Chile Flashcards
When was the first Vitis Vinifera vines planted in Chile?
By Spanish settlers as early as 1519
Which were the first grapes used for wine in Chile?
Pais (Mission or Criolla Chica) and Muscat of Alexandria
When and who brought french grape varieties in Chile?
Silvestre Ochagavia Echazarreta (father of Chilean wine) in 1851 including Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Sauvignon Blanc and Vert, Semillon and Chardonnay
First modern winery in Chile?
Vina Ochagavia which still operates today
Name some of the oldest wineries
Cousiño Macul was established in 1856, Viña San Pedro in 1865, Viña Errázuriz in 1870, Santa Carolina in 1875, Santa Rita in 1880, Concha y Toro in 1883, and Undurraga in 1885
Founder of Errazuriz
Maximiano Errázuriz
Name the brands that dominate domestic consupmtion of Chile
Concha y Toro, Santa Rita, and San Pedro (and associated brands), which together account for 85% of domestic consumption
What is MOVI?
In 2009, 12 wineries banded together as the Movimiento de Viñateros Independientes (MOVI), “an association of small quality-oriented Chilean wineries who come together to share a common goal to make wine personally, on a human scale.” In a country dominated by massive wineries, MOVI membership signals a different outlook.
Where is Miguel Torres located and what was his contribution?
Curicó and introduced new technologies like temperature-controlled, stainless steel fermentation tanks, new barriques, and pneumatic presses to the country. Vines were newly trellised or retrained in VSP systems. (1979)
Name some foreign investors in Chile?
Domaine Barons de Rothchild Lafite in Colchagua - Los Vascos (1988)
Grande Marnier in Colchagua - Casa Lapostolle (1994)
Robert Mondavi joined with Eduardo Chadwick of Viña Errázuriz to found Seña in 1995 in Aconcagua
Bruno Prats (former owner of Château Cos d’Estournel) and Paul Pontallier (former managing director of Château Margaux) in Maipo - Viña Aquitania (1990)
Baron Philippe de Rothschild arrived in 1997 to create Almaviva in conjunction with Concha y Toro in Puente Alto Maipo
Francois Lurton in Lolol Colchagua - Hacienda Araucano
Name some wine consultants of Chile
Paul Hobbs in Vina Perez Cruz in Maipo
William Fevre (William Fevre Chile) in Maipo
Martin Prieur (Domaine Jacques Prieur) is a consultant for Cono Sur
Louis-Michel Liger-Belair for Errazuriz
Michel Rolland for Casa Lapostolle
Chile’s lenght and wide?
4,300 km long and 150 km wide
Chile’s latitude?
27-41 south of the equator
Name the main viticultural regions of Chile from north to south
Atacama (Region III, Norte Chico)
Coquimbo (Region IV, Norte Chico)
Valparaíso (Region V, Zona Central)
Santiago (Región Metropolitan, Zona Central)
O’Higgins (Region VI, Zona Central)
Maule (Region VII, Zona Central)
Bío Bío (Region VIII, Zona Sur)
La Araucanía (Region IX, Zona Sur)
Los Lagos (Region X, Zona Sur)
When was the Chile’s Denominación de Origen system established?
1994
Soils of Chile in general?
granite, schist and slate overlaid by red clays in Coastal Range
much of the Andes geology is volcanic in origin, consisting of extrusive rocks like basalt and andesite
Name the 4 DO’s of Chile
Region
Sub-region
Zone
Area
Name the 6 regions of Chile
Atacama, Coquimbo, Aconcagua, Valle Central, Sur, and Austral
varietal and vintage labelling requires a minimum of?
75% and 85% if being exported
Name the ‘quality’ designations for DO wines
Superior, Reserva, Reserva
Especial, Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva
What style of wine makes the most and which is the most planted grape variety?
75% reds and Cabernet Sauvignon followed by Merlot, Carmenère, Syrah, and País. Among white grapes, Sauvignon Blanc (most planted white) and Chardonnay
Carmenere was confused with?
