Chile Flashcards
List Chile’s region viticola DOs from north to south
Atacama
Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Valle Central
Sur
Austral
Chile DO- regional hierarchy
Region Viticola
Subregion
Zone
Area (all classified by Costa, Entre Cordilleras, or Andes)
Región Vitícola del Valle Central DO,
subregion Rapel Valley
zone: Cachapoal
area:
Describe the general climate of Chile’s wine growing regions and major influencing factors
Generally warm and dry.
Norte Chico, the climate is hot and arid
Zona Central, it is warm and Mediterranean
Zona Sur, the climate turns cool, rainy, and maritime.
Central region, especially south of Santiago: proximity of Andes = cool nighttime temperatures, and Humboldt Current forces cool sea air inland through the river valleys. irrigation still essential in cooler areas
mountains cover 80% of the country’s landmass
What percentage of vintage, variety, and denomination of origin must be present in a blend if listed on a bottle of Chilean wine?
75% - 1995 wine law instituted this requirement, although many producers observe an 85% minimum to comply with EU standards for exporting
Chile general minimum abv?
11.5%
Chile: reserva and reserva especial - what do these mean?
higher minimum alcohol - min 12% (country base minimum is 11.5%)
Chile: reserva privada and gran reserva- what do these mean?
higher minimum alcohol - min 12.5% (country base minimum is 11.5%) also mandates time in oak
Chile important red grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon*
Merlot
Carmeñere
Syrah
Pais (cannot appear on DO labels)
Chile important white grapes
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Vert (Friulano)
Muscat of Alexandria
Atacama DO
Atacama is on the edge of the Atacama desert- hot and very dry- only 15mm rain per year, and some regions have never had rain. The two sub DOs rely on nearby rivers for irrigation.
mostly grapes for pisco and table grapes for export.
both DOs in river valleys:
Valle de Copiapo DO
Valle de Huasco DO- 28 degrees S
parron
pergola training (Chile)
Coquimbo DO
in the Norte Chico region of northern Chile
30-32 S
arid region b/t dessert and more mediterranean climate to the south
subregions north to south:
Valle del Elqui DO
Valle del Limari DO
Valle del Choapa DO
Aconcagua DO
in central Chile. sub regions north - south:
Valle del Aconcagua DO
Casablanca DO
San Antonio DO
2 DO areas without subregions- both Costa
Valle del Marga Marga DO
Zapallar DO
the region is named for the Aconcagua River, which is named for Mt. Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America (it’s in Argentina)
Casablanca DO
subregion in Aconcagua DO, Chile. between Santiago in the Central Valley, and Valparaiso on the coast. not named for a river- just a town of the same name. western entrance to the valley is a break in the Coastal Mountains- direct access to cool winds from the Humboldt.
no subregions- entire DO is Costa
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah
sandy soils- despite being sandy, vines are grafted because the soils are a magnet for nematodes.
6000 ha under vine
Major Producers: Veramonte, Casas del Bosque, Kingston, Laroche Punto Alto, Morandé, Montsecano
Casablanca DO soils
hillsides: reddish clays overlaying quartz-rich granite (best for pinot noir)
valley floor: sandy loam
San Antonio DO
within Aconcagua DO, Chile. west of the Coastal range, immediately south of Casablanca. very cool, maritime climate.
subregions:
Valle de Leyda DO zone
Lo Abarca DO area
DO Areas within Leyda: San Juan, Santo Domingo (both Costa)
DO Areas outside Leyda: Lo Abarca, Cartagena, Algarrobo
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Major Producers: Matetic, Viña Leyda, Casa Marin
Lo Abarca DO
DO area within San Antonio DO, in Aconcagua DO, Chile
only 4 km from the coast- very cool and maritime
created in 2018, thanks to efforts of Casa Marin
Valle de Leyda DO
DO Zone within San Antonio DO, in Aconcagua DO, Chile
DO Areas: San Juan, Santo Domingo (both Costa)
southernmost sector of San Antonio, and most of its vineyards are within 15 km of the ocean. very humid
alluvial clay soils. irrigation water is piped in from Maipo River
Valle del Aconcagua DO
subregion of Aconcagua DO in Chile- warmest of the 3 subregions
Costa: Quillota
Entre Cordilleras: Hijuelas, Catemu, Panquehue, Llaillay, San Felipe
Andes: Santa María, Calle Larga, San Esteban
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Carmenère, Sauvignon Blanc
Major Producers: Errázuriz, Seña, Von Siebenthal
Where is San Antonio DO? Subzone?
