San Antonio Valley
Casablanca Valley

33
Q

Aconcagua Valley

A

Sub-region of Aconcagua Region

clearest difference between Andes, Entre Cordilleras, Costsa

Central - warm and dry, some cool breezes from coast, 250mm

Valley sides: smaller volume, fresher

Costa: morning fogs, ocean breezes for whites, Pinot, cool-style Syrah

Andes: 1000m, sunny and warm days but cold air from mountains at night

34
Q

Casablanca Valley

A

Sub-region of Aconcagua Region

only 30km inland

Maritime, with hills to north and east restricting cool air from dissipating

Coolest region

Cold nights - spring frost

SB, Chard, Pinot Noir, some peppery Syrah

35
Q

San Antonio Valley

A

Sub-region of Aconcagua Region

Undulating hills west of coastal range

Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chard, SB

SB is flagship - high acidity, medium body, citrus, herbaceous, wet stone

36
Q

Leyda Valley

A

Zone in San Antonio Valley

1990’s first vineyards

close to coast

SB, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah

37
Q

Central Valley Region

A

south from Santiago

Warmer and more continental

Fertile, well-irrigated

Valley sides, Andean foothills, more maritime areas more interesting

Four sub-regions

38
Q

Maipo Valley

A

Sub Region of Central Valley Region

coastal ranges shelter frokm maritime

Black grapes, Cab Sauv, Carmenere and Syrah good quality, inexpensive Merlot

Alto Maipo: altitude vineyards, Puente Alto and Pirque sub-regions

39
Q

Maipo Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

A

High soft tannin, cassis, minty

40
Q

Alto Maipo

A

Area of Maipo Valley

Eastern end of valley

high altitude vineyards, Puente Alto and Pirque sub-regions

41
Q

Rapel Valley

A

Sub Region of Central Valley Region

Zones: Cachapoal Valley & Colchagua Valley

42
Q

Cachapoal Valley

A

Zone of Rapel Valley

Northerly zone, warmer as cut off by coastal ranges

Warm, fertile valley floor and cooler eastern end in the Andean foothills

Peumo area good quality Carmenere. Winds from coast but sheltered from cold

43
Q

Colchagua Valley

A

Zone of Rapel Valley

From Andes to Pacific

Warm fertile central party, cooler areas

Hilly areas with high quality wines, like Apalta

Western end: coastal, SB, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir

East of coastal ranges, some maritime influence: Syrah and Carmenere

44
Q

Apalta

A

Area of Colchagua Valley

South facing amphitheatre, cool breezes from west and south facing slopes with poor soil

Cab, Syrah, Carmenere

45
Q

Curico Valley

A

Sub Region of Central Valley Region

Inexpensive, high volume red

Several rivers for irrigation

46
Q

Maule Valley

A

Sub Region of Central Valley Region

Most vineyards of Chile

High volume from central

Very good quality reds from dry farmed vineyards & old vines

COoler, higher rainfall than Curico

Old bush vine Pais and Muscat of Alexandria, 100-200 years old

Carignan from Cauquenes

47
Q

Maule Valley Pais

A

Pale colour, medium body, medium acidity, strawberry & raspberry with spicy/herbal notes. low or med (-) tannin but can be rough

48
Q

Maule Valley Carignan

A

From Cauquenes in south by coast

Raspberry, chery, black plum, spicy, medium (+) to high acidity and tannin. Very good quality

49
Q

Southern Region

A

Three sub-regions: Itata, Bio Bio, Malleco

Coastal hills dimish to the south and whole region more maritime

Fungal disease

50
Q

Itata

A

Sub region of Southern Region

Old wine region, starting to get better rep

Chard, Pinot, Merlot, Cab Sauv

Old bush vine of Muscat of Alexandria and Pais, can produce very good quality

Old vine Cinsault of good and very good quality

51
Q

Itata Old Vine Cinsault

A

Medium alcohol, fresh acidity, red and black fruit, licorice, saline

Good to very good

52
Q

Bio Bio Valley

A

Sub region of Southern Region

Up to 1000mm rain

Dry farmed old bush vines of traditional varieties

Pinot Noir, Chard, SB, Riesling, Gewurz

53
Q

Malleco Valley

A

Sub region of Southern Region

Small producing region

SB, Chard, Pinot Noir with high acidity

54
Q

Exports

A

4th largest exporter, 70% of production

Free trade agreements with China and South Korea tariff-free, Japan with reduced tariff

China, USA, Japan, UK, Brazil and other South American countries (MERCOSUR free trade area)

55
Q

Big companies

A

80% produced by:

Concha y Toro
Santa Rita
Santa Carolina
San Pedro

56
Q

Foreign Investors

A

Torres
Mouton Rothschild
Lafite Rothschild
Jackson Family

57
Q

MOVI

A

Movimiento de Vinateros Independientes