Chile Flashcards
Until the 21st century, what was the most planted grape in Chile?
País (Chilean synonym for the Mission grape)
Ampelographical research determined that much of Chile’s Sauvignon Blanc was actually what?
Sauvignon Vert, or Friulano
A significant portion of the country’s Merlot turned out to be what?
Carmenère, the 6th “lost” grape of Bordeaux
From north to south, what are the 6 regional Denominations of Origin (DOs)?
- Atacama
- Coquimbo
- Aconcagua
- Valle Central (Central Valley)
- Sur (the Southern Regions)
- Austral Region
What is the southernmost limit of grapegrowing in the country?
Austral Region, a new area
Climate of the northernmost regions of Atacama and Coquimbo?
dry and desert-like, grapes historically destined for Pisco
Chile’s most suitable vineyards for fine wine are mostly situated-
in the Central Valley to the south of Santiago
Central Valley climate?
the proximity of the Andes cools nighttime temperatures, and along the coast, the cold, maritime Humboldt Current cools the vines
Although the Coastal Mountains (between the Central Valley and the Pacific) provide some shelter, what forces cool sea air inland through the river valleys to affect the Central Valley vineyards during the day?
the Humboldt Current
What is essential in both the Central Valley and Aconcagua?
irrigation
Climate in the country’s southernmost areas of viticulture?
rainfall is higher, overall growing season is cooler and shorter
What exists in most of Chile’s major regions?
Significant variations in altitude, as vineyard plantings climb from the coast into the Coastal Ranges, and from the valleys into the Andean foothills
Chilean wine law est what in 1995?
the 75% rule: vintage, varietal, and DO must, if listed on the bottle, comprise a min 75% of the blend
Many wineries observe an __% minimum for all three categories, in order to comply with EU standards for export.
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Chilean law requires all wines to show a min alcohol of-
11.5%
Wines labeled Reserva and Reserva Especial must have-
a min 12% abv
Wines labeled Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva require-
a min 12.5% abv
Reserva Especial and Gran Reserva wines spend-
mandatory time in oak
Red grapes account for approx __% of total acreage in Chile
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Leading grape varieties in Chile after CS and País include-
Merlot, SB (and Sauvignon Vert), Chardonnay, Carmenère, Syrah, Sémillon, Pinot Noir, and CF
___ retains a large share of plantings, but the grape is used chiefly for distillation
Muscat of Alexandria
In Atacama, the northernmost winegrowing region, viticulture is only possible through-
irrigation
Atacama wines are generally __
distilled
What is also prominent in Coquimbo?
Pisco and table grape production
Name Coquimbo’s 2 northern valleys
Elqui and Limarí
What does well in Elqui and Limarí
CS is the most planted grape in both regions, but Syrah is gaining attention in the regions’ cool, high-altitude vineyards
Name Coquimbo’s 3rd subregion
Choapa
Where is Choapa located?
in a narrow area to the south, where the Andes and Coastal Mountains converge
The Aconcagua DO takes its name from-
the Aconcagua River, rather than the nearby Argentinean peak—the highest mountain in the Americas
Climate of the Aconcagua Valley subregion?
sunny, dry
The Aconcagua Valley follows the river as it flows-
from the Andes to the Pacific
Soils in the Aconcagua Valley are generally-
alluvial
What dominate the Aconcagua valley’s vineyards?
red grapes, particularly CS and Merlot
Although much of the Aconcagua valley is distressingly hot for grape-growing, what commune experiences a more moderate climate?
Panquehue, home to Errázuriz, one of Chile’s most prominent estates and winemaking families
Describe Errázuriz’s “Seña”
Bordeaux-style blend, placed ahead of Château Lafite & Château Margaux in the 2004 Berlin Tasting—a milestone likened to the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris
Name Aconcagua DO’s other subregions
Casablanca and San Antonio
Where are Casablanca and San Antonio located?
along the coast
What are among Chile’s coolest new winemaking zones,?
