CHILE

Question 1

What marks the border with Argentina?

Answer 1

Andes in the East

Question 2

Climate?

Answer 2

Warm, Med
Dry, sunny, growing season

Cooler/wetter in Southern regions

Question 3

2 weather patterns that affect Chile’s wine regions?

Answer 3

El Nino-Rainfall levels can dramatically increase

La Nina-Drought may occur

Question 4

2 cooling effects?

Answer 4

-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

Question 5

Overall most planted grape?

Answer 5

Cab Sauv

Question 6

Characteristics of Cab Sauv?

Answer 6

Very ripe black fruit aromas/flavours, with herbaceous character

Often blended with Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah

Question 7

Inexpensive, medium bodied Merlot is popular where?

Answer 7

Export markets

Question 8

Where is Carmenere successful?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Styles of Syrah?

Answer 9

Cool coastal areas/North regions= Lighter body, peppery

Hotter climates=Intense black fruit flavors, fuller body

Question 10

Where is Pinot Noir showing promise?

Answer 10

Cooler locations
San Antonio, Casablanca Valleys

Question 11

white grapes dominated by what 2 international varieties?

Answer 11

Chardonnay
Sauv B

Question 12

Sauv B characteristics?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Chardonnay characteristics?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

3rd most planted white?

Answer 14

Muscat of Alexandria

Mainly used for Pisco

Question 15

Small plantings of aromatic varieties?

Answer 15

Riesling
Gew
Viognier

Making fresh/fruity wines

Question 16

Most Northerly principal wine region?

Answer 16

Coquimbo

Question 17

3 wine making sub regions in Coquimbo?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

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

Answer 18

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

**Biggest challenge is lack of water

Question 19

2nd smallest wine region in Chile

Answer 19

Aconcagua

Question 20

Dominate grape in Aconcagua?

Answer 20

Reds dominate
Cab Sauv

Question 21

Where are vineyards planted in Aconcagua?

Answer 21

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

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

Question 22

Where does Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley lie?

Answer 22

Between the Coastal Mountains and the Pacific

Question 23

Vineyard site climate in Casa and San A?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What grapes dominate in Casa and San A?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Where are majority of Chilean vineyards found?

Answer 25

Central Valley region

Question 26

What is productions main focus in Central Valley?

Answer 26

Inexpensive fruity wines from Merlot and Chard

Question 27

How many sub regions in Central Valley?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Classic heartland of Chilean wine industry?

Answer 28

Maipo Valley

Question 29

What is Maipo Valley known for?

Answer 29

Cab Sauv with minty character

Question 30

Cachapoal Valley Climate? Grapes?

Answer 30

Warm, cut off from ocean breezes Carmenere ripen well on valley floors Cab Sauv and Syrah do well in cooler eastern end of valley

Question 31

Colchagua Valley climate? What grapes is it known for?

Answer 31

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

Question 32

What 2 valleys form southern end of Central valley?

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Most planted grapes in Curico and Maule?

Answer 33

Cab Sauv Sauv B Merlot Chard

Question 34

Are the vineyards in Maule cooler than Curico?

Answer 34

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

Question 35

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

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Climate in Southern region vineyards?

Answer 36

Cooler and wetter the further South they are located

Question 37

How many sub regions in Souther region?

Answer 37

3 Itata Valley Bio Bio Valley Malleco Valley

Question 38

What are plantings dominated by in Itata and Bio Bio?

Answer 38

Pais Muscat of Alexandria

Question 39

What has Bio Bio started to show great promise for?

Answer 39

PN Chard Aromatic varieties

Question 40

Smallest region in the Southern region?

Answer 40

Malleco Also the most Southerly Some Chard and PN