Merlot since 1994
Carmenere is a cross between?
Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet
Name some famous wines in which Carmenere is in the blend or as a whole
Clos Apalta and Almaviva feature it as a significant blending component, while high-end Chilean wines like Errázuriz’s “Kai” and Concha y Toro’s “Carmín de Peumo”
Name some top sites for Carmenere
Peumo in Cachapoal, and Los Lingues and Apalta in Colchagua
Food pairings with Carmenere
Chilean dishes like pastel de choclo (sweet corn cooked with beef, onions and olives) and surprisingly versatile with highly spiced Indian cuisine
Chile has old vines from which varieties?
Pais, Moscatel, Carignan, Semillon and Cinsault
Sauvignon Blanc was confused with?
Sauvignonasse or Sauvignon Vert
Name the DO’s of Atacama Region
Huasco and Copiapo Valleys (2)
What is Pisco?
Pisco, a brandy produced in southern Peru and northern Chile, earned an appellation of origin in Chile in 1931 and in Peru in 1991. The original port of Pisco is located in Peru, but Chile changed the name of an Andean town in the upper Elqui Valley
In Chile, Pisco is distilled principally from?
Moscatel (Muscat of Alexandria)
Moscatel Rosado
Moscatel de Austria (Torrontés Sanjuanino)
Torontel (Moscatel Amarillo, a progeny of País x Muscat of Alexandria)
Pedro Jiménez.
Name the DO’s of Coquimbo Region
Elqui, Limari and Choapa Valley
Name Choapa’s major producer
De Martino for his Syrah followed by Cab Sauv
Elqui produces more?
Reds (90%) mainly Cab Sauv followed by Merlot, Carmenere and Syrah with a little Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in terms of whites
Elqui is most famous for?
Northern-Rhone like Syrah’s with meaty-spicy complexity underpinned by a sleek ripe fruit profile that is the hallmark of the region
Elqui’s major wineries?
Vina Falernia which is also the biggest and Vinedos de Alcohuaz
Falernia’s top wine?
Alta Tierra Syrah
Highest vineyard of Chile?
2,450m Chile’s highest vineyard is Ayllu, located in the Salar de Atacama
Name the areas of Elqui
La Serena (coastal), Vicuña and Paiguano (Andes)
Name the areas of Limari Valley
Ovalle (capital), Monte Patria, Punitaqui, Río Hurtado
Soils and climate of Limari?
One of the few areas in Chile with calcareous soils—red clay atop limestone recalling the terra rossa of Coonawarra—Limarí succeeds as a cooler climate due to its coastal proximity, not its elevation
Limari is mostly famous for?
Mainly Chardonnay (also most planed) followed by Pinot Noir with some good Cab Sauv and Syrah
First winery of Limari?
Elqui-based Pisco cooperative, established the first wine company, Francisco de Aguirre, in 1993. The winery and its vineyards are now owned by Concha y Toro
Name some producers of Limari
Casa Tamaya (consulted by Carlos Andrade ex winemaker of FdA)
Tabalí
Francisco de Aguirre (Conca y Toro)
Agua Tierra
Name the rivers of Limari
Hurtado and Grande rivers that merge to form Limari river
Mists in Limari called?
camanchaca that brings disease pressure (oidium)
Name the areas of Choapa
Salamanca and IIIapel
Name the sub-regions of Aconcagua
Valle del Aconcagua, Valle de Casablanca, and Valle de San Antonio
Aconcagua produces mainly?
reds (87%) mainly Cab Sauv, Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah and Pais
Briefly describe the climate of Aconcagua
Aconcagua in general has the warmest and driest climate in Chile (Valley) and is moderated by altitude and some cooling influences funelled by the Pacific Ocean and becomes cooler and wetter towards the coast to the west.
