Chile Flashcards
What is the rule for Chile wine law?
(vintage, variety, DO labelling)
75%
Most of the wineries follow the 85% rule in order to export wine to the EU
What are the sub regions of the Itata Valley?
- Coelemu
- Portezuelo
- Quillon
- Chillan
Name the sub DOs of Coquimbo north to south
- Elqui
- Limari
- Choapa
What are the sub-DOs of the Maule Valley of Chile?
- Loncomilla Valley
- Tutuven
- Claro Valley
What river influences the vineyards of Clos Apalta?
Tinguiririca
What is the northernmost winegrowing region in Chile?
Atacama
What are the 2 DO subregions of Chile’s Curico Valley?
- Lantue
- Teno
Who produces Clos Apalta?
Casa Lapostolle
What are the 3 districts of Chile’s Southern VR?
- Itata Valley
- Bio Bio Valley
- Malleco Valley
Who produces ‘Alpha M’ and ‘Purple Angel’?
Vina Montes
What are the 4 regions of Chile’s Central Valley DO from north to south?
- Maipo
- Rapel
- Curico
- Maule
Chilean wines labeled Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva must have a min abv of what?
12.5%
What are the most planted grapes in Casablanca and San Antonio Valley?
- sauv blanc
- pinot noir
- chardonnay
The Maipo Valley in Chile is known for what variety?
Cab Sauv
Chilean wines labeled Reserva and Reserva Especial must have a min abv of what?
12%
In what district is Leyda Valley found?
San Antonio Valley, Aconcagua VR
What is Chile’s oldest and most established wine growing region?
Central Valley DO
What climatic feature cools vines in Chile’s Central Valley DO?
Humboldt Current
What is the soil type in the Limari Valley?
cool limestone
What type of soils are found in Maipo DO?
warm, well drained alluvial
What is the primary soil type in Aconcagua?
Alluvial
When was Chilean wine law established?
1995
Where is Vina Vik located?
Cachapoal, Rapel Valley
The Colchagua and Cachapoal Valleys are located in which DO?
Rapel Valley
What is MOVI?
Assoc. of small, quality minded producers in Chile
What are Chile’s 6 Viticultural Regions (VR) from north to south?
- Atacama
- Coquimbo
- Aconcagua
- Valle Central
- Sur
- Austral
What are the 3 DO subzones of Aconcagua?
- Aconcagua Valley
- Casablanca Valley
- San Antonio Valley
List 3 well known producers in Chile’s Maipo Valley
- Conch y Toro
- Santa Rita
- Santa Carolina
- Almaviva
- Cousino Macul
-Carmen - Haras de Pirque
- Ventisquero
- Odfjell
- De Martino
- Antiyal
What is the climate of Chile’s northern growing region?
dry and desert like
Grapes grown in Chile’s northern region were historically used for what?
Pisco
What is furrow irrigation?
Ancient Inca technique of directing snowmelt through carved channels
What Chilean wine label term indicates mandatory oak aging?
- Reserva Especial
- Gran Reserva
Where is Los Vascos located?
Colchagua Valley DO
Casa Tamaya and Tabali are located in what DO?
Limari DO
What are the 3 new zone designations in Chile and what is the minimum percentage required for using these labels?
- Costa
- Entre Cordilleras
- Andes
85%
Matetic, Vina Leyda, and Casa Marin are located in what DO?
San Antonio Valley DO
What are the qualifications to label a wine ‘vigno’ in Chile?
- 85% carignan (maule fruit)
- old vine, head trained, dry farmed
- vines must be at least 30 years old
- the remainder of the fruit (15%) must be old vine, head-trained, dry farmed Maule fruit
- aged 2 years prior to release
What are the 3 DO subzones of Coquimbo?
- Elqui
- Limari
- Choapa
What is pajarete?
traditional, passito style sweet wine made from dried pisco grapes
What DO lies at the convergence if the Andes and Coastal Mountains in Chile?
Choapa Valley
What Chilean wine beat Lafite and Margaux in the 2004 Berlin tasting?
Errazuriz ‘Sena’
What are the 2 DO subzones of Atacama?
- Copiapo Valley DO
- Huasca Valley DO
Which producer has the largest vineyard holdings in Chile?
Concha Y Toro with over 9000 hectares of vineyards
True or False: the pais grape cannot be listed on the label of a DO wine in Chile?
True
What is the most planted grape variety in Chile?
