Chile Flashcards
Chile’s vineyards range over an area that covers more than ___ from north to south but rarely more than ___ from east to west.
900km
100km
What are the four main geographic features that influence Chile’s wine growing areas?
Andes Mountains
Coastal Mountains
Pacific Ocean
Central Valley
Climate of Chile
Warm Mediterranean climate
- Northern regions - hotter and drier
Southern regions - cooler and wetter
The dry, sunny growing season ensures that ___.
the grapes reliably ripen and fungal diseases are kept to a minimum.
Is irrigation allowed in Chile?
Yes, but water for irrigation is diminishing.
What two Pacific Ocean climate drivers can influence Chile’s weather?
・El Niño: increases rainfall and humidity
・La Niña: can increase drought conditions
___ flows up from Antarctica and prevailing winds blow ___ to the inland.
In areas very close to the coast this can also include ___.
This effect of the wind is the strongest in the areas where the ___ are ___, and in the parts of the valleys that lie closest to the ___.
Humboldt Current
cool air
fog
costal mountains
at their lowest
pacific
What is the most planted grape variety, of either color, in Chile?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
7,10
7 Ripe black fruit, herbaceous.
10 Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah
What are the 5 most common red grapes planted in Chile?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Carmenère
Syrah
Pinot Noir
Merlot
3,11
3 Medium- fuller
11 Inexpensive
Which red grape is the trademark of Chile?
Carmenere
Carmenere
3,5,7
3 Full bodied
5 High tannin
7 Black fruit, Herbaceous
Syrah is planted all over Chile, but from ___ Valley it’s lighter in body with ___ and from ___ Valley it’s fuller in body with ___.
Lighter: Elqui Valley
pepperly notes
Fuller: Colchagua Valley
a greater intensity of black fruit flavours
Where in Chile does Pinot Noir shows its best?
In cool, coastal regions such as San Antonio Valley or Casablanca Valley.
What are the two dominant white varieties planted in Chile?
Sauvignon Blanc (does better in cooler sites)
Chardonnay
Where does Sauvignon Blanc perform better?
Cooler vineyard sites such as San Antonio Valley or Casablanca Valley.
Sauvignon Blanc from San Antonio Valley or Casablanca Valley
4,7,9,12
4 High acidity
7 Ripe apple, citrus, tropical flavours and sometimes herbaceous
9 Sometimes oaked
12 Some have added richiness and texture from lees stirring and oak.
What grape is Limarí Valley known for?
Limarí is known for making high-quality Chardonnay.
Chardonnay from Limari Valley
4,7,9,12
4 Medium - high acidity
7 Citrus, stone fruit
9 Often oaked
12 Often added richiness and texture from lees stirring and oak.
What role does Muscat of Alexandria play in Chile?
Muscat of Alexandria is the 3rd most planted white grape and it is mostly used for Pisco production, not wine.
Coquimbo Region lies south of the ___.
Atacama Desert
What are the three subregions of the Coquimbo Region?
From north to south:
Elqui Valley
Limarí Valley
Choapa Valley
Vineyard plantings are relatively ___ compared with other regions but quality tends to be ___.
small
high
Benefits from climate in Coquimbo.
・Sunshine
・Cooling influences from sea breezes or mountain air.
・Some of them are being planted at very high altitude.
The biggest challenge in Coquimbo region is___.
lack of water
Water isn’t as plentiful here as it is in the southern regions.
Irrigation in Coquimbo region?
Irrigation is essential but expensive because water is less plentiful compared with other region.
Grape varieties in:
・Elqui Valley
・Limari Valley
・Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah
・High quality Chardonnay
What are the 3 subregions of Aconcagua Region?
From north to south:
Aconcagua Valley
Casablanca Valley
San Antonio Valley
The Aconcagua is the ________ wine regions in Chile.
second smallest
How do Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley differ from Aconcagua Valley?
・Location
Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys
・lie between the coastal mountains and the Pacific
Aconcagua Valley
・lies between the Coastal Range and the Andes
How do Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley differ from Aconcagua Valley?
・Climate
Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys
・cooler than Aconcagua Valley - morning fogs and afternoon winds that blow in off the ocean
Aconcagua Valley
・hotter than Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys
How do Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley differ from Aconcagua Valley?
・Soils
How do Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley differ from Aconcagua Valley?
・Colour of grapes
Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys
・more white grapes planted
Aconcagua Valley
・more red grapes planted
Red grapes in Aconcagua valley
・Traditional reds 5,6,7
・In recent years
Cabernet Sauvignon ☆
Syrah
Carmenere
・5 High tannin
6 High alcohol
7 Rich, ripe fruit flavours
・Reducing alcohol levels, more freshness and complex fruit flavours.
= As a result, plantings are less focused on the fertile valley floor and have spread either onto the slopes or towards the coast.
What is San Antonio Valley’s cool area ?
Leyda Valley zone
Grape varieties in Leyda Valley zone
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay also perform well in Leyda Valley.
Casablanca Valley Grape variety and its aroma.
Syrah
Peppery
Central Valley region focuses on high-quality or inexpensive wines?
from which grape varieties?
Inexpensive fruity wines often made from Merlot and Chardonnay.
Central Valley is a ___ area that is ___ and known for making uncomplicated, everyday wine.
large, flat
warm
What are the 4 subregions of the Central Valley?
From north to south:
Maipo Valley
Rapel Valley
Curicó Valley
Maule Valley
Maipo is just south of which city in Chile?
Santiago, the capital.
Maipo Valley Grape Variety
Elegant Cabernet Sauvignon with minty character
Maipo Valley is ___ by ___ (so no ___) and its superior sites are in the ___, which are cooled by the ___, lending ___ to the wines.
enclosed
mountains
coastal influence
Andean foothills
descending air
elegance
The Rapel Valley is divided into 2 zones. What are they?
Cachapoal Valley
・north side of Rapel
・warmer of the two
・no ocean breezes
・Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
Colchagua Valley
・south side of Rapel
・Larger and more varied area
・Center part is warm and open to some ocean influence. Well known for full bodies reds, particularly cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Caemenere.
Further to the west, the cooling influence becomes greater and some high quality white wines can be produced.
What is the area within Colchagua Valley that has gained renown for producing high-quality wines?
Apalta
Curicó and Maule Valleys
The ___ make these the most important sources of fruit for ___ wines.
warmth and fertile soils
inexpensive blended red and white
Grape Varieties in Curicó and Maule Valleys
Cabernet Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc
Merlot
Chardonnay
The vineyards in Maule Valley are ___ than those of Curico Valley and the wine retain a higher ___.
cooler
acidity
What grape variety is a rising star in the Maule Valley?
They have been ___ (and forgotten about) for decades has been rediscovered in recent years by producers. These ancient vines produce ___.
Carignan
dry farmed
full-bodied Carignan
What are the 3 subregions of the Southern Region?
Which one is the smallest?
From north to south:
Itata Valley
Bío Bío Valley
Malleco Valley (smallest)
Cooler and wetter further south they are located.
Grape varieties in Itata Valley and Bio Bio Valley
País
Muscat of Alexandria
What are some promising varieties grown in Bío Bío Valleys?
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Some aromatic varieties
Grape varieties in Malleco
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
