Chile Flashcards
Wine History
Spanish settlers in 1550, north of Chile, oxidative style from Pais
19th Century expansion of wine trade
Independence from Spain
1851 Silvestre Ochagavia Echazarreta imported vines from Bordeaux
Experimental nursery with European vines
1980’s Wine Trade
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
Geography
Narrowest & second longest country in the world
Atacama desert in north, Andes in east, Pacific Ocean in west, Patagonia glaciers to south
Climate
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
El Nino/La Nina
El Nino: 2-10 years, Higher than average rainfall
LA Nina: lower rainfall/drought
Vintage variation
Moderating Factors
Valleys running from east to west, maritime influence
Adnes
Coastal range & gaps in range
Humboldt current
morning fog
slopes
Soil
Fertile soils in river valleys, clay, sand, silt, gravel
Coastal ranges: gravel with sand and silt
Andes: volcanic granite
Limari Valley limestone
Production levels
3-6 million hL in 1990s to 9-13 million hL in 2010s
El Nino effects fluctuations in volume
Hazards
Coastal areas - fungal disease
Sunburn
Water for irrigation
Forest fires
Irrigation
85% of vineyards
Except Itata and sometimes Bio Bio & Maule - old vines with deep roots
Andes ice melt
Mechanisation
easy in flat vineyards, more in Central Valley bc labour shortages
Mostly hand harvesting
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvigon Merlot Carmenere Pinot Noir Syrah Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay
Cabernet Sauvignon
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
Merlot
Inexpensive, fruity
Soft tannin, medium body, dark fruit
Can have higher end examples
Carmenere
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
Syrah
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
Pinot Noir
Casablanca and San Antonio
Red fruit, herbal, moderate to high alcohol
Sauvignon Blanc
most planted white grape
Limari, Casablanca, San Antonio: citrus to tropical, wet stone/herbaceous, sometimes lees & oak
Inexpensive, fruity from Central Valley
Chardonnay
cool coastal areas like Limari
Medium (+) to high acidity, citrus and stone fruit.
Inexpensive, ripe Charodnnay from Central Valley
DO System
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
6 main regional DOs:
Atacama Coquimbo Aconcagua Central Valley Southern Austral (added later)
Areas with coastal influence
Costa
Areas with mountain influence
Andes
Areas in between coastal and mountain
Entre Cordilleras
DO Regulations
75% of grapes must come from region (85% to comply with EU)
min 11.5% abv
Labelling Terms
Superior Reserva - 12% abv min Reserva Especial- 12% abv min Reserva Privada - 6 month oak min Gran Riserva- 6 month oak min
Four main wine producing regions
Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Central Valley
Southern
Coquimbo Region
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
Elqui
in Coquimbo Region
nothernmost
plains near coast into foothills of Andes
Morning fog
Syrah & Sauvignon Blanc
highest vineyard 2,200m above sea level
Limari
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
Aconcagua Region
Three sub-regions of note:
Aconcagua Valley
San Antonio Valley
Casablanca Valley
Aconcagua Valley
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
Casablanca Valley
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
San Antonio Valley
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
Leyda Valley
Zone in San Antonio Valley
1990’s first vineyards
close to coast
SB, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah
Central Valley Region
south from Santiago
Warmer and more continental
Fertile, well-irrigated
Valley sides, Andean foothills, more maritime areas more interesting
Four sub-regions
Maipo Valley
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
Maipo Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
High soft tannin, cassis, minty
Alto Maipo
Area of Maipo Valley
Eastern end of valley
high altitude vineyards, Puente Alto and Pirque sub-regions
Rapel Valley
Sub Region of Central Valley Region
Zones: Cachapoal Valley & Colchagua Valley
Cachapoal Valley
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
Colchagua Valley
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
Apalta
Area of Colchagua Valley
South facing amphitheatre, cool breezes from west and south facing slopes with poor soil
Cab, Syrah, Carmenere
Curico Valley
Sub Region of Central Valley Region
Inexpensive, high volume red
Several rivers for irrigation
Maule Valley
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
Maule Valley Pais
Pale colour, medium body, medium acidity, strawberry & raspberry with spicy/herbal notes. low or med (-) tannin but can be rough
Maule Valley Carignan
From Cauquenes in south by coast
Raspberry, chery, black plum, spicy, medium (+) to high acidity and tannin. Very good quality
Southern Region
Three sub-regions: Itata, Bio Bio, Malleco
Coastal hills dimish to the south and whole region more maritime
Fungal disease
Itata
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
Itata Old Vine Cinsault
Medium alcohol, fresh acidity, red and black fruit, licorice, saline
Good to very good
Bio Bio Valley
Sub region of Southern Region
Up to 1000mm rain
Dry farmed old bush vines of traditional varieties
Pinot Noir, Chard, SB, Riesling, Gewurz
Malleco Valley
Sub region of Southern Region
Small producing region
SB, Chard, Pinot Noir with high acidity
Exports
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)
Big companies
80% produced by:
Concha y Toro
Santa Rita
Santa Carolina
San Pedro
Foreign Investors
Torres
Mouton Rothschild
Lafite Rothschild
Jackson Family
MOVI
Movimiento de Vinateros Independientes