Soils of Aconcagua
Alluvial deeper more fertile soils in the plains and flatter sites with more sandier and granitic soils that are poorer and free draining in the hillside sites
Aconcagua is famous for?
Red blends of Cab Sauv with Carmenere and Syrah mainly followed by Merlot and sometimes other grapes like Petit Verdot suitable to the warm climate adding structure, tannins and spicy notes
Name the areas of Aconcagua
Hijuelas, Panquehue, Catemu, Llaillay, San Felipe, Santa María, Calle Larga, Quillota, San Esteban (9)
Name the top producers of Aconcagua
Vina Erazurriz (1870)
Sena (Mondavi and Errazuriz)
Corpora Group
Von Siebenthal
Sena first vintage and varietal composition?
Cabernet Sauv with Merlot, Carmenere, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in 1995
Best vintages of Sena
2018, 2010, 2015, 2013 and 2001
Name the top wines of Errazuriz
Sena, Chadwick and Don Max
Who was influencial for the development of Casablanca?
Renowned winemaker Pablo Morandé oversaw development of Casablanca’s first experimental vineyards for Concha y Toro in 1982, the first cool-climate region in Chile to be explored by modern winemakers
Name the next wave of wineries of Casablanca in the 90s
Veramonte, Viña Casablanca, Casas del Bosque, Kingston Family Vineyards among others
Casablanca produces mainly?
Whites from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc which are the most planted with some Riesling, Viognier, Gewurz as well as Pinot Noir, Cab Sauv, Merlot and some Syrah and Carmenere
Casablanca’s major threat?
Frost and nematodes
Casablanca’s soils?
Clay heavier soils in the flatter areas with sandy and decompossed granitic soils (maicillo) in the hillsides
Casablanca is famous for?
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc for whites (crisp with zesty citrusy fruit and herbal mineral notes), Pinot Noir and Syrah with sleek red fruit, spicy and herbal notes with liner texture and vibrant acidities
Name some of the best producers in Casablanca
Casas del Bosque
Vina Casablanca
Veramonte
Kingston
Name some producers who own land in Casablanca
Errazuriz
Casa Lapostolle
De Martino
Santa Rita
Carmen
Emiliana
Conca y Toro
When were the first vines planted in San Antonio?
1998 planted by Vina Leyda
Name the official zone of San Antonio
Leyda Valley
Which is the most planted grape variety in San Antonio?
Sauvignon Blanc
San Antonio produces mainly?
whites (60%)
Which are the main grapes of San Antonio?
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah
Soils in San Antonio?
clay-loams with gravel and decomposed granite in depth
Name the top producers of San Antonio
Casa Marin (Lo Abarca), Vina Leyda (Leyda), Matetik (Rosario), Garces Silva (Leyda)
Climate of San Antonio?
Similar to Casablanca’s, cool, breezy and humid but even more extreme
Name the key areas of San Antonio
Leyda, Lo Abarca and the unofficial Rosario
Which is the cooler area of San Antonio?
Lo Abarca followed by Leyda which boosts a similar climate with Casablanca
Name the areas of San Antonio from north to south
Rosario, Lo Abarca (central), Leyda
Who owns Casa Marin?
Maria Luz Marin
Casa Marin is famous for?
Sauvignon Blanc called Cipreses followed by Pinot Noir
Garces Silva is known for?
Sauvignon Blanc particularly Amayana made in wood
Matetik is known for?
Syrah (also certified biodynamic)
Which wine growing region of Chile does not have a coastline?
Maipo
Maipo produces mainly?
