Chile Flashcards
What is Chile’s system for wine categorization?
Geographic place-of-origin laws similar to the US, the DO (Denominacion de Origen) system. If a place of origin, vintage or variety is named on the label, it must be at least 75% of the wine.
What are the three designations that may be added to wine DO’s based on geography in Chile?
Costa (Coast)
Entre Cordilleras (Between the Mountains)
Andes
What is Concha y Toro?
The dominant wine producer in Latin America, founded in Chile.
What percentage of Chile’s wine is exported?
About 67%
What was Merlot Chileno?
A term for spicy Merlot, it was originally believed that the Carmenère grown in Chile was a particular style of Merlot.
What are the six main wine regions of Chile?
Atacama
Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Central Valley
Del Sur
Austral Region
What are the two main sub-regions of Atacama?
Copiapo Valley
Huasco Valley
What is Atacama?
Atacama is the northermost region of Chile, bordering the Atacama Desert. The grapes grown in the region are mostly used for Pisco, however, some Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc is also grown.
What are three sub-regions of Coquimbo?
Elqui Valley
Choapa Valley
Limari Valley
What wine regions is located at the narrowest section of Chile?
Choapa Valley
Where is the Elqui Valley and what grapes are planted there?
The Elqui Valley is in Chile in the Coquimbo Region. It has cooling influences from the mountain air and/or the ocean. The most planted varieties are Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah.
Where is the Coquimbo region and what wines are made there?
The Coquimbo region is the northernmost fine wine region in Chile. The most produced wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah.
Where is the Limarí Valley and what wines are produced there?
The Limarí Valley is located in the Coquimbo region of Chile. Cooling influences are from the mountain air and ocean breezes due to the Humboldt Current. The main grape grown in the region is Chardonnay.
Where is the Choapa Valley and what grapes are grown there?
Choapa Valley is in the Coquimbo region of Chile. It is Chile’s narrowest point and has desert-like conditions. The most widely planted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
What are the three sub-regions of the Aconcagua region of Chile?
Aconcagua Valley
Casablanca Valley
San Antonio Valley
Where is the Casablanca Valley, and what types of wine is produced there?
The Casablanca Valley is in the Aconcagua Region north of the Central Valley. It is the most coastal wine area in Chile, with a maritime climate. 75% of its production is white wines (Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc) but Pinot Noir is made as well.
Where is the Leyda Valley and what wine is produced there?
The Leyda Valley is in the Aconcagua Region of Chile in the San Antonio Valley. It has cooler sites from morning fog and ocean breezes, and known for its granite soils. It is especially known for its Sauvignon Blanc, and also makes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and some Syrah.
Where is the San Antonio Valley and what wines are produced there?
The San Antonio Valley is in the Aconcagua region of Chile, close to the Pacific. It is a cool climate, with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc the dominant varieties.
What is the sub-zone of San Antonio Valley?
Leyda Valley.
Describe the Aconcagua Valley.
Aconcagua Valley is the warmest sub-region of Aconcagua in Chile, with a Mediterranean climate. White grapes are grown near the coast, while the hotter interior is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah.
What is the Aconagua wine region named after?
The Aconagua River.
What are the 2 sub-regions of the Austral Region?
Cautin Valley
Osorno Valley
What is the Austral Region?
The Austral Region is the southermost wine growing region of Chile. It has only a small amount of plantings, primarily Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
Where is Del Sur and what are its three sub-regions
Del Sur (Southern Regions) is south of the Central Valley in Chile. The three sub-regions are Itata Valley, Bio Bio Valley, and Malleco Valley.
What percentage of plantings in Chile are in the Del Sur region?
10%
What are the main grapes planted in Bio Bio Valley?
Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Where is Malleco Valley and what grapes are planted there?
Malleco Valley is the southernmost wine region In Del Sur (Chile). It has limited plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
What grapes are grown in Itata Valley?
Pais (mission grapes) and Moscatel are the most planted grapes in the region. There is also old-vine Carignan, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah are planted as well.
What are the sub-regions of the Central Valley?
Maipo Valley
Rapel Valley
Curico Valley
Maule Valley
What is Pipeño?
Pipeño is a rustic wine from Maule in the Central Valley of Chile produced using Pais (Mission) grapes.
What is the largest sub-region in Chile?
Maule Valley
What percentage of Chile’s wine grapes are grown in the Central Valley?
80% of the wine grapes of Chile are grown in the Central Valley.
What two zones are located in Rapel Valley?
Cachapoal and Colchagua.
Where is Cachapoal Valley and what are the dominant grape varieties?
Cachapoal is a zone of the Rapel Valley in Chile and a sub-region of the Central Valley. It is a warm area, wtih Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot the most planted varieties.
Where is Colchagua, and what is produced there?
Colchagua is in Chile, in the Rapel Valley subregion of the Central Valley Region. It produces full-bodies, premium reds from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Camenère.
Where is the Curico Valley and what types of wines are made there?
The Curico Valley is in the Central Valley of Chile. The climate is warm with no maritime influence. It produces mostly inexpensive blended wines, both white and red, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Carmenère the most planted varieties.
Where is the Maipo Valley, and what type of wine is made there?
The Central Valley of Chile, surrounding the city of Santiago. The center of Chilean winemaking culture. The specialty of the region is Cabernet Sauvignon, also grows Merlot, Chardonnay, Carmenère, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah.
Where is the Maule Valley and what types of wines are made there?
The Maule Valley is in the Central Vineyards of Chile, on the southern end. It is warm but has cooling ocean influences and a mild, dry climate allowing for organic practices. The main grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pais (Mission) Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Carmenère. There is dry farmed, old vine Carignan as well.
Where is the Rapel Valley and what style of wine is produced there?
The Rapel Valley is in the Central Valley of Chile. It produces mainly red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Carmenere. Sub-appellations include Cachapoal and Colchagua Valleys.
