Chile

Question 1

Location

Answer 1

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Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

• warm mediterranean with cooling ocean breezes
• the Humboldt current brings cooling breezes
• coastal mountain range helps keep central valley warm and dry

Question 3

Casablanca

Answer 3

• best known for it’s crisp whites
• PN also good growing next to the cooler coastal environments
• strongly influenced by Humboldt current
• valley is east to west
• viticulture possible here because of the ocean
• cool morning fogs and greater cloud cover help produce loner ripening periods with the white grapes being able to develop greater flavor and maintaining the sugar and acid levels
• there is concern for spring frosts
• soils are sandy clay
• free draining but believe a fertilizer has brought on nematodes which thrive in sandy soil
• this led to grafting of nematode resistant rootstocks

Question 4

Limari

Answer 4

• located well beyond teh limit of latitudes usually associated w/ winemaking (30 south)
• chardonnay is main grape here
• good minerality thanks to the cool climate and limestone soils
• close proximity to equator, it is hot and dry
• coastal ranges block it from getting any of the cool ocean breezes
• there is a fog that creeps up through the gap in the valley
• fog refreshes the valley with cool moist air for much of the morning until sun comes up over andes and then the dry desert like condiions appear (similar to carneros and Napa valley)
• rely on drip irrigation
• water from the andes
• the limestone soils are rare for Chile

Question 5

Leyda

Answer 5

• sub region of san antonio valley
• cool climate enjoys the effects of the Humboldt fog
• PN and CH thrive here
• gaining ground as high quality viticulture
• saw potential of terroir in the 1990’s but a lack of irrigation. pipelines built to support this
• sits on rolling hills
• cool climate
• close proximity to the coast is what drives growers here
• cold ocean breezes and morning fog moderate overal temps which are coool
• wamr sunshine during the day leads to long growing seasons, letting grapes ripen and retain acid
• soils are largely clay and loam over granite
• low fertility w/ moderate drainage
• all leads to the vine struggling making concentrated grapes

Question 6

Bio Bio

Answer 6

• excels in aromatic whites
• one of the most extreme wine growing regions
• more wind, rain and climatic variations the most of the rest of the country
• cool climate allows for an extended growing season which is best for the white aromatics
• similar to Monterey CA
• alt. not a factor here
• PN also grown but not as good as Leyda and Casablanca

Question 7

Grapes

Answer 7

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Question 8

VIticulture

Answer 8

• plenty of access to fresh water from the Andes
• coastal regions best for quality
• phyloxera free

Question 9

Vinification

Answer 9

• largely tank method by big operators

Question 10

Classification

Answer 10

• appellations have new classifications (Costa / Entre Cordilleras / Andes)

Question 11

Market

Answer 11

• highly underdeveloped
• domestic market seems to favor the cheap stuff
• people see potential but it’s taking time to develop
• foothills and valleys similar to California
• valley basin best for the bulk / volume production
• mountain ranges have gaps where the cooling coastal air currents can come through
• 5 million bottles for export in 2012
• Japan and Venezual biggest markets
• Concha y Toro traditional method super premium
• Valdivieso
• Vina Leyda good attempt at traditional method