Chile Flashcards
How would you describe the climate in Cachapoal Valley?
Warm, surrounded by mountains, no ocean influence
What is a constraint to grape growing in Coquimbo Region?
Irrigation is essential but very expensive due to lack of water resources.
The DO hierarchy?
-
The hierarchy is:
- Region
- Sub-region
- Zone
- Area
- Example is Central Valley region (DO), Rapel Valley, Colchagua, Apalta
Chile is a very long country and its vineyards run from 30 degrees south to 38 degrees south - but its climate is broadly similar across this area - what is it and describe it
- Despite covering 8 degrees of latitude the vineyard areas have a similar climate
- Mediterranean climate;
- Long, dry and sunny growing season
- But it gets cooler and wetter further south
What 2 black and 2 white grapes do well in Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley?
Syrah / Pinot Noir
Sauvignon Blanc / Chardonnay
Which Chilean grape variety used to be confused with Merlot?
Carmenere
What is the most widely grown grape variety in Chile?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the name of the national promotional body and what are its key aims?
- Wines of Chile:
- focused on promotion of mid-priced super premium wines,
- encouraging image of Chile as a premium producer
What percentage of Chilean wine is exported?
70%
Which wine region near Santiago has the warmest climate?
Maipo
What 1 white and 1 red wine would you expect from Elqui Valley?
Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah
80% of Chilean wine is made by just four wineries; name them.
- 80% of wine still produced by 4 companies:
- Concha y Toro
- Santa Rita
- Santa Carolina
- San Pedro (have wineries in Argentina)
What 3 things provides the cooling in Coastal areas and inside much of the Inland Mountain ranges?
- The cold Humboldt Current flows up from Antarctica
- Prevailing winds blow cool air inland along river valleys
- Coastal areas can experience fog
Which Chilean winery produces “Casa Real?”
What grape is used?
What is the wine’s DO?
Santa Rita
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Maipo Valley DO
name the 6 main regional DOs
-
6 main regional DOs created:
- Atacama
- Coquimbo
- Aconcagua
- Central Valley
- Southern
- Austral was added later
The DOs were divided along mainly political lines
What are the key export markets for Chile?
- Exports:
- China is biggest export market for Chilean wines
- Followed by USA; Japan; UK and Brazil
- South American nations, like Brazil are covered by an FTA
Chile is now in the ____ largest exporter of wine and the ___ largest producer.
4th / 7th
Introduced in 2012 what are the 3 new terms introduced to describe where a wine is from and what do they mean?
Costa = From near the coast
Entre Cordilleras = Between the (mountain) ranges
Andes = From the mountain area
Why did the Chilean government introduce extra designations for wine, on top of the DOs, such as Costa, Entre Cordilleras, Andes?
- Most vineyards planted within valleys that run East to West
- most climatic variation runs East to West
- the Pacific Ocean influences the western end of the Valleys - Costa
- the Andes provides some cooling influence on the eastern end of the valley
- these cooling influences help to retain acidity and lengthen the growing season
Rapel Valley is subdivided into 2 zones, what are they?
Cachapoal Valley and Colchagua Valley
Carmenere can claim to be Chile’s red varietal - describe the varietal and the wine made from it.
-
Carmenere:
- Identified in 1994 (mistaken for Merlot)
- Often used in blends with other Bordeaux varietals
- Single varietal:
- Good to very Good; Full body; High Tannin; Medium Acidity;
- Ripe Blackberry, Bell pepper; Spicy, roasted coffee, or dark chocolate when oaked
- Herbaceous characteristics – bell pepper and eucalyptus – can be overt if the fruit isn’t fully ripe
- Site selection important: ripens 2-3 weeks later than Merlot
- need warm sunny sites or can be overly herbaceous with harsh Tannins
- if picked when over ripe the wine can be overly alcoholic
- research into clonal selection, site selection, harvesting dates with less extraction and new oak usage is seeing an evolution in Carmenere styles
Cooling influences to Chile’s climate - clue - there are quite a few
Cooling influences:
- Pacific coast & Andes provide significant cooling influence at either end of the valleys
- Range of low mountains along a significant part of coast
- Altitude:300-800m
- along the coast,
- a range of low mountains forming a barrier against coastal influence
- areas west of mountains exposed to ocean influences
-
Humboldt Current:
- flows up from Antarctica bringing cool water hence cool air;
- morning fog produced (warm air rises from land during day & this cool air is sucked inland);
- moderating temps until burnt away by sun, increasing humidity
- Gaps in coastal ranges allow for fog & cool breezes to enter, moderating vineyards East of coastal ranges
- Vineyards planted on slopes providing cooling influences with altitude & aspect
- Vineyards planted in East
- at near or foothills of Andes;
- cool mountain air descends from Andes overnight;
high diurnal range& altitude moderating temps
Almaviva Winery is a joint project between:
What type of wine is produced?
