Chile Flashcards
What it the term in Chile for Wines of Origin?
Denominaciones de Origen (DO)
The DO regions in Chile can be subdivided and subdivided again. What are the terms for these subdivisions?
13 Sub Regions
Then subdivided into Zones
Introduced in 2012 what are the 3 new terms introduced to describe where a wine is from and what do they mean?
Costa = From near the coast
Entre Cordilleras = Between the (mountain) ranges
Andes = From the mountain area
How would you describe the 4 key geographical features of Chile?
i To the West is the Pacific Ocean
ii Just inland are the Coastal Mountain Ranges
iii To the East are the Andes Mountains
iv South of Santiago is a large depression between the two mountain ranges called ‘Central Valley’.
How would you describe the climate of Chile?
What is the one risk of the climate?
Generally Warm Mediterranean
Dry, sunny, growing season = Grapes reliably ripen and low fungal risk.
RISK - Drought but in some places water is in short supply
What weather is potentially associated with
El Niño
La Niña
El Niño years - Rainfall can be very heavy
La Niña years - Drought may occur
What 3 things provides the cooling in Coastal areas and inside much of the Inland Mountain ranges?
The cold Humboldt Current flows up from Antarctica
Prevailing winds blow cool air inland along river valleys
Coastal areas can experience fog
What provides the cooling in the foothills of the Andes?
Cold air descends from mountains overnight providing a large diurnal range.
Climatically, what are conditions like between the Coastal mountains and the Andes?
More sheltered. Large expanses of flat land that is easier to cultivate
Working from North to South what are the 4 main wine producing regions of Chile?
CACS: Coquimbo Region Aconcagua Region Central Valley Region Southern Region
What 3 sub regions make up Coquimbo Region and what contributes to them making good wine?
El-Li-Cho
Elqui Valley, Limari Valley and Choapa Valley
Brilliant sunshine and marked cooling from sea breezes or mountain air
What is a constraint to grape growing in Coquimbo Region?
Irrigation is essential but very expensive due to little of it.
Where would you expect to find Chile’s finest Chardonnay?
Limari Valley
What 1 white and 1 red wine would you expect from Elqui Valley?
Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah
What is the white wine that makes Limari Valley stand out?
Chile’s best Chardonnay
What are the 2 sub regions of Aconcagua Valley and what is the renowned Zone within one of the subregions?
Casablanca Valley
San Antonio Valley containing Leyda Valley Zone
What factors contribute to Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley being cooled?
They lie between the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Mountains benefitting from morning fogs and afternoon winds from the Ocean
Except for the special regions what are growing conditions like in much of Aconcagua Region?
What 3 grapes would you find there?
The vineyards on the fertile valley floor are some of the warmest growing conditions in Chile.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
Carmenère
What 2 black and 2 white grapes do well in Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley?
Syrah
Pinot Noir
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
What grape has Leyda Valley gained an excellent reputation for growing?
Sauvignon Blanc
What are the 4 main sub regions of the Central Valley Region?
Mai-Ra-Cu-Ma
Maipo Valley
Rapel Valley (Cacheapoal Valley Zone + Colchagua Valley zone)
Curicó Valley
Maule Valley
Where are the best vineyards in Maipo Valley located and what are they renowned for producing?
Located in the Andean foothills
A reputation for producing Cabernet Sauvignon with a ‘minty’ character
Rapel Valley is subdivided into 2 zones, what are they?
Cachapoal Valley and Colchagua Valley
What is the climate like in Cachapoal Valley and Colchagua Valley and what 3 black grapes are largely grown there?
Warm with little cooling although Colchagua valley is slightly cooler.
Carmenére on warm valley floor
Cab Sav and Syrah is cooler parts
What are conditions like in Curicó Valley and Maura Valley and what is mainly grown there?
It’s warm and the soils are fertile.
Mainly grapes for bulk red and white blends
Which 3 sub regions make up Southern Region?
tata-bibi-malle
Itata Valley
Bio Bio Valley
Malleco Valley
What is the climate like in Southern region and which grapes perform well there?
Cooler and wetter.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and some aromatic varieties
The region is still in its infancy for wine
Roughly speaking how would you describe the climate of Chile?
The climate of Chile is diverse but can be described generally as warm Mediterranean
Which region is famed for its Carmenere?
Cachapoal Valley
Apalta is a region gaining a strong reputation for its premium wines, where is it located?
Colchagua Valley, on valley slopes (Montes Alpha, Lapostelle)
How would you describe the climate in Cachapoal Valley?
Warm, surrounded by mountains, no ocean influence
How would you describe the climate of Coquimbo region?
Brilliant sunlight, very, very dry
Where, in Aconcagua Region, would you find premium Pinot Noir?
San Antonio Valley
How would you describe the climate of Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys?
Cool, between the sea and Coastal mountain ranges.
How would you describe the climate of Aconcagua Valley?
Steep-sided narrow valley with Flat, fertile and very warm (Cabernet country)
Which region is developing a reputation for Old Bush Vine Carignan in Chile?
Maule Valley sub-region of the Central Valley
What style would you expect from wines labelled ‘Costa’?
Fresh, fruity, high acidity wines