Cab Sauv
What are the parents of Carmenere?
Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet
Name 3 synonyms for Pais
Mission
Listan Prieto
Criolla Chica
Name two prominent wineries in Chile founded founded by an international winemaker
Domaines Barons de Rothschild-Lafite in 1988, to take over the Colchagua estate of Los Vascos.
Lapostolle, also in Colchagua, was founded in 1994 by the namesake owners of (Grand) Marnier-Lapostolle. In Maipo Valley,
Bruno Prats (former owner of Château Cos d’Estournel) and Paul Pontallier (current managing director of Château Margaux) launched Viña Aquitania in 1990.
Baron Philippe de Rothschild arrived in 1997 to create Almaviva in conjunction with Concha y Toro.
Robert Mondavi joined with Eduardo Chadwick of Viña Errázuriz to found Seña in 1995.
What is Chile’s most planted white grape?
Sauvignon Blanc
What is the name of the dense and cool morning fog that creeps into the coasts of Chile?
Camanchaca
The Nahuelbuta Mountains have a strong influence over the climate of where?
Bio Bio valley
What is the most important yet unofficial zone within the Colchagua DO?
Apalta Valley
Who makes Casa Real?
Sant Rita
What DO of Chile has the most acreage under vine
Rapel Valley
What percentage of grapes grown in Chile are red?
75%
What are the top 5 most grown red grapes in Chile?
- cab sauv
- merlot
- carmenere
- syrah
- pais
Why is carmenere more successful in Chile than in Bordeaux?
- difficult to graft so it stopped being propagated in Bordeaux
- needs a dry spring
- needs clay soil, but requires longer, warmer ripening season (one month more than merlot)
Why does harvest time for carmenere need to be so precise?
carmenere loses acidity rapidly as it ripens, but it needs to be ripe enough to temper the pyrazine quality
Why is pyrazine character so prominent in carmenere?
- inherited pyrazine qualities from both parents
- Chile irrigates heavily, which encourages vegetation growth as opposed to fruit ripening
What Bordeaux winemaking technique is almost never used when making carmenere?
Cold Maceration
- extended pre-fermentation skin contact exacerbates bitterness and pyrazine quality
How can reduction in carmenere be combatted in the winery?
- racking
- micro oxygenation
Errazuriz ‘Kai’ and Concha y Toro ‘Carmin de Peumo’ are single varietal bottles of what grape?
carmenere
What is pipeno?
Light, slightly fizzy, often chilled and easy drinking (usually pais based) wine
What producer made the first sparkling rose made of Pais?
Miguel Torres (NV Estelado)
List 2 producers spearheading quality pais bottlings in Chile
- Miguel Torres
- J Bouchon
- Louis Antoine Luyt
- Gonzalez Bastias
How much rain does the Atacama region get per year?
15 mm (less than one inch)
What is parron and where is it likely to be found?
pergola training common on Copiapo
What is the RS range for labeling in Chile?
Seco/ Dry
- max 4 g/l (up to 9 g/l if total acidity is within 2 g/l of total residual sugar)
Semi Seco/Medium Dry
- 4-12 g/l (up to 18 g/l if total acidity is within 2 g/l of residual sugar)
Semi Dulce/Medium Sweet
- 12-45 g/l
Dulce/Sweet
- min 45 g/l
Copiapo and Huasca are known for what type of grapes?
pisco grapes
What is the biggest viticultural concern in Coquimbo?
Lack of water
- drought, depleting reservoirs, and less snowmelt
What are the 3 DO areas of Elqui Valley?
- La Serena (costa)
- Paiguano (andes)
- Vicuna (andes)
What are the primary grapes grown in Elqui Valley?
- syrah
- pedro jiminez
- sauv blanc
What is the highest elevation growing region in Chile?
Elqui Valley
What is the grape of Falernia’s ‘Alta Tierra?’
syrah
What are the 4 DO areas of Limari Valley?
- Ovalle (costa)
- Punitaqui (entre cordilleras)
- Monte Patria (andes)
- Rio Hurtado (andes)
What is the soil type in the Limari Valley and what grape is it becoming known for?
calcareous (red clay atop limestone)
- gaining a reputation for chardonnay
Who are the major producers in the Limari Valley?
- Tabali
- Casa Tamaya
- Francisco de Aguirre (Concha y Toro)
All winegrowing in Choapa happens in what zone designation?
