Chile Flashcards
Why was Chile so big worldwide in wine production at the end of the 19th Century?
Phylloxera did not hit there
What is Raulí?
Chilean evergreen beech vats. They got mostly replaced by imported US & French oak
What is Pisco?
Chilean local spirit, created mainly from Moscatel grapes. Often used in Pisco Sours.
Name international influences in Chile’s wine business
Chateau Lafite Rothschild = Los Vascos
Marnier Lapostolle (Grand Marnier) = Casa Lapostolle
Miguel Torres (from Spain) = first to import oak barrels to Chile
Partnership between Concha y Toto and Rothschilds
What are the most important red varieties in Chile?
Cabernet Sauvignon
País (cheap bulk wine from South)
Merlot
Carmenère (first often thought it was Merlot, then 1994 official identification. Chile’s signature grape)
Syrah, Malbec, Pinot Noir
Describe Chilean white varieties
Sauvignasse (first thought it was Sauvignon Blanc)
Sauvignon Blanc (north like Casablance & Leyda)
Aromatic varieties (Riesling, Viognier, Gewürz) in the cooler sites
Sémillon (extremely widespread and mixed in vineyard with Sauv. Blanc)
What are Chile’s main areas?
Maipo Valley, Rapel Valley, Maule Valley
What are the Maipo Valley’s sub-regions?
Alto Maipo, Central Maipo, Maipo Bajo
Describe the Maipo Valley
Most famous, but not the biggest region (close to Santiago)
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most important grape
“Bordeaux of South America”
Coastal range separates it from the Pacific, while the Andes separates from Mendoza
Name some famous producers and vineyards from Maipo
Industry giants Concha y Toro (world’s most important Cab. Sauv. grower) and Santa Rita reside here.
Important single vineyard producer: Cousiño Macul
Describe Alto Maipo
Colluvial soils with 400-760m altitude
Sub regions are Puente Alto & Pirque
Important vineyards:
Don Melchor (Concha y Toro)
Almaviva (Concha y Toro & Rothschilds)
Viñedo Chadwick (history with Errázuriz)
Describe Central Maipo/Maipo Medio
Warmer than Alto Maipo
More clay-based (alluvial) soils
More Carmenère than Alto Maipo
Towns: Buine & Paine
Describe Maipo Bajo
More wineries than vineyards
Towns: Isla de Maipo & Talagante
Important wineries: Undurraga & De Martino
Describe the Rapel Valley
Sub regions: Colchague & Cachapoal Valleys (officially part of O’Higgins not Rapel)
Red: Cab. Sauv., Syrah, Camenère, little Malbec
White: Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc
South of Maipo, protected by Coastal Range & Andes
Rapel River: Confluence of Tinguiririca & Cachapoal rivers
Describe the Cachapoal and Colchagua Valleys
Cachapoal: Vineyards concentrated in the east
Colchagua: Vineyards concentrated in the west, cooled by Pacific influence, so more elegant wines