Where are they located (sub-region / DO)?
Concha y Toro and Baron Philippe de Rothschild.
Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend, with Carmenére, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Puente Alto DO / Maipo Valley / Central Valley
To qualify for DO status what criteria must a wine meet?
-
To Qualify for DO status
- 75% of grapes must come from that region; 85% if exported to the EU
- Varietal claim must be75% of variety; 85% if exported to the EU
- Do wines must have min 11.5% ABV
What grape has Leyda Valley gained an excellent reputation for growing?
Sauvignon Blanc
Which southern Chilean region is most focused on Pinot Noir production?
Bio Bio Valley
What is the white wine that makes Limari Valley stand out?
Chile’s best Chardonnay
What are conditions like in Curicó Valley and Maule Valley and what is mainly grown there?
It’s warm and the soils are fertile. Mainly grapes for bulk red and white blends, but Cabernet Sauvignon has become the star variety, producing full-bodied, intensely concentrated wines from ancient, low-yielding vines.
Where are the best vineyards in Maipo Valley located and what are they renowned for producing?
Many established houses are based due to:
3 major producers are:
Located in the Andean foothills
A reputation for producing Cabernet Sauvignon with a ‘minty’ character
Its proximity to Santiago.
Concha y Toro
Santa Rita
Cousiño Macul
Which Chilean winery is not only the largest in Chile, but also in the whole of South America?
Concha y Toro
What is the climate like in Chile’s Southern region and which grapes perform well there?
Cooler and wetter the further south they are located.
País and Muscat of Alexandria are most planted
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are cultivated in tiny amounts in Malleco Valley.
What are the 2 sub-regions of Curicó?
Lontué and Teno
How would you describe the climate of Aconcagua Valley?
Differing by the three designations:
Costa Aconcagua Valley - cooling influence of ocean breezes and fog
Central (entre cordilleras) - warm and dry, 250mm, moderated by afternoon breezes
Aconcagua Andes - high diurnal range, warm sunny days, cool air from mountains at night
Which 3 sub regions make up Chile’s Sur Region?
Itata Valley
Bio Bio Valley
Malleco Valley
Los Vascos winery is owned by which famous First Growth property in Bordeaux?
Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Which subregion of Coquimbo has lowest wine production?
Choapa Valley
What are the 4 sub regions (and 2 sub-sub-regions) of the Central Valley Region?
Maipo Valley
Rapel Valley - divided into Cachapoal and Colchagua
Curicó Valley
Maule Valley
Topographically, what are conditions like between the Coastal mountains and the Andes?
More sheltered. Large expanses of flat land that is easier to cultivate
Who produces “Clos Apalta?”
Casa Lapostolle
The VIGNO association exists to preserve old vine _______ in ___ Valley.
Carignan / Maule
Concepción, Chile’s 3rd largest city, is closest to what wine region?
Itata Valley
Identify 3 Chilean wineries that were founded in the 19th Century:
- Concha y Toro
- Cousiño Macul
- Santa Rita
Which Chilean region lies directly across the Andes from Argentina’s Mendoza?
Maipo Valley
What factors contribute to Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley being cooled?
What climate to they have?
They lie between the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Mountains benefitting from morning fogs and afternoon winds from the Ocean.
Cool maritime climate
Wines indicating a DO region in Chile must contain what minimum percentage of a variety to include it on a label?
75%
Working from North to South what are the 6 main DO regions of Chile?
Atacama DO
Coquimbo DO
Aconcagua DO
Central Valley (Valle Central) DO
Sur DO
Austral DO
How would you describe the climate of Chile? What is the one risk of the climate?
