Chile Flashcards
What are the six regional DO’s of Chile? Nth to Sth
Atacama, Coquimbo, Aconcagua, Central Valley, Sur Astral
Sub regions of Atacama DO?
Valle de Copiapo (pisco)
Valle de Huasco (major producer -Ventisquero)
Sub Regions of Coquimbo DO?
Elqui
Limari
Choapa
Sub regions of Aconcagua DO?
Aconcagau
Casablanca
San Antonio- Leyda Valley
-Lo Abarca
Sub regions of Central Valley DO?
Maipo
Rapel-Cachapoal Valley, Colchagua-Apalta, Los Lingues
Curico- Teno Valley, Licanten
Maule - Claro., Tutuven V., Loncomilla V.
Sub regions of Sur DO?
Valle del Itata DO
Valle del Bío-Bío DO
Valle del Malleco DO
Sub regions of Astral DO?
Valle del Cautín DO (38° 95’ S)
Valle de Osorno DO (40° 58’ S)
What is the 75% rule?
Chilean wine law, established in 1995, instituted the 75% rule: vintage, varietal, and denomination of origin must, if listed on the bottle, comprise a minimum 75% of the blend.
What is the minimum alcohol content for all wines?
11.5%.
Wines labeled Reserva and Reserva Especial must have a minimum 12% abv, and wines labeled Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva require a minimum 12.5% abv.
Irrigation essential in Central Valley and Aconcagua?
true or false?
True
Sum up the diverse growing conditions Chile
The northern parts of Atacama and Coquimbo are dry and desert like suited for Pisco production
Central Valley is most suited for fine wines with the proximity of the Andes cool night time temperatures and along the coast where the cool maritime Humbolt current cools the vines
The southernmost areas are cooler and rainfall higher, with shorter growing seasons. Diverse variation in altitude also effect the growing conditions.
What must a wine maker do in order to quality for one of the 3 new designations; Coast (Costa) or to the mountains.(Andres area) Entre Cordilleras (“between mountains”)
At least 85% of the grapes be harvested within the appropriate region.
Who’s is Chile’s largest producer? Where are they located?
Conha y Toro, in Maipo within Central Valley DO
Leyda Valley is a zone in what sub region, within what DO?
San Antonio sub region within Acogcagua DO
What DO does the sub region Rapel lie within? What are the zones of Rapel?
Central Valley
Cachapoal Valley
Colchagua Valley
Coquimbo DO still produces Pisco but what are the zones producing promising wine?
Elqui- cool high altitude vineyards is producing promising Syrah
Limari- Limestone soils and cooler climate are known for Chardonnay
Aconcagua zone within Aconcagua DO is known for what?
Alluvial soils and dominated by red wine, particularly Cab Sav and Merlot.
The commune of Panquehue, home to Errázuriz and their famous Sena wine. (2004 Berlin tasting)
Casablanca and San Antonio differ to the zone of Aconcagua why?
Because they are Coastal zones and in stark contrast the the heat of the interior Aconcagau.
In a short time Casablanca has become a hugely prominent zone with Sauvignon Blanc a star.
San Antonio is emerging with 4 sub zones
Leyda Valley, Rosario, Malvilla, Lo Abarca producing whites and Pinot Noir.
Central Valley Do explain?
Oldest and most established wine region in Chile
Sub regions are North to South. Cabernet Sav is most planted but still produces a a lot of Pais for local consumtpion.
Maipo- Most famous and known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Concha y Toro (Chile’s largest producer), Santa Rita, and Cousiño Macul. Puente Alto is a sub region and known for Concha y Toro’s “Don Melchor” and Errázuriz’s “Viñedo Chadwick” Cabernet Sauvignon varietal wines, and “Almaviva”, a joint project between Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Mouton-Rothschild) and Concha y Toro.
Rapel- Divided into Colcagua-larger central part of the valley, warm climate and fertile soils. Known for bulk wine but Apalta in eastern Colchagua is the source of Casa Lapostolle’s “Clos Apalta” and Viña Montes “Alpha M,” two of Chile’s iconic Bordeaux-style blends. Viña Montes also produces “Purple Angel,” one of Chile’s highest-profile Carmenère varietal wines, from Colchagua fruit.
and Cachapoal-
Curico- Sub regions Teno and Lontue achieved some regocnitions when Miguel Torres set up operations there in the 70;s
Maule- One of Chiles largest regions and quality varies
Explain Sur (Southern Region)
Itata
BIo Bio
Pais and Muscat of Alexandria are the most planted.
Malleco- tiny with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
What is the most planted white variety in Chile?
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc and Vert
Muscat of Alexandria
Which of the following regions has most land under vine? A. Maule Valley B. Colchagua Valley C. Cachapoal Valley D. Aconcagua Valley E. Itata Valley
A) Maule Valley
Old bush vine
Dry farmed
Volcanic and alluvial soils
Who produces “Clos Apalta?”