Reds (87%), Cabernet Sauvignon most planted followed by Merlot and Carmenere with some Syrah and Malbec
In terms of white Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
Name the areas of Maipo
Santiago, Pirque, Puente Alto, Buin, Isla de Maipo, Talagante, Melipilla, Alhué, María Pinto, Colina, Calera de Tango, Til Til, Lampa (13)
Name the 3 unofficial divisions of Maipo
Alto Maipo (600-650), Medio Maipo (350-600), Bajo/Costa Maipo (100-350)
Name the areas of Alto Maipo
Penanolen, Pirque, Puente Alto
Name the areas of Medio Maipo
Buin, Alhué and Paine
Name the areas of Bajo/Costa Maipo
Isla de Maipo and Maria Pinto
Name 3 producers from Penanolen
Domus Aurea, Cousino Macul, Aquitania
Name the best vineyards of Puente Alto
Vinedo Chadwick, Almavia and Don Melchor
Name the best producers from Pirque
Conca y Toro, Carmen, Santa Rita, Antiyal, Perez Cruz, El Principal, Haras de Pirque
Who produces Casa Real and what grape is?
Santa Rita 100% Cabernet Sauvognon
Who produces Don Melchor and what grape is?
Conca y Toro 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Who is the winemaker of Don Melchor?
Enrique Tirado
Almaviva’s first vintage?
1996
Almaviva’s varietal composition?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot
Almaviva’s second label?
Epu
Best vintages of Almavia?
2015 and 2017 followed by 2018 and 2020
Who is the winemaker of Antiyal?
Alvaro Espinosa
Name the best wines of Antiya
Antiya (a blend of Cab Sauv with Carmenere and Syrah) and Kuyen (Syrah and Cab Sauv)
Which is the top wine of Carmen?
Carmen Gold Cabernet Sauvignon (with a little Cab Franc and Petit Verdot)
Which is Chile’s largest winery?
Conca y Toro
Name the top producer of Isla de Maipo
De Martino
Synonim of Carmenere?
Grande Vidure
Which wineries where the first to champion Carmenere?
De Martino (Santa Ines) and Carmen (Grande Vidure)
When did Vinedo Chadwick founded, it’s first vintage and when it was launched?
Founded in 1992, first produced in 1999 and launched in 2002
best vintages for Chadwick?
2017, 2014, 2010, 2009
Who and when organised a tasting between Chilean and French wines?
In 2004, Steven Spurrier known as the Berlin tasting
Which vintage of Chadwick won the tasting vs Bordeaux and Tuscan wines?
Chadwick 2000
Name the zones of Valle Central
Maipo, Rapel Valley (Colchagua and Cachapoal), Curico and Maule
Rapel River is formed by the confluence of?
Cachapoal and Tinguiririca rivers
Which is Chile’s most heavily planted DO
Rapel Valley
Name some top Carmenere bottlings from Peumo
Errazuriz’s ‘‘Kai’’, Santa Carolina’s “Herencia” and Concha y Toro’s “Carmín de Peumo
Name the areas of Colchagua
Rancagua, Requínoa, Rengo, Peumo, Machalí, Coltauco, San Vincente
Name the first producers that moved to Alto Cachapoal
Anakena and Altaïr
Cachapoal’s highest vineyard project?
Pedro Parra’s ambitious Clos des Fous project 1000m above sea lvl
Name 2 areas of Alto Cachapoal
Rengo and Requínoa
Name the areas of Colchagua
San Fernando, Chimbarongo, Nancagua, Santa Cruz, Palmilla, Peralillo, Lolol, Marchigüe, Litueche, La Estrella, Paredones, Pumanque, Apalta
Name the coastal areas of Colchagua
Lolol, Pumanque, and Paredones
Name the 2 Andes areas of Colchagua
Chimbarongo and San Fernando
Name some of the top producers in Colchagua
Cono Sur, Viu Manent, Casa Silva,Lapostolle, Los Vascos and Hacienda Araucano and energized by (relative) newcomers Montes, Neyen, Koyle and Vik winery
What is the most important source for red wines in Colchagua?
Apalta
What does Apalta means in the Mapuche dialect?
earthquake
Apalta’s location, microclimate, soils and grape varieties?
