Chile

Question 1

Climate of Chile?

Answer 1

Warm mediterranean
Long, dry, sunny growing season
Varied rainfall (El Nino, La Nina)
Humboldt Current - cooling air from Antarctica
Intense sunshine

Question 2

Topography of Chile:

Answer 2

Atacama Desert to North
Andes to East
Patagonia glaciers to South
Alluvial, fertile soils in valleys
Gravel on coast
Granite in Andes

Question 3

Viticulture in Chile:

Answer 3

Sustainable/organic common
Irrigation common
Forest fires are threat
No phylloxera
Hand harvesting common

Question 4

Varietals of Chile?

Answer 4

Pais common until 1990s - 75% of vines removed
Black varieties 75%
Carmenere (identified in 1994)
Cab Sauv, Sauv Blanc, Merlot, Chard
Broad range of varietals

Question 5

Winemaking in Chile?

Answer 5

Less new oak
Amphorae, concrete increasing
Whole bunches/gentle extraction increasing
Skin contact/lees aging for whites increasing

Question 6

Cab Sauv in Chile?

Answer 6

Full bodied
High, ripe tannins
Pronounced black currant, dark fruit
Herbaceous, mint, eucalyptus

Question 7

Carmenere in Chile?

Answer 7

Full bodied
High tannins
Medium acidity
Ripe black fruit/blackberry, bell pepper, eucalyptus
Spice, coffee, dark chocolate from oak
Ripens 2-3 weeks later than Merlot, needs warm sunny sites

Question 8

Pinot Noir in Chile?

Answer 8

Grown in cooler areas - Casablanca, San Antonio
Red fruit
Herbal
Medium/High alcohol

Question 9

Sauvignon Blanc in Chile?

Answer 9

High acid
Wet stone, herbaceous, citrus, and tropical
Grown in Limari, Casablanca, San Antonio (cooler)

Question 10

DO’s in Chile, and year created?

Answer 10

1995
Atacama
Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Central Valley
Southern
Austral

Question 11

Tiers of Chilean regions:

Answer 11

Region
Sub-region
Zone
Area

Question 12

Chilean designations added in 2011?

Answer 12

Costa (coastal)
Andes (mountainous)
Entre Cordilleras (in between)

Question 13

Labeling laws in Chile?

Answer 13

75% for varietal + region
85% for exports to EU

Question 14

Quality designations in Chile?

Answer 14

Superior
Reserva (12% min)
Reserva Especial (12.5% min)
Reserva Privada (6mo oak)
Gran Reserva (6mo oak)
No other qualifiers

Question 15

Describe Coquimbo:

Answer 15

DO’s: Elqui, Limari, Choapa
Little rain - irrigation essential
Hot, intense sunlight - intense fruit, high alcohol, fresh acid

Question 16

Describe Elqui:

Answer 16

Northernmost region
River Elqui
Syrah, Sauv Blanc, Rhone varieties, Malbec
Fog-affected areas
Highest altitude vineyards

Question 17

Describe Limari:

Answer 17

Limari river
Morning fog/cool breezes
Calcareous soils hold moisture
Chardonnay

Question 18

Describe Aconcagua:

Answer 18

DO’s: Aconcagua, San Antonio, Casablanca

Question 19

Describe Aconcagua Valley:

Answer 19

Low rainfall
Ripe, full bodied reds
Cab Sauv and Merlot; Syrah and Carmenere increasing
Working to move to cooler areas

Question 20

Describe Casablanca Valley:

Answer 20

Severe spring frost
Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay
Pinot Noir, Syrah

Question 21

Describe San Antonio:

Answer 21

Heavy ocean influence
Sauv Blanc is flagship; Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chard

Question 22

Describe Leyda Valley:

Answer 22

Sub-zone of San Antonio
High quality
Foggy mornings, cool breezes, high sunshine
Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chard, Syrah

Question 23

Describe Central Valley:

Answer 23

DO’s: Maipo, Rapel, Curico, Maule
Sheltered from maritime
Warm, fertile plains
Ripe, fruity, inexpensive reds

Question 24

Describe Maipo Valley:

Answer 24

Family-owned wineries
Warm/sunny
Cab Sauv - soft tannins, cassis, mint
Vineyards increasingly being planted on higher altitude

Question 25

Describe Rapel:

Answer 25

Two zones: Cachapoal Valley and Colchagua Valley

Question 26

Describe Cachapoal Valley:

Answer 26

Warmer, no maritime
Winds funneled from coast; Andes shelter cold
Warm, fertile valley floor
Peumo - high quality Carmenere
Value Cab Sauv, Carmenere, Syrah

Question 27

Describe Colchagua Valley:

Answer 27

Wide variety of wines, large zone
Apalta is premium example
South-facing slopes for quality vineyards - slow ripening
Cab Sauv, Syrah, Carmenere

Question 28

Describe Curico Valley:

Answer 28

Inexpensive, high volume red
Warm, dry, sheltered from maritime
Cab Sauv, Sauv Blanc, Merlot, Chard

Question 29

Describe Maule Valley:

Answer 29

High volume, inexpensive
Warm, fertile sites
Some dry farmed, old vine vineyards - Pais, Carignan, and Muscat of Alexandria
Higher rainfall
Lighter bodied, higher acid

Question 30

Describe Pais:

Answer 30

Pale color
Medium bodied
Med acid
Low, rough tannins
Strawberry, raspberry, spicy, herbal

Question 31

What is VIGNO?

Answer 31

Growers association promoting old-vine, dry-farmed Carignan from Cauquenes (Maipo)
Raspberry, cherry, black plum, spicy notes
High acid, high tannin

Question 32

Describe the Southern Region:

Answer 32

High rainfall
Fungal disease a problem
Known for old bush vines - Pais, Cinsault, Muscat of Alexandria
DO’s: Itata Valley, Bio Bio Valley, Malleco Valley

Question 33

Describe old vine Cinsault:

Answer 33

Medium alcohol
Fresh acidity
Red and black fruit, licorice, saline

Question 34

Export of Chilean wine?

Answer 34

4th larger exporter
70% of wine exported
USA, Japan, UK

Question 35

Wine business in Chile:

Answer 35

4 large companies produce 80%
Concha y Toro, Santa Rita, Santa Carolina, San Pedro

Question 36

Foreign investment in Chile?

Answer 36

Torres, Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, JFW

Question 37

Who promotes Chilean wine?

Answer 37

Movimiento de Vinateros Independientes (MOVI)
Group of small producers promoting quality wine