Chile Flashcards
Briefly describe what happened before and after 1980
- Before 1980s:
- Majority of cheap wine consumed domestically
- Half of vineyards pulled
- After 1980s:
- Shift to quality wines for export market
- Large areas replanted
Climate
What is the general climate and tendencies towards north and south?
- Mostly warm, Mediterranean
- Long, dry and sunny growing season
- Becomes cooler and wetter further south
- Intense sunlight due to relatively low latitude
Climate
What is the annual rainfall?
- North and inland: drier (80mm in Elqui)
- South and coast: wetter (1,200mm in Bío Bío)
Climate
What weather phenomenons are there from the Pacific? What does it cause?
- El Niño: every two to ten years -> much higher rainfall
- La Niña: much lower rainfall or drought
- -> Vintage variations
Climate
What are the two major factors influencing the climate?
- Pacific Ocean and Andes
- Provide a significant cooling influence
- Lengthening the growing season and allowing the grapes to retain acidity and aromas
Climate
What are specific effects of the Pacific?
- Range of low mountains (300-800m) forms barrier against influence from the ocean
- Humboldt Current flows up from Antarctica and brings cold water and cool air
- Warm air rises from the land and cool air is sucked inland
- Morning fog moderates temps and increases humidity until it is burned away by the heat of sun
Climate
What does the coastal range and the Andes create and what does it mean for grape growing? Where do they merge?
- Create a large, dry, warm and sunny central valley -> grapes for high volumes of inexpensive wines
- Coastal range and Andes merge to the north of Santiago (in Coquimbo and Aconcagua)
Climate
Where are higher quality grapes grown?
- Where there are cooling influences
- Gaps in the coastal ranges
- Altitude or aspect
Climate
What are effects from the Andes?
- Cool mountain air descends
- High diurnal ranges
- Altitude can also moderate temps
Soil
Describe the soils in the three distinct parts
- River valleys: fertile soils, mainly alluvial
- Slopes in coastal ranges: less fertile, more gravel with sand and silt
- Slopes in Andes: less fertile, volcanic, mainly granite
Vineyard Management
What is the total area under vine?
137,000 ha
Vineyard Management
What influence does the climate in inland and coastal regions have on grape growing? (incl. diseases and organic/sustainable viticulture)
- Mostly dry and sunny:
- Healthy, fully ripe grapes with high levels of tannins and anthocyanins
- Lower diesease risk -> Sustainable and organic viticulture easy to practice
- Coastal areas:
- Fungal diseases can be an issue
Vineyard Management
Is irrigation allowed? Comment on water availability and climate change
- Widely practiced (85% of vineyards)
- Except in Itata (and Bío Bío and Maule) where vineyards can rely on rainfall (old vines with deep roots)
- Pure water from melting snow brought down from the Andes
- Climate change: higher temps and less snowfall
Vineyard Management
What is a significant hazard?
- Forest fires (from major forest plantations)
- If not directly affected, smoke taint is a problem
Vineyard Management
Comment on Phylloxera
- Phylloxera free
- -> Geographical barriers and strict quarantine rules
- -> Considerable plantings of old, ungrafted vines (mostly bush vines)
Vineyard Management
What is the common training system and how is harvest conducted?
- VSP most common
- Mostly by hand, mechanization in flat Central Valley
Grape Varieties
What is the ratio between black and white varieties?
- 75% black
- 25% white
Grape Varieties
What are the most grown varieties? (in descending order)
- Cabernet Sauvignon (by far most grown)
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Merlot
- Chardonnay
- Carmenere
- País
- Syrah
Grape Varieties
How did the plantings of varieties change from before 1990s and after?
- Before 1990s: País most planted variety, mostly for inexpensive wines
- After 1990s: mostly international varieties
Grape Varieties
What is a very current trend regarding varieties?
Trend towards greater diversity
Grape Varieties
What range of wines does Chile produce?
- Increasingly diverse
- Leading in inexpensive fruity wines
- Can also produce very good and outstanding quality wines
- Lots of experiments in winemaking
- Rosé and sweet wines also produced
Grape Varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon
What styles of wines does it produce?