Casa Lapostolle
Which of the following subregions has lowest wine production?
A. Limarí Valley
B. Elqui Valley
C. Choapa Valley
C)Chopa Valley
Concepción, Chile’s 3rd largest city, is closest to what wine region?
Itata Valley
Which of the following subregions would be most suitable for Pinot Noir production? WHY A. Cachapoal Valley B. Casablanca Valley C. Colchagua Valley D. Aconcagua Valley E. Curicó Valley
B ) Casablanca Valley
Coastal region and one of Chiles coolest wine making zones
Until the 21st century, Chile was mostly planted to what grape? A. Cinsault B. Moscatel de Alejandria C. País D. Carménére E. Merlot
C )Pais
Carmenère is usually harvested after Cabernet Sauvignon.
A. True
B. False
True
Puente Alto is located in: and is known for what? A. Colchagua Valley B. Cachapoal Valley C. Maipo Valley D. Maule Valley E. Itata Valley
C) Maipo
Puente Alto is a sub region and known for Concha y Toro’s “Don Melchor” and Errázuriz’s “Viñedo Chadwick” Cabernet Sauvignon varietal wines, and “Almaviva”, a joint project between Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Mouton-Rothschild) and Concha y Toro.
7 Label Terms Permitted for DO wines:
Gran Reserva Reserva Reserva Especial Reserva Privada Gran Vino Selección Superior
Closest wine region to Santiago?
Maipo Valley
Where is Cochya y Toro based?
Curico Valley
Almaviva?
Central Valley DO - Maipo- Puente Alto
1996 by Concha y Toro and the Rothschilds
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Carmenere
First Vintage 1996
Concha y Toro?
Central Valley DO - Maipo
Chile’s biggest producer
off shoot lines- Don Melchor, Almaviva
Frontera, Castillero del Diablo, Marques
Errazuriz?
Aconcagua
Founder-Don Maximiano Errázuriz 1870, now Eduardo Chadwick Claro
Organic/Biodynamic
Wine maker-Francisco Baettig Hidalgo
Vinedo Chardwick (cab Sav from Puente Alto)
Sena- Bordeaux Blend from Central Aconcagua, biodynamic, Joint venture with Robert Mondav 1995
Kai- 100% Carmenere 2005
La Cumbre- 100% Syrah 2001
Vinedo Chadwick?
Alto Maipo
Viñedo Chadwick is located 650 m above sea level in the Alto Maipo, in the southeastern part of Santiago at the foot of the Andes Mountains, along the northern bank of the Maipo River. The 15-hectare vineyard is considered one of Chile’s best terroirs for producing Cabernet Sauvignon of exceptional quality. It has Mediterranean climate with high daytime-night time temperature oscillation, that is one of the main factors responsible for the intense colour of the wines sourced from this zone, alongside alluvial and moderately fertile soils.
Alfonso Chadwick Errázuriz was one of the best polo players in the history of Chile, leading the Chilean National Team. Al fonso’s sonEduardo convinced his father to convert his beloved polo field into vineyards in 1992. Unfortunately, he passed away one year later. Thus, it is a fitting tribute that the beloved field where he once played polo is now planted to the grapes that go into the wine named in his honour.
First vintage 1999
(2000 made history In Berlin)
Sena
First signed international joint venture in Chile. Eduardo Chardwick and Robert Monday
Agoncagua
Seña’s predominant variety is Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carmenere clearly ties it to Chile. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot round out the blend that Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi envisioned so many years ago
Seña’s 42-hectare hillside vineyard planted to key red Bordeaux varieties on the eastern side of the Coastal Mountains, facing away from the sea, protects the vines from the direct effect of the ocean’s strong, cold winds and creates perfect cool-climate conditions for producing red grapes that reach an excellent level of maturity with balanced acidity that provide great elegance and finesse. The climate is Mediterranean, and the colluvial soils on the valley’s slopes present a variety of textures and proportions of stone content, resulting in a great diversity of well-drained gravel, rock, and loam.
First vintage 1995
2001 (Berlin)
Name 3 regions where promising Pinot noir is planted in Chile?
Casablanca, San Antonio and Bio Bio
Synonyms for Pais?
Criolla Chica , Mission and Listan Prieto.
It is most common in Maule and Bio Bio in the south and is mainly grown in old unirrigated plots by elderly farmers, often as field blends.
Name 3 regions Chardonnay is planted and doing well in Chile?
Casablanca, San Antonio and most recently Limari
Climate
cool winds from the pacific and cool air coming off the Andes
Vina Leyda
Las Brisas, Pinot Noir
Single vineyard wines
