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WSET Diploma D3 > Chile > Flashcards

Chile Flashcards

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1
Q

How vines arrived in Chile? What is the most recent history of the country?

A
  1. Mostly in the north by Spanish settlers in the 15th century while they were going to Argentina. Then spread south.
  2. During the 19th century Chile gained independence from Spain. Silvestre Ochagavia Echazarreta brought vines from Europe. After philloxera, many Europeans moved to Chile.
  3. 20th-century boom (mostly cheap) followed quickly by domestic market decline with half of the vineyards pulled out by the end of the 80.
  4. Return to democracy and the free market. New technologies and new areas (coastal and mountains).
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2
Q

How big is Chile?

A

4300 kilometres long.
175 kilometres wide.

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3
Q

What surrounds Chile?

A

North - Atacama desert.
East - Andes.
West - Pacific Ocean.
South - Patagonia’s glaciers.

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4
Q

General climate of Chile.

A

Warm Mediterranean.

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5
Q

Annual rainfall in Chile.

A

Inland - 80mm.
Coastal - 1200mm.

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6
Q

Major phenomenon in Chile and what changes in the wine.

A
  1. El Nino - brings exceeding rainfall and fungal diseases.
  2. La Nina - brings exceeding drought and lower rainfall.

Extreme vintage variation and volume produced.

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7
Q

Cooling climatic influences in Chile.

A
  1. Pacific Ocean.
  2. Andes (cold Mountain air).
  3. Humboldt Current (brings cold water and cool air from Antarctica, as warm air rises this cold air gets sucked inland, also morning fog and humidity).
  4. Gaps in lower coastal mountain ranges (fogs and cool breezes are coming into the valleys, higher fungal risk).
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8
Q

Soil structure in Chile.

A
  1. River valleys - fertile, alluvial (clay, sand, silt, gravel).
  2. Coastal ranges - less fertile, gravel.
  3. Andes - less fertile, volcanic and granite.
  4. Limari - limestone.
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9
Q

Is irrigation important in Chile?

A

Used in 85% of the vineyards.

  1. Melting snow from Andes collected by rivers (drastically reducing because of climate change).
  2. Aquifers via wells.
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10
Q

What is one of the main hazards of Chile?

A

Forest fires - bring smoke taint into the wine.

Many large plantations in the country.

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11
Q

Are vines grafted in Chile?

A
  1. Sandy soils are phylloxera free. Old ungrafted vines.
  2. Now more used to protect vines from nematodes.
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12
Q

Most used training system in Chile?

A

VSP.

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13
Q

Is machine harvesting common?

A

Even if mechanisation is easy and manual labour harder to find, most of Chile is worked by hand.

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14
Q

Current market strengths of Chile.

A

Diversity.

  1. Styles (from bulk to ultra-premium all at cheaper prices than elsewhere, also more rose and sweet wines production).
  2. New varietals are planted (Muscat, Viognier, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvedre).
  3. Winemaking experimentations (old oak, concrete, skin maceration, whole bunch).
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15
Q

Is Pais the most planted varietal?

A

Not anymore. Most have been pulled up in the 80s.

Cabernet Sauvignon followed by Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Chardonnay.

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16
Q

Identifying Chilean varietals in the 90s. What happened?

A

Many varietals were confused.

Carmenere was mistaken for Chilean Merlot (was found in 1994).

Sauvignonasse and Sauvignon Gris were called Sauvignon Blanc.

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17
Q

The main goal while producing Carmenere.

A

Balance.

If too hot it becomes overly alcoholic, if not warm enough it becomes overly-green and harsh.

Ripens two to three weeks later than Merlot.

18
Q

What is now being researched to make better wines from Carmenere?

A
  1. Clonal selection.
  2. Site selection.
  3. Harvesting dates.
  4. Less extraction and new oak.
19
Q

2 main styles of Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile and location.

A
  1. Simple, inexpensive (Central Valley)
  2. Refined on Andes foothills. Poorer soils keep vigour in control. Diurnal range retains acidity.
20
Q

Chilean DO system.

A
  1. Region (Central Valley).
  2. Sub-region (Rapel).
  3. Zones (Colghagua).
  4. Area (Apalta).
21
Q

Name the six Do regions of Chile).

A
  1. Atacama.
  2. Coquimbo.
  3. Aconcagua.
  4. Central Valley.
  5. Southern.
  6. Austral.
22
Q

Labelling designation based on soils/climate in Chile.