Generally Warm Mediterranean
Dry, sunny, growing season = Grapes reliably ripen and low fungal risk.
RISK - Drought; in some places water is in short supply
The winery of Errázuriz is located in which commune of which DO?
What is their claim to fame?
Which other top wine do they produce?
Panquehue.
Errázuriz’s “Seña,” an iconic Bordeaux-style blend and one of the premier reds of Chile, placed ahead of both Château Lafite and Château Margaux in the 2004 Berlin Tasting—a milestone for the Chilean wine industry likened to the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris.
“Viñedo Chadwick”
How would you describe the 4 key geographical features of Chile?
- To the West is the Pacific Ocean
- Just inland are the Coastal Mountain Ranges
- To the East are the Andes Mountains
- South of Santiago is a large depression between the two mountain ranges called ‘Central Valley’.
What is the climate like in Cachapoal Valley and Colchagua Valley and what 4 black grapes are largely grown there?
Cachapoal: Northerly warm area, cut off from ocean breezes.
Colchagua: More southerly, central part of valley is warm and open to some ocean influence.
Carmenére / Merlot on warm valley floor Cab Sav and Syrah is cooler parts
Apalta is a region on the ____side of ____Valley.
Identify 2 top producers from Apalta and their top wines.
What kinds of wines are these?
Eastern side of Colchagua Valley.
Casa Lapostolle’s “Clos Apalta”
Viña Montes “Alpha M”
Bordeaux-style blends
Arrange the following regions from north to south (1 = northernmost, 5 = southernmost).
A. Casablanca Valley
B. Curicó Valley
C. Limarí Valley
D. Itata Valley
E. Maipo Valley
- Limari Valley
- Casablanca Valley
- Maipo Valley
- Curicó Valley
- Itata Valley
The DO regions in Chile can be subdivided and subdivided again, what are the terms for these subdivisions?
13 Sub Regions then subdivided into Zones
The País grape is also known by which 3 synonyms?
Mission
Criolla Chica
Listan Prieto
What weather is potentially associated with El Niño and La Niña?
El Niño years - Rainfall can be very heavy
La Niña years - Drought may occur
In which century were vines first planted in Chile?
16th Century
What it the term in Chile for Wines of Origin?
Denominaciones de Origen (DO)
What provides the cooling in the Chilean foothills of the Andes?
Cold air descends from mountains overnight providing a large diurnal range.
Which of these wine regions is the most southerly - Maipo, Limari, Bio Bio?
Bio Bio
Until the 21st century, Chile was mostly planted to what grape?
País
What 3 sub regions make up Coquimbo Region and what contributes to them making good wine?
Elqui Valley, Limari Valley and Choapa Valley.
Brilliant sunshine and marked cooling from sea breezes or mountain air
Carmenère is usually harvested after Cabernet Sauvignon.
Why is this?
Underripe Carmenere grapes produce wine with unpleasant, undesirable green flavors. Harvesting it later minimizes these green flavors and maximizes fruit notes.
What 4 labelling terms can be seen on Chilean wines?
What do these terms indicate?
Reserva
Reserva Especial
Reserva Privada
Gran Reserva
Wines labeled Reserva and Reserva Especial must have a minimum 12% abv.
Wines labeled Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva require a minimum 12.5% abv.
In addition, Reserva Especial and Gran Reserva wines spend mandatory time in oak.
Which region is developing a reputation for Old Bush Vine Carignan in Chile?
Maule Valley
Between 1995 and 2015 the number of wineries in Chile grew from ___ to approximately ____.
12 to 340
Viñedo Chadwick, Almaviva, and Concha y Toro’s “Don Melchior” are all produced out of what Chilean subregion?
Maipo Valley
What are growing conditions like in the Aconcagua Valley?
What 3 grapes would you find there?
The vineyards on the fertile valley floor are some of the warmest growing conditions in Chile.
Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / Carmenère
How would you describe the climate of Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys?
Cool, between the sea and Coastal mountain ranges.
What are the 3 sub-regions of the Aconcagua Region and what is the renowned Zone within one of the subregions?
Aconcagua Valley
Casablanca Valley
San Antonio Valley containing Leyda Valley Zone
What is Chile’s most planted white grape?