Casablanca and San Antonio, in stark contrast to the heat of the interior Aconcagua Valley
With a relatively short history, Casablanca has become-
the Aconcagua DO’s most prominent zone of production and one of Chile’s most exciting areas for fresh, crisp and fruity SB and Chardonnay
The emerging area of __ is directly south of Casablanca
San Antonio
What are the 4 subzones of San Antonio?
- Leyda
- Lo Abarca
- Rosario
- Malvilla
Like Casablanca, San Antonio is predominantly-
a white wine region, w/ PN also showing promise
What is Chile’s oldest and most established winemaking region?
The Central Valley DO, located between the Andes and the hills and ranges along the coast
The Central Valley DO’s 4 subregions from north to south-
- Maipo Valley
- Rapel Valley
- Curicó
- Maule Valley
The warm Maipo Valley is Chile’s most famous winemaking area, and the classic region in the country for-
Cabernet Sauvignon
Over 50% of the Maipo Valley’s more than 10,000 hectares are devoted to CS, followed by-
Merlot, Chardonnay and Carmenère
Due to its proximity to Santiago, what are based in the Maipo Valley?
many of Chile’s est houses, including Concha y Toro (Chile’s largest producer), Santa Rita, and Cousiño Macul.
What wines issue from the subregion of Puente Alto?
Concha y Toro’s “Don Melchor”
Errázuriz’s “Viñedo Chadwick” CS varietal wines
“Almaviva”, (joint project btwn Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Mouton-Rothschild) and Concha y Toro)
What thrives on the well-drained, low slopes of the Andes in Puente Alto?
Cabernet
What took first place in the 2004 Berlin Tasting?
2000 “Viñedo Chadwick”
The Rapel Valley is located-
to the south of Maipo
The Rapel Valley is divided into-
Cachapoal and Colchagua
Although CS’s position as the leading grape in Cachapoal and Colchagua is firmly secure, what is growing in importance?
Carmenère, may soon eclipse Merlot as the valley’s 2nd most cultivated grape
Colchagua is the larger, central portion of the Rapel valley, and is characterized by-
a warm climate and fertile soils
Although Colchagua is historically a bulk wine region, producers are finding success with-
premium wines sourced from higher-altitude eastern subregions with greater diurnal variation,
What subregions are doing well in Colchagua?
San Fernando and Chimbarongo
Apalta in eastern Colchagua is the source of what?
Casa Lapostolle’s “Clos Apalta” and Viña Montes “Alpha M,” two of Chile’s iconic Bordeaux-style blends
Viña Montes also produces what from Colchagua fruit?
“Purple Angel,” one of Chile’s highest-profile Carmenère varietal wines
What comprise the remainder of the Central Valley DO?
The Maule Valley and Curicó
Maule, one of Chile’s largest regions, has much more vineyard acreage than the __ , but the quality is variable
Maipo Valley
Although CS recently overtook País as Maule’s most planted grape, what still comprises a large share of output?
bulk wines meant for local consumption
What are the 2 subregions of Curicó?
Lontué and Teno
Curicó achieved some international recognition when-
Miguel Torres set up Chilean operations here in the 1970s
What dominates in Curicó?
CS, SB and Chard
Chile’s Southern Regions DO (Sur) contains what 3 valleys?
- Itata
- Bío Bío
- Malleco
What are the most planted grapes in both Itata and Bío Bío?
País and Muscat de Alexandria
Nearly 6000 acres of the __ variety in the Southern Regions, while on the decline, account for its status as Chile’s third most planted white varietal
Muscat
What are Chile’s 1st and 2nd most planted whites?
Sauvignon (Blanc and Vert) and Chardonnay
Malleco is a tiny region, with just a few hectares of-
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
All of the DOs have a __ orientation
north-south
In 2011, the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture amended wine law to support what 3 new geographic terms?
- Costa
- Entre Cordilleras
- Andes
What does Costa imply?
the proximity of a vineyard to the coast
What does Entre Cordilleras imply?
(“between mountains”) describes the valley areas between the coastal range and the Andes, a region in which over 3/4 of wine grapes are grown
What does Andes imply?
the proximity of a vineyard to the mountains
In order for a wine to qualify for one of the new designations, at least__% of the grapes must be harvested in the appropriate region
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