Chile

Question 1

What are the latitudes and climate of Chile?

Answer 1

From 30°S to the north to 37°S to the south
The climate is generally Mediterranean except in the extreme north and south.

Question 2

What are the major factors affecting the climate of Chile?

Answer 2

-The Andes Mountains (and the descending cool air)
-The cold Humboldt current flowing up the Pacific from the Antarctica along the Chilean coast (and the sea breezes cooling coastal vineyards
-El Niño (rainfalls) & La Niña (draught) weather patterns

Question 3

What is the geographic indication scheme in Chile?

Answer 3

Denominaciones de Origen (DO):
4 Principal (large) Regions
13 Sub-regions (usually well-known valleys)
A number of smaller zones within sub-regions.

Question 4

What are the 4 large Denomiaciones de Origen (DO) of Chile?

Answer 4

Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Central Valley
Southern Region

Question 5

What are some labelling terms reflecting factors affecting climates?

Answer 5

-Costa (for cool coastal vineyards)
-Entre Cordilleras (for warm vineyards in the plains between the mountain chains)
-Andes (for cool mountain vineyards)

Question 6

What are the meaning of Reserva, Reserva Especial, Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva?

Answer 6

Loosely defined terms carrying very little meaning, but used by brands to communicate their quality levels.

Question 7

What are the 5 dominant red grapes grown in Chile?

Answer 7

Cabernet Sauvignon (most planted)
Merlot
Carmenère (Chile’s signature grape)
Syrah
Pinot Noir

Question 8

What are the 2 dominant white grapes of Chile?
What are secondary white grapes grown in Chile?

Answer 8

Sauvignon Blanc & Chardonnay are the most planted.
Plantings of Muscat of Alexandria for Pisco and viognier, Riesling, Gewurztraminer exist in cool southern regions.

Question 9

What are the 3 key Sub-regions of Coquimbo?

Answer 9

Elqui Valley
Limari Valley
Choapa Valley

Question 10

What is produced in Elqui Valley & Limari Valley?

Answer 10

The coolest spots are best suited to Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Syrah

Question 11

What are the 3 key Sub-regions of Aconcagua?

Answer 11

Aconcagua Valley
Casablanca Valley
San Antonio Valley (and its cool Leyda zone)

Question 12

What is produced in Aconcagua Valley?

Answer 12

Warm region receiving some cooling influences, suitable for the production of Cabernet sauvignon and Syrah, Carmenère

Question 13

What is produced in Aconcagua Valley & Casablanca Valley?

Answer 13

Cool influences from the Pacific are best for the production of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Question 14

What are the 4 key sub-regions of the Central Valley, just south of Santiago?

Answer 14

Maipo Valley (main growing area/ warm)
Rapel Valley (warm with cooler sites by the Andes)
Curicó Valley & Maule Valley(warm fertile soil source of large quantities of grapes for inexpensive blends but also old vine Carignan)

Question 15

What are the 2 zones within the sub-region of the Rapel Valley?

Answer 15

• Cachapoal Valley zone warm & suitable for Carmenère
• Colchagua Valley zone, larger and more varied, famous for Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Carmenère.

Question 16

About the Southern Region of Chile.
What are the 3 sub-regions?

Answer 16

• Itata Valley (Muscat & Pais)
• Bio Bio Valley (Pinot Noir, Chard. Aromatic Varieties)
• Malleco Valley (Chardonnay & Pinot Noir)
  All 3 sub-regions and cooler and wetter than the north.