It is located on the north bank of the Tinguiririca River, where it sits amid the Coastal Range, facing to the south but protected by mountains on its other three sides. Its slightly cooler climate, reduced sunshine hours, well-drained granitic soils, and hillside planting potential have generated a lot of excitement. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, and Syrah all generate exceedingly lush yet densely structured wines.
Name the top wines of Apalta
Clos Apalta from Casa Lapostolle and Apha M from Montes
Name a vineyard from San Fernando DO
Los Lingues
Name an area from central Colchagua
Santa Cruz
Colchagua produces mainly?
Reds (90%) Cab Sauv followed by Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah and Chardonnay from whites
Describe the style of red wines of Colchagua
Dark color, ripe, sweet black fruit profile and a sturdy palate showing lowish acidity and fleshy tannins, topped off by a warming alcohol kick on the finish
Who consulted Clos Apalta and what was it’s first vintage?
Michel Rolland, 1997
Clos Apalta varietal composition?
Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
second wine of Clos Apalta?
Le petit de clos Apalta
Name some top producers from Colchagua
Cono Sur and Emiliana (owned by Conca y Toro), Casa Silva, Hacienda Araucano (Francois Lurton), Los Vascos, Montes, Neyen and Viu Manent, Casa Lapostolle
Cono Sur is mostly famous for it’s?
white wines
Who is the head winemaker of the organic Emiliana vineyards?
Alvaro Spinosa
Which is the best wine of Emiliana?
Ge a blend of Syrah, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Who is the winemaker of Montes?
Aurelio Montes
Name the top wines of Montes
Purple Angel, Alpha M Syrah followed by Folly
Purple Angel’s varietal composition and location?
lower slopes of Apalta, Carmenere with 8% Petit Verdot
Viu Manent is famous for it’s?
Reds from 100y old vines of Malbec (Viu 1) and Cabernet Sauvignon and also produces an outstanding meaty and spicy Syrah
Name the zones of Curicó
Valle del Teno, Valle del Lontué named for the two rivers of the same name
Name the areas of Curicó
Sagrada Familia, Rauco, Romeral, Molina and Vichuquén Curicó’s sole Costa area
Curico produces mainly?
Reds (87%) mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere
Whites: Sauvignon Blanc (second most planted in general) and Chardonnay
Curico’s climate?
It starts to become cooler and wetter
Name a significant threat for Curico
Frost
Name some top producers of Curico
Echeverria, Miguel Torres, San Pedro, Valdivieso
Which is Miguel Torres’s flagship wine?
Manso de Velasco single vineyard near Luntue, Cabernet Sauvignon from 100 year old vines
When did Miguel Torres established it’s winery in Curico?
1979
Which is Chile’s second largest wine company?
San Pedro
Name the 2 joint ventures of San Pedro in Chile
Altair and Tabali
Which is the top wine of San Pedro?
Cabo de Hornos Cabernet Sauvignon from dry farmed old vines
Which region has the largest vine acreage?
Maule, 50% of Chile’s acreage and the largest region as well
Maule’s most planted grape?
Cabernet Sauvignon followed by Pais
Maule has old vines of?
Carignan, Cinsault, Malbec, Muscat, Semillon and Pais
Name the 3 zones of Maule
Valle del Claro, Valle del Loncomilla, Valle del Tutuvén
Name some of the areas of Maule
Empedrado, Curepto, Talca, Pencahue, San Rafael, San Javier, Villa Alegre, Parral, Linares, Longaví, Retiro, Cauquenes, San Clemente, Colbún
Which area of Maule is known for old vine Carignan?
Cauquenes
Name 2 soil types in Maule that are rare in Chile
slate and schist
Name an upcomming grape variety of Maule
Cabernet Franc
Name some producers of Maule
Calina (Kendal Jackson), Terranoble, La Reserva de Caliboro, Gillmore
What are pipeños or bordeos?
un-Bordeaux-like blends of Carignan, Cinsault, and País—the cheap jug wines of Maule
What is VIGNO?
an association committed to the preservation of the region’s old-vine Carignan by a dozen wineries in western Maule banded together to form Vignadores de Carignan
Which are the requirements for a wine to labelled VIGNO?