San Antonio DO is a subregion within Aconagua DO in Chile
DO Zone:
Leyda Valley DO
Lo Abarca DO
Valle Central DO sub-zones north to south
Maipo Valley DO
Rapel Valley DO
Curico DO
Maule Valley DO
Maipo Valley DO
predominant region for Cabernet in chile (Valle Central). northernmost DO of the Valle Central, surrounds city of Santiago
Entre Cordilleras: Isla de Maipo, Alhué Talagante, Melipilla, María Pinto, Colina, Calera de Tango, Til Til, Lampa
Andes: Puente Alto*, Santiago, Pirque, Buin
12,000 ha under vine
Major producers: Concha y Toro, Santa Rita, Carmen, Santa Carolina, Cousiño Macul, Almaviva, Haras de Pirque, Ventisquero, Odfjell, De Martino, Antiyal
Maipo Valley unofficial subzones
Alto Maipo, at elevations of 400-600 meters or higher in the piedmont of the Andes
the central area of Medio Maipo
Maipo Costa/Maipo Bajo, the lowest-lying vineyards in the southwest
Puente Alto
Andes DO area of Maipo Valley, Valle Central, Chile
soils of Puente Alto (“High Bridge”) are particularly gravelly, and the DO area was among the first to achieve international exposure—the vineyards of Don Melchor, Viñedo Chadwick, and Almaviva are all located in Puente Alto. tannic, concentrated and ripe, if often lower in acidity than Cabernet from other DO regions in Chile
Who makes the wine Don Melchor? What is it?
Cabernet bottling from Concha y Toro, from Maipo Valley DO in Chile
Who makes the wine Viñedo Chadwick? What is it?
Cabernet botling from Errazuriz, from Maipo Valley DO in Chile
What is Almaviva?
Chilean producer in Maipo Valley. A collaboration between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Concha y Toro
Rapel Valley DO
in Valle Central, Chile
Cabernet, Merlot, Carmeñere
Cachapoal DO zone
Colchagua DO zone
Rapel River is formed at the confluence of the Cachapoal and Tinguiririca Rivers- the Rapel was dammed in the late 60s, creating the Rapel Resevois, where the Cachapoal and Tinguiririca now feed
41,000 ha under vine
Cachapoal DO
zone in Rapel Valley DO, in Valle Central DO, Chile. between Colchagua and the Andes. Surrounds town of Rancagua. very warm- Carmenere excels here
Entre Cordilleras: Rancagua, Peumo, Coltauco
Andes: Requínoa, Rengo, Machalí
Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc
12,000 ha under vine
Major Producers: Altaïr, La Ronciere, Morandé, Vik, Camino Real
Colchagua DO
in zone in Rapel Valley DO, in Valle Central DO, Chile.
Costa: Lolol, Litueche, Paredones, Pumanque
Entre Cordilleras: Nancagua, Santa Cruz, Apalta, Palmilla, Peralillo, Marchigüe, La Estrella
Andes: San Fernando, Chimbarongo, Los Lingues
28,000 ha under vine
Major Producers: Koyle, Casa Silva, Cono Sur, Viu Manent, Casa Lapostolle, Laura Hartwig, Los Vascos, Siegel, Montes
Apalta DO
Entre Cordilleras area in Colchagua DO, Valle Central, Chile
Cabernet, Carmenere, Syrah, Malbec, Merlot
“earthquake” in Mapuche dialect. it is located on the north bank of the Tinguiririca River, where it sits amid the Coastal Range, open to the south but protected by mountains on its other three sides.
slightly cooler climate, reduced sunshine hours, well-drained granitic soils, and hillside planting potential have generated a lot of excitement.m here
Curico DO
in Valle Central, Chile
Cabernet, SB, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Carmenere, Chardonnay
heavy clay soils
two DO zones named for Rivers, but not often used:
Lontue DO
Teno DO
Costa: Vichuquén, Licantén - schist soils
Entre Cordilleras: Rauco, Sagrada Familia
Andes: Romeral, Molina
20,000 ha under vine
Major Producers: San Pedro, Miguel Torres, Valdivieso
Valle del Choapa DO
in Coquimbo, southernmost tiny DO
DO areas:
Andes: Illapel, Salamanca
Domaine de Manson only winery based here
De Martino largest vineyard owner
Valle del Itata DO
subregion of Sur DO, in Chile
DO Areas:
Costa: Portezuelo, Coelemu
Entre Cordilleras: Chillán, Quillón
Pais, Cabernet, old vine Moscatel of Alexandria, old vine Cinsault
gobelet vines common, everything dry farmed
cool, cloudy weather
red granitic soils
6700 ha planted
Major Producers: Casas de Giner, Casanueva, Vinos Larqui, Del Alba, Velenunque
Valle del Bio Bio
subregion of Sur DO, Chile
DO Areas:
Entre Cordilleras: Yumbel, Mulchén
Pinot Noir, País, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
1700 ha under vine
Nahuelbuta mountains block Coastal influence here
Major Producers: Dos Andes (Agustinos, Veranda), Guilisasti, Aristos