- Chile’s most finest and expensive wines
- Single varietal or blended with Merlot, Carmenere or Syrah
Grape Varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon
Where are higher quality wines grown and what is the resulting style? (aromas, acidity, body, tannin, maturation)
- Sites near the Andes: poorer soils control vigor and cool nights slow down ripening
- Pronounced dark fruit, particularly blackcurrant, often with a herbaceous (mint or eucalyptus) character
- Retained acidity
- Full body
- High, but ripe tannins
- Maturation in at least a proportion of new oak (toasty, spicy notes)
Grape Varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon
Where are large amounts of inexpensive, fruity wines grown and what is the resulting style compared to higher quality wines?
- Flatter parts of the Central Valley
- Dark fruit and herbal notes
- Less structure, complexity and intensity
Grape Varieties - Merlot
What are different styles of Merlot produced? Where are they popular?
- Inexpensive Merlot with dark fruit, medium body and soft tannins, mainly from the Central Valley
- -> Great on export markets and for blends
- More complex examples with riper fruit and fuller body are achieved with lower yields
Grape Varieties - Carmenere
How is it used?
- Often in blends
- Increasingly as single varietal wine
Grape Varieties - Carmenere
Describe the typical style of a good to very good quality example (aromas, acidity, body, tannin)
- Ripe black fruit (blackberry), herbaceous characteristics (bell pepper, eucalyptus) and notes of spice, roasted coffee or dark chocolate (when oaked)
- Medium acidity
- Full body
- High tannin
Grape Varieties - Carmenere
What is important when growing this variety?
- Site selection: ripens two to three weeks later than Merlot
- Needs warm, sunny sites, otherwise overly herbaceous with harsh tannins
- If too ripe, can be overly alcoholic
Grape Varieties - Syrah
What is the trend in plantings? What is the range of styles produced? (regions, aromas, acidity, body)
- Strongly increasing
- Cooler-climate (San Antonio, Casablanca, Limarí and Elqui)
- Fresh black fruit, pepper and cloves
- Higher acidity
- Warmer-climate (Colchagua Valley)
- More intense, riper black fruit
- Fuller-body
Grape Varieties - Pinot Noir
What is the trend in plantings? What is the typical style produced? (regions, aromas, alcohol)
- Strongly increasing
- Cooler areas (Casablanca and San Antonio)
- Red fruits with herbal characters
- Medium to high alcohol
Grape Varieties - Sauvignon Blanc
What are two general areas where it is grown and what is the typical style? (aromas, acidity, quality, lees, oak)
- Cooler areas (Limarí, Casablanca and San Antonio):
- Citrus to tropical flavors with wet stones or herbaceous notes
- High acidity
- Very good quality
- Some use lees contact and oak ageing
- Central Valley:
- Large amounts of good quality, inexpensive Sauvignon Blanc
Grape Varieties - Chardonnay
What are two general areas where it is grown and what is the typical style? (aromas, acidity, quality, oak)
- Cool coastal areas (Limarí):
- Citrus and stone fruit
- Medium(+) to high acidity
- Very good quality
- Central Calley:
- Large amounts of inexpensive Chardonnay
- Ripe tropical fruit
- Both oaked or unoaked
Wine Law and Regulations
What is the hierarchy of the appellation system? (incl. examples)
- Regional DO (Denominacione de Origen) (e.g., Central Valley)
- Sub-region (e.g., Rapel Valley)
- Zone (e.g., Colchagua)
- Area (e.g., Apalta)
Wine Law and Regulations
What new set of designations was introduced in 2011? Why?
- Because diversity between east and west is much higher than north/south
- Split in 3 set:
- Costa (areas influenced by coast)
- Andes (areas influenced by mountains)
- Entre Cordilleras (areas in between)
- Labeling: e.g., Maipo Andes
Wine Law and Regulations
What requirements are there to require for DO status with respect to regional and varietal labeling and min alcohol levels
- Regional: min 75% from that region (85% if exported to EU)
- Varietal: min 75% from that variety (85% if exported to EU)
- Min 11.5% abv
Wine Law and Regulations
What are additional labeling terms regarding alcohol and oak ageing and how are they used?
- Reserva: min 12% abv
- Reserva Especial: min 12% abv
- Reserva Privada: min 12.5% abv, min 6 months in oak
- Gran Reserva: min 12.5% abv, min 6 months in oak
- Some producers use these terms to distinguish their wines, many do not use them