The Vignadores de Carignan, and an approximate 550-600 ha of old-vine Carignan in western Maule, are a partnership cut from this cloth. The association’s original members trademarked a brand—VIGNO—and delimited a geographic area (the secano interior of western Maule) in which VIGNO wines can be grown. Association members wishing to use the brand name on a label must observe a few additional rules: The wine must contain a minimum 85% Carignan, which must be dry-farmed, head-trained, and at least 30 years of age (grafted Carignan qualifies). The remainder of the blend must be other old-vine, head-trained, dry-farmed fruit from Maule. The wine must be aged for at least 2 years prior to release. The manner of aging (bottle, barrel, new or used wood) is left to the individual producer’s discretion. There are no tasting panels nor other regulatory controls, but the association currently restricts access to the brand
Which are the regions of South region?
Itata, Bio Bio and Malleco
Itata and Bio Bio produce?
almost equally reds and whites with Pais and Moscatel de Alejandria with a significant proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
How many hectares is Malleco?
13ha
Which winery pioneered Malleco Valley?
Aquitania’s SoldeSol winery
Name the areas of Itata
Portezuelo, Coelemu, Chillán, Quillón
In which administrative region are located Itata and Bio Bio and which is the capital?
The Valle del Itata DO and the Valle del Bío-Bío DO are both located within the Bío-Bío Administrative Region, which has its capital at Concepción
Which is the historic region of Chile?
Itata and used to be the centre of wine industry in the 19th century
In Southern Region which is the percentage of head trained vines?
85%
In Itata the vines are trained?
gobelet and dry farmed
Itata is becoming famous for?
Old vines of Cinsault, Pais (over 100y old vines), Moscatel de Alejandria and even Carignan
When was the modern wine region in Itata established, where and who did that?
Fundacion de Chile in the mid-eighties in Nueva Aldea
Name the rivers of Itata
Nuble and Itata
Which winery sources Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Itata based in Maule?
Calina
Name some producers from Itata
Tierra y Fuego and Casas dde Giner
What does Bio Bio means?
two rivers (Bio Bio and Laja)
Bio Bio produces mainly?
reds (81%) with Pais most planted, Moscatel de Alejandria and also has begun to redefine itself as a hotspot for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and aromatic whites
Name the areas of Bio Bio
Yumbel, Mulchén
Which producers assisted to the faster modernization and development of Bio Bio?
Conca y Toro and Corpora Group
Name the sole area of Malleco
Traigúen
Which is the southern region of Sur DO?
Malleco
Malleco is located in which administrative region?
La Araucanía Administrative Region
Which are the main grapes in Malleco?
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Which is Malleco’s sole fine wine project?
SoldeSol
Name the two sub-regions of Zona Austral
Valle del Cautín and Valle de Osorno
Who was the first to put zona Austral on the lable?
Colchagua-based Casa Silva was the first to use Austral DO on a label and produces Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir
Which is the southern most vineyard of Chile?
the world’s southernmost vineyard, an experimental plot on the edge of the glacial Lake General Carrera and the Chilean tundra. Undurraga’s Rafael Urrejola challenges all conventional thinking, growing grapes at the 46th parallel
Chile’s vintages
2022: Excellent quality, comparable to 2018
2021: Cool, wet vintage but promising quality
2020: Warm, early vintage
2019: Concentrated drought vintage
2018: Excellent, star quality vintage
2017: Hot vintage & forest fires
2016: Cool vintage with lower yields
2015: Warm vintage & riper styles
2014: Massive frost damage, but complex wines
2013: Cool vintage with freshness
2012: Warm vintage with generous wines
2011: Cool and elegant vintage
2010: Cool vintage, affected by the earthquake
