Chile Flashcards
Climate of Chile?
Warm mediterranean
Long, dry, sunny growing season
Varied rainfall (El Nino, La Nina)
Humboldt Current - cooling air from Antarctica
Intense sunshine
Topography of Chile:
Atacama Desert to North
Andes to East
Patagonia glaciers to South
Alluvial, fertile soils in valleys
Gravel on coast
Granite in Andes
Viticulture in Chile:
Sustainable/organic common
Irrigation common
Forest fires are threat
No phylloxera
Hand harvesting common
Varietals of Chile?
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
Winemaking in Chile?
Less new oak
Amphorae, concrete increasing
Whole bunches/gentle extraction increasing
Skin contact/lees aging for whites increasing
Cab Sauv in Chile?
Full bodied
High, ripe tannins
Pronounced black currant, dark fruit
Herbaceous, mint, eucalyptus
Carmenere in Chile?
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
Pinot Noir in Chile?
Grown in cooler areas - Casablanca, San Antonio
Red fruit
Herbal
Medium/High alcohol
Sauvignon Blanc in Chile?
High acid
Wet stone, herbaceous, citrus, and tropical
Grown in Limari, Casablanca, San Antonio (cooler)
DO’s in Chile, and year created?
1995
Atacama
Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Central Valley
Southern
Austral
Tiers of Chilean regions:
Region
Sub-region
Zone
Area
Chilean designations added in 2011?
Costa (coastal)
Andes (mountainous)
Entre Cordilleras (in between)
Labeling laws in Chile?
75% for varietal + region
85% for exports to EU
Quality designations in Chile?
Superior
Reserva (12% min)
Reserva Especial (12.5% min)
Reserva Privada (6mo oak)
Gran Reserva (6mo oak)
No other qualifiers
Describe Coquimbo:
DO’s: Elqui, Limari, Choapa
Little rain - irrigation essential
Hot, intense sunlight - intense fruit, high alcohol, fresh acid
Describe Elqui:
Northernmost region
River Elqui
Syrah, Sauv Blanc, Rhone varieties, Malbec
Fog-affected areas
Highest altitude vineyards
Describe Limari:
Limari river
Morning fog/cool breezes
Calcareous soils hold moisture
Chardonnay
Describe Aconcagua:
DO’s: Aconcagua, San Antonio, Casablanca
Describe Aconcagua Valley:
Low rainfall
Ripe, full bodied reds
Cab Sauv and Merlot; Syrah and Carmenere increasing
Working to move to cooler areas
Describe Casablanca Valley:
Severe spring frost
Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay
Pinot Noir, Syrah
Describe San Antonio:
Heavy ocean influence
Sauv Blanc is flagship; Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chard
Describe Leyda Valley:
Sub-zone of San Antonio
High quality
Foggy mornings, cool breezes, high sunshine
Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chard, Syrah
Describe Central Valley:
DO’s: Maipo, Rapel, Curico, Maule
Sheltered from maritime
Warm, fertile plains
Ripe, fruity, inexpensive reds
Describe Maipo Valley:
Family-owned wineries
Warm/sunny
Cab Sauv - soft tannins, cassis, mint
Vineyards increasingly being planted on higher altitude
Describe Rapel:
Two zones: Cachapoal Valley and Colchagua Valley
Describe Cachapoal Valley:
Warmer, no maritime
Winds funneled from coast; Andes shelter cold
Warm, fertile valley floor
Peumo - high quality Carmenere
Value Cab Sauv, Carmenere, Syrah
Describe Colchagua Valley:
Wide variety of wines, large zone
Apalta is premium example
South-facing slopes for quality vineyards - slow ripening
Cab Sauv, Syrah, Carmenere
Describe Curico Valley:
Inexpensive, high volume red
Warm, dry, sheltered from maritime
Cab Sauv, Sauv Blanc, Merlot, Chard
Describe Maule Valley:
High volume, inexpensive
Warm, fertile sites
Some dry farmed, old vine vineyards - Pais, Carignan, and Muscat of Alexandria
Higher rainfall
Lighter bodied, higher acid
Describe Pais:
Pale color
Medium bodied
Med acid
Low, rough tannins
Strawberry, raspberry, spicy, herbal
What is VIGNO?
Growers association promoting old-vine, dry-farmed Carignan from Cauquenes (Maipo)
Raspberry, cherry, black plum, spicy notes
High acid, high tannin
Describe the Southern Region:
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
Describe old vine Cinsault:
Medium alcohol
Fresh acidity
Red and black fruit, licorice, saline
Export of Chilean wine?
4th larger exporter
70% of wine exported
USA, Japan, UK
Wine business in Chile:
4 large companies produce 80%
Concha y Toro, Santa Rita, Santa Carolina, San Pedro
Foreign investment in Chile?
Torres, Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, JFW
Who promotes Chilean wine?
Movimiento de Vinateros Independientes (MOVI)
Group of small producers promoting quality wine