Andes
What are the 2 areas without subregions in Aconcagua DO?
- Marga-Marga Valley DO
- Zapallar DO
both costa
Who is the most important producer in the Aconcagua Valley DO?
Errazuriz
What winemaker partnered with Errazuriz to produce Sena?
Robert Mondavi
What are the grapes used in Errazuriz Sena?
- cab sauv
- malbec
- carmenere
- petit verdot
Who hosted the Berlin Tasting in 2004?
Eduardo Chadwick
What are the major grapes in Aconcagua DO?
- cab sauv
- syrah
- carmenere
- sauv blanc
All of Casablanca is considered what zone designation?
costa
What is the main climate hazard in Casablanca DO?
frost
What percentage of grapes in Casablanca DO are white?
75%
What are the 2 most planted grapes in Casablanca DO?
- chardonnay
- sauv blanc
What is the most important red grape in Casablanca DO?
pinot noir
What is the climate of Casablanca DO?
cool Mediterranean
Why do winemakers in Casablanca use rootstock even though there is no phylloxera?
The sandy soils in Casablanca are a magnet for nematodes
List 3 producers in Casablanca DO
- Veramonte
- Casas del Bosque
- Kingston
- Laroche Punto Alto
- Morande
- Montesecano
Describe the daily weather and climate in Leyda Valley DO
- maritime climate
- constant coastal humidity (fear of rot)
- windy afternoons
- cooler growing season temps (than Casablanca)
What is the soil type in San Antonia DO?
alluvial clay
What is the most cool and maritime region in San Antonia DO?
Lo Abarca DO (4 km from the coast)
Who was the first producer in Lo Abarca (2000)?
Casa Marin
What (unofficial) subzone is the warmest, driest, and most inland of San Antonio DO?
Rosario
What are the 2 DO subzones of Leyda Valley DO?
- San Juan
- Santo Domingo
What is the annual rainfall in San Antonio DO?
13.8 in (350 mm)
What are the major grapes in San Antonio DO?
- sauv blanc
- pinot noir
- chardonnay
What percentage of Chile’s grapes are grown in the Central Valley?
75%
The capital city, Santiago, is surrounded by which winegrowing region?
Maipo DO
What is the average elevation of vineyards in the Alto Maipo?
400-600 m
What zone designation is not represented in the vineyards of Maipo DO?
costa
What DO subzone of Maipo is best known for quality winemaking?
Puento Alto DO
List 2 icon producers based in Puente Alto DO
- Don Melchor
- Almaviva
- Vinedo Chadwick
List 3 Entre Cordilleras zones in Maipo DO
- Isla de Maipo
- Talagante
- Melipilla
- Alhue
- Maria Pinto
- Calera di Tango
- Til Til
- Lampa
What are the 4 Andes zones in Maipo DO?
- Santiago
- Pirque
- Puente Alto
- Buin
What are the major grapes of Maipo DO?
- cab sauv
- merlot
- syrah
- chardonnay
What is the smaller of the two Rapel Valley zones?
Cachapoal Valley DO
What is the soil type in Cachapoal Valley?
brown clay, alluvial
What grape does well in warm Cachapoal Valley?
carmenere
In what Cachapoal subregion is the carmenere sourced for Santa Carolina’s ‘Herencia’ and Concha y Toro’s ‘Carmin de Peumo?’
Peumo DO
Of the two Rapel Valley zones, which has no Costa designated vineyards?
Cachapoal Valley DO
List 2 DO areas of Cachapoal Valley DO
- Rancagua (ec)
- Peumo (ec)
- Coltauco (ec)
- Requinoa (andes)
- Rengo (andes)
- Machali (andes)
List 2 producers based in Cachapoal Valley DO
- Altair
- La Ronciere
- Morande
- Vik
- Camino Real
List 2 Costa DOs in Colchagua Valley DO
- Lolol
- Litueche
- Paredones
- Pumanque
List 2 Entre Cordilleras DOs in Colchagua Valley DO
- Nancagua
- Santa Cruz
- Apalta
- Palmilla
- Peralillo
- Marchigue
- La Estrella
List 2 Andes DOs in Colchagua Valley DO
- San Fernando
- Chimbarongo
- Los Lingues
List 3 major producers in Colchagua Valley DO
- Koyle
- Casa Silva
- Cono Sur
- Viu Manent
- Casa Lapostolle
- Laura Hartwig
- Los Vascos
- Siegel
- Montes
How does cab sauv in Curico Valley DO differ from that grown in Colchagua or Maipo?
cooler temps produce less weighty and more green cab sauv
Sauvignon vert is also known as what grape in Italy?
