CHILE Flashcards

1
Q

What marks the border with Argentina?

A

Andes in the East

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Climate?

A

Warm, Med
Dry, sunny, growing season

Cooler/wetter in Southern regions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

2 weather patterns that affect Chile’s wine regions?

A

El Nino-Rainfall levels can dramatically increase

La Nina-Drought may occur

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

2 cooling effects?

A

-Cold Humboldt current flows along Antarctica along Chilean coast

-In vineyards in the foothills of the Andes- Cold air that descends from the mountains overnight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Overall most planted grape?

A

Cab Sauv

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Characteristics of Cab Sauv?

A

Very ripe black fruit aromas/flavours, with herbaceous character

Often blended with Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Inexpensive, medium bodied Merlot is popular where?

A

Export markets

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Where is Carmenere successful?

A

Warmest and sunniest sites
Late ripening
Full bodied
High tannin
Can have overly herbaceous aromas when not fully ripe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Styles of Syrah?

A

Cool coastal areas/North regions= Lighter body, peppery

Hotter climates=Intense black fruit flavors, fuller body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Where is Pinot Noir showing promise?

A

Cooler locations
San Antonio, Casablanca Valleys

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

white grapes dominated by what 2 international varieties?

A

Chardonnay
Sauv B

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Sauv B characteristics?

A

Does well in cooler vineyard sites (Casablanca, San Antonio Valleys) - High acid, intense fruit flavors
Ripe apple, citrus, tropical flavors, sometimes herbaceous

Can have richness/texture from lees stirring, oak

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Chardonnay characteristics?

A

Vineyards with cooling influences-Limari Valley

Med-high acid
citrus, stone fruit flavors

Lees, stirring, oak maturation and fermentation are often used for texture and flavor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

3rd most planted white?

A

Muscat of Alexandria

Mainly used for Pisco

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Small plantings of aromatic varieties?

A

Riesling
Gew
Viognier

Making fresh/fruity wines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Most Northerly principal wine region?

A

Coquimbo

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

3 wine making sub regions in Coquimbo?

A

Elqui Valley-Sauv B/Syrah
Limari Valley-Chard
Choapa Valley

18
Q

What do the 3 valleys in the Coquimbo region benefit from?

A

Brilliant sunshine
Marked cooling influences from either from sea breezes or mountain air

**Biggest challenge is lack of water

19
Q

2nd smallest wine region in Chile

A

Aconcagua

20
Q

Dominate grape in Aconcagua?

A

Reds dominate
Cab Sauv

21
Q

Where are vineyards planted in Aconcagua?

A

Fertile valley floor between Coastal Mountain range and Andes- Higher alcohol and tanninsW

Slopes, or towards the coast- More fresh and complex wines

22
Q

Where does Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley lie?

A

Between the Coastal Mountains and the Pacific

23
Q

Vineyard site climate in Casa and San A?

A

Cooler sites thanks to morning fog and afternoon in winds that blow in off the ocean

24
Q

What grapes dominate in Casa and San A?

A

Whites
Sauv B- In San A in Leyda Valley Zone
Chardonnay also planted

PN most planted black

Syrah-Successful in Casablanca Valley, where it is planted in the warmer vineyard sites in the east

25
Q

Where are majority of Chilean vineyards found?

A

Central Valley region

26
Q

What is productions main focus in Central Valley?

A

Inexpensive fruity wines from Merlot and Chard

27
Q

How many sub regions in Central Valley?

A

4
Maipo Valley
Rapel Valley–Sub-divided into 2 sub zones (Cachapoal Valley, Colchagua Valley)
Curico Valley
Maule Valley

28
Q

Classic heartland of Chilean wine industry?

A

Maipo Valley

29
Q

What is Maipo Valley known for?

A

Cab Sauv with minty character

30
Q

Cachapoal Valley Climate?

Grapes?

A

Warm, cut off from ocean breezes

Carmenere ripen well on valley floors

Cab Sauv and Syrah do well in cooler eastern end of valley

31
Q

Colchagua Valley climate?

What grapes is it known for?

A

Larger than Cachapoal
Central part is warm/open to some ocean influence

Full bodied reds, Cab Sauv, but also Syrah and Carmenere

Further west, cooling Pacific influence-High quality whites

32
Q

What 2 valleys form southern end of Central valley?

A

Curico Valley
Maule Valley

Warmth + fertile soils=Most important sources of fruit for inexpensive blended reds and whites

33
Q

Most planted grapes in Curico and Maule?

A

Cab Sauv
Sauv B
Merlot
Chard

34
Q

Are the vineyards in Maule cooler than Curico?

A

Yes and the wines retain a higher acid which can be useful when blending

35
Q

What exists in the Western Hills in the Central Valley region?

A

Dry farmed old vines
Carignan is the star- Full bodied, very concentrated from these ancient low yielding bush vines

36
Q

Climate in Southern region vineyards?

A

Cooler and wetter the further South they are located

37
Q

How many sub regions in Souther region?

A

3
Itata Valley
Bio Bio Valley
Malleco Valley

38
Q

What are plantings dominated by in Itata and Bio Bio?

A

Pais
Muscat of Alexandria

39
Q

What has Bio Bio started to show great promise for?

A

PN
Chard
Aromatic varieties

40
Q

Smallest region in the Southern region?

A

Malleco
Also the most Southerly

Some Chard and PN