Chile+ Flashcards
Generally speaking the vineyards of Chile have a ________1__________ climate. The ______2___, ____3____ growing season ensures that the grapes reliably ripen and fungal diseases are kept to a minimum.
1= warm Mediterranean 2= dry 3= sunny
In most places the shortfall in rainwater can be made up for with ____1______. However, water for 1 is in increasingly short supply. Conditions become cooler and wetter in the _______2_______.
1= irrigation 2= Southern Regions
______1____ and ____2____ are weather patterns that can affect Chile’s