A
  1. Costa (coastal areas).
  2. Andes (mountains).
  3. Entre Cordillera (areas in between).

A produced can add these labels to a region/sub-region (e.g. Maipo Andes).

Not much used by producers.

23
Q

What the Reserva labelling mean in Chile. What is their structure?

A

Indicates higher minimum alcohol. Is mostly used to differentiate a producer’s portfolio.

  1. Reserva, Reserva Especial (12%).
  2. Reserva Privada, Gran Reserva (12.5% plus six months in oak in reds).
24
Q

General labelling laws for the DOs of Chile.

A
  1. 75% from stated DO (85% for EU export).
  2. 75% of stated varietal (85% for EU export).
  3. Minimum alcohol 11.5%.
25
Q

Sub-regions of Coquimbo and varietals.

A
  1. Elqui (Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc).
  2. Limari (Chardonnay on limestone soil).
  3. Choapa.
26
Q

Coquimbo main climatic influences.

A
  1. At the edge of the Atacama Desert (warm, arid-like, high alcohol).
  2. Exposed to the Pacific Ocean and Humboldt Current influences.
  3. High altitude sites (1500 in Limari and 2200 in Elqui).
  4. Extremely low rainfall.
27
Q

Aconcagua sub-regions.

A
  1. Aconcagua Valley.
  2. Casablanca Valley.
  3. San Antonio Valley.
28
Q

Aconcagua Valley climatic differences on labelling designations. What varietals are planted in these areas?

A

Extends into every climatic zone.

  1. Entre Cordilleras - warm, dry, 250mt altitude, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Carmenere, some on valley sides for cooler influences and small producers.
  2. Costa - morning fogs and ocean breezes, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
  3. Andes - high altitude (1000mt), cold air from mountains, red (ripe with acidity).
29
Q

Casablanca Valley main varietals and climate.

A
  1. Far from the coast but with high ocean influence (cool, humid). Chile’s coolest area. Low-lying area (spring frost risk).
  2. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.
30
Q

San Antonio/Leyda varietals and climate.

A
  1. Ocean exposure and fogs.
  2. Sauvignon Blanc (especially San Antonio), Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah.
31
Q

Central Valley sub-regions.

A
  1. Maipo.
  2. Rapel.
  3. Curico.
  4. Maule.
32
Q

Central Valley climate.

A
  1. Sheltered from maritime influences.
  2. Warm, fertile, irrigated plains.
  3. Inexpensive production for the export market.
  4. High quality production on sides next to Andes or to the coastal area.
33
Q

Central Valley varietals.

A
  1. Cabernet Sauvignon.
  2. Carmenere.
  3. Syrah.

Also Merlot and Chardonnay.

34
Q

Maipo zone and two areas within it.

A

Alto Maipo

  1. Puente Alto.
  2. Pirque.

Quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-blends.

35
Q

Rapel two zones and areas within them.

A
  1. Cachapoal Valley (Peumo, high quality Carmenere).
  2. Colchagua (Apalta).
36
Q

What is Maule famous for and most important area.

A
  1. Dry farmed old-vines of Pais, Carignan and Muscat of Alexandria.
  2. Cauquenes (Carignan).
37
Q

Southern Region sub-regions and varietals.

A
  1. Itata (Pais and Muscat, moving to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and old vine Cinsault).
  2. Bio Bio (Mainly Pais old bush vines now discovering Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Gewurztraminer).
  3. Malleco (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc).
38
Q

Southern region climate.

A
  1. Cooler, wetter. 1000mm rainfall (fungal risk).
  2. Pacific breezes. Fewer hills to block influences.
  3. High latitude, longer days for ripening.
  4. Mainly cheap production moving towards quality.
39
Q

How did the export grow in Chile?

A

Thanks to trade agreements, sometimes with reduced import tariffs.

  1. Chile.
  2. South Corea.
  3. Japan.
  4. South America (MERCOSUR free trade area).
40
Q

Who produces most of Chile’s wine?

A

80% is produced by

  1. Concha y Toro.
  2. Santa Rita.
  3. Santa Carolina.
  4. San Pedro.
41
Q

Name some foreign investors that established wineries in Chile.

A
  1. Torres.
  2. Mouton Rothschild.
  3. Lafite Rothschild.
  4. Jackson Family Wines.
42
Q

What’s the name of the most famous growers association of Chile.

A

MOVI.

Movimiento de Vinateros Independientes.

WSET Diploma D3 (28 decks)

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