Chile

Question 1

What is Chile’s system for wine categorization?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

What are the three designations that may be added to wine DO’s based on geography in Chile?

Answer 2

Costa (Coast)
Entre Cordilleras (Between the Mountains)
Andes

Question 3

What is Concha y Toro?

Answer 3

The dominant wine producer in Latin America, founded in Chile.

Question 4

What percentage of Chile’s wine is exported?

Answer 4

About 67%

Question 5

What was Merlot Chileno?

Answer 5

A term for spicy Merlot, it was originally believed that the Carmenère grown in Chile was a particular style of Merlot.

Question 6

What are the six main wine regions of Chile?

Answer 6

Atacama
Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Central Valley
Del Sur
Austral Region

Question 7

What are the two main sub-regions of Atacama?

Answer 7

Copiapo Valley
Huasco Valley

Question 8

What is Atacama?

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

What are three sub-regions of Coquimbo?

Answer 9

Elqui Valley
Choapa Valley
Limari Valley

Question 10

What wine regions is located at the narrowest section of Chile?

Answer 10

Choapa Valley

Question 11

Where is the Elqui Valley and what grapes are planted there?

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Where is the Coquimbo region and what wines are made there?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Where is the Limarí Valley and what wines are produced there?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Where is the Choapa Valley and what grapes are grown there?

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

What are the three sub-regions of the Aconcagua region of Chile?

Answer 15

Aconcagua Valley
Casablanca Valley
San Antonio Valley

Question 16

Where is the Casablanca Valley, and what types of wine is produced there?

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

Where is the Leyda Valley and what wine is produced there?

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Where is the San Antonio Valley and what wines are produced there?

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

What is the sub-zone of San Antonio Valley?

Answer 19

Leyda Valley.

Question 20

Describe the Aconcagua Valley.

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

What is the Aconagua wine region named after?

Answer 21

The Aconagua River.

Question 22

What are the 2 sub-regions of the Austral Region?

Answer 22

Cautin Valley
Osorno Valley

Question 23

What is the Austral Region?

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

Where is Del Sur and what are its three sub-regions

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

What percentage of plantings in Chile are in the Del Sur region?

Answer 25

10%

Question 26

What are the main grapes planted in Bio Bio Valley?

Answer 26

Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 27

Where is Malleco Valley and what grapes are planted there?

Answer 27

Malleco Valley is the southernmost wine region In Del Sur (Chile). It has limited plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Question 28

What grapes are grown in Itata Valley?

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

What are the sub-regions of the Central Valley?

Answer 29

Maipo Valley
Rapel Valley
Curico Valley
Maule Valley

Question 30

What is Pipeño?

Answer 30

Pipeño is a rustic wine from Maule in the Central Valley of Chile produced using Pais (Mission) grapes.

Question 31

What is the largest sub-region in Chile?

Answer 31

Maule Valley

Question 32

What percentage of Chile’s wine grapes are grown in the Central Valley?

Answer 32

80% of the wine grapes of Chile are grown in the Central Valley.

Question 33

What two zones are located in Rapel Valley?

Answer 33

Cachapoal and Colchagua.

Question 34

Where is Cachapoal Valley and what are the dominant grape varieties?

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

Where is Colchagua, and what is produced there?

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

Where is the Curico Valley and what types of wines are made there?

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

Where is the Maipo Valley, and what type of wine is made there?

Answer 37

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.

Question 38

Where is the Maule Valley and what types of wines are made there?

Answer 38

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.

Question 39

Where is the Rapel Valley and what style of wine is produced there?

Answer 39

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.