Friulano
Much of the sauv blanc in Curico Valley DO is actually what grape?
Sauvignon vert
Curico Valley DO is most associated with what type of wine?
bulk
Where did Miguel Torres launch his winery and in what year?
Curico Valley DO
1979
What are the DO areas of Lontue Valley DO?
- Sagrada Familia (ec)
- Molina (andes)
What are the DO areas of Teno Valley DO?
- Vichuquen (costa)
- Licanten (costa)
- Rauco (ec)
- Romeral (andes)
Where is the producer Valdivieso located?
Curico Valley DO
What is the geographic hierarchy in Chilean wine?
- Viticultural Region (VR)
- subregion
- zone
- area
What are the predominant soils in the Maule Valley DO?
- alluvial near Maule river
- red, granitic, quartz near coast
50% of Chiles vine acreage is in what DO?
Maule Valley DO
Describe the climate in Maule
- moderate mediterranean climate
- mild, rainy autumns
The highest percentage of old vines are found in what DO?
Maule Valley DO
- old bush vine carignan
- old vine malbec
- old vine semillon
What type of training is cabeza?
head training
What are the 3 DO zones of Maule Valley DO?
- Claro Valley DO
- Loncomilla Valley DO
- Tutuven Valley DO
Almost all Chilean producers grow or source fruit from what DO?
Maule Valley DO
List a major producer based in Maule DO
- VIA
- O Fournier
- J Bouchon
What are the 2 DOs of Maule designated Costa?
- Empedrado
- Curepto
List 2 Maule DOs designated Entre Cordilleras?
- Talca
- Pencahue
- San Rafael
- San Javier
- Villa Alegre
- Parral
- Linares
- Longavi
- Retiro
- Cauquenes
What are the 2 DOs of Maule designated Andes?
- San Clemente
- Colbun
What is the primary soil type in Itata DO?
red granitic soils
What is the most planted red variety in Itata Valley DO?
pais
What type of irrigation is most common in Itata Valley DO?
most vineyards are dry farmed, not irrigated
What is the most planted grape in Itata Valley DO?
Muscat of Alexandria
All of the winegrowing regions of Bio Bio Valley DO fall under what designation?
Entre Cordilleras
What are the 2 DO areas of Bio Bio Valley DO?
- Yumbel
- Mulchen
What are the primary grapes grown in Bio Bio Valley DO?
- pinot noir
- pais
- chardonnay
- sauv blanc
Dos Andes, Guilisasti, and Aristos are producers located in which DO?
Bio Bio Valley DO
What is the climate of the Sur VR?
semi-continental
- cool, rainy, windy
What is the only DO area of Malleco Valley DO?
Traiguen DO
Who founded Clos des Fous?
Pedro Parra
In what DO is Sol de Sol located?
Malleco Valley DO
What are the primary grapes of Malleco Valley DO?
- pinot noir
- pais
- chardonnay
- sauv blanc
Who was the first producer to use DO Austral on a label?
Casa Silva (Lake Ranco)
What is the yearly average rainfall in Austral DO?
70 inches (1800 mm)
What is the world’s southernmost vineyard?
Undurraga
- Austral DO
- experimental vineyard on glacial Lake General Carrera
- has not released a commercial vintage
What are the 2 subregions of Autral DO?
- Valle del Cautin DO
- Valle de Osorno DO
As of 2024, what are Chile’s two newest approved DOs?
Pacific - Rapa Nui DO (Easter Island)
Patagonia - Chiloe DO
Who is considered to be the father of Chilean wine?
Don Silvestre Ochagavia Errazuriz
What is the primary grape in Clos Apalta?
carmenere
What two wines won the 2004 Berlin tasting?
2001 Errazuriz Sena
2000 Vinedo Chadwick
List 2 Bordeaux synonyms for carmenere
- grand vidure
- carmin
- carbuet
- grand carmenet
What DO lies opposite the Andes from Mendoza?
Maipo
What are the main rivers of the Itata Valley?
- Itata river
- Nuble river
What winery makes a line of high end pinot noir, chardonnay, and sparkling wine?
Vina Acatania - Sol de Sol