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)