Sauvignon Blanc
Puente Alto is located in which Chilean region?
Maipo Valley
Which famous Spanish wine family own extensive vineyards in Chile?
Miguel Torres
What best describes a typical Camenére wine?
Chile’s signature grape variety. Late-ripening, most successful in warmer areas.
Full-bodied, high tannin
Overtly herbaceous when not fully ripe, but good examples achieve a balance between herbal and black fruit.
How would you describe the climate of Coquimbo region?
Where are some vineyards now being planted?
Brilliant sunshine with cooling influences from sea breezes and mountain air.
Some vineyards now planted at very high altitude.
What is the largest growing region in Chile?
Central Valley (Valle Central DO)
Montes, Neyen, and Lapostolle all call what DO zone home?
Colchagua Valley
Which region is famed for its Carmenere?
Identify a top producer / wine made from Carmenere:
Colchagua Valley
Viña Montes’ “Purple Angel”
Arrange the following regions from north to south (1 = northernmost, 4 = southernmost).
A. Itata Valley
B. San Antonio Valley
C. Maule Valley
D. Bío Bío Valley
- San Antonio Valley.
- Maule Valley
- Itata Valley
- Bio BIo Valley
What is Chile known for in both Red and White wines?
- Reds: good value young wines from Cab Sauv, Carmenere & Merlot
- Whites: clean & well made Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blancs esp. in cooler areas (Casablanca & San Antonio)
Elqui Valley has a growing reputation for high quality ____.
What climatic feature contributes to its success?
Syrah
Cool, high-altitude vineyard sites.
Limari Valley has a growing reputation for high quality ____.
What 2 climatic features contribute to its success?
Chardonnay.
Limestone soils / Cooler Coastal Climate
What is special about Chilean grapevines and root stock?
Chile’s vines are all ungrafted and phylloxera-free.
Roughly speaking how would you describe the climate of Chile?
The climate of Chile is diverse but can be described generally as warm Mediterranean
What are the labelling requirements for Chilean wine?
To Qualify for DO status
o 75% of grapes must come from that region; 85% if exported to the EU
o Varietal claim must be75% of variety; 85% if exported to the EU
o Do wines must have min 11.5% ABV
Carmenere?
-
Carmenere:
- Identified in 1994 (mistaken for Merlot)
- Often used in blends with other Bordeaux varietals
- Single varietal wines:
- Good to very Good; Full body; High Tannin; Medium Acidity;
- Ripe Blackberry, Bell pepper; Spicy, roasted coffee, or dark chocolate when oaked
- Herbaceous characteristics – bell pepper and eucalyptus – can be overt if the fruit isn’t fully ripe
- Site selection important: ripens 2-3 weeks later than Merlot
- need warm sunny sites or can be overly herbaceous with harsh Tannins
- if picked when over ripe the wine can be overly alcoholic
- research into clonal selection, site selection, harvesting dates with less extraction and new oak usage is seeing an evolution in Carmenere styles
Supply of water for irrigation comes from what soureces in Chile?
- Supply of water:
- Irrigation in nearly 85%% of all vineyards because of low rainfall ;
- Itata, Bio Bio, Maule can rely on rain & old vine root systems that survive drought
- Melting snow from Andes by many river valleys
- Aquifers via wells in regions like Casablanca where rivers not present
- Climate change: rising temps; reduction of snowfall limiting access to water (Limari snow cover 15% less in 2018 than 2014)
The DO system was introduced into Chile in what year?
What are the main regional DOs?
what is the hierarchy of DO classification?
- 1995: System of Denominaciones de Origin (DOs)
-
6 main regional DOs created:
- Atacama
- Coquimbo
- Aconcagua
- Central Valley
- Southern
- Austral was added later
- The DOs were divided along mainly political lines
-
The hierarchy is:
- Region
- Sub-region
- Zone
- Area
- Example is Central Valley region (DO), Rapel Valley, Colchagua, Apalta
in export terms what is Chile’s performance like?
- 4th largest exporter in the world
- 70% of wine exported
- 9.8 m hl/1.741 million euros in 2017
- One of the lowest values per unit of volume – only Spain and South Africa are lower
Biggest export customers for Chilean wine?
China
followed by USA, Japan, UK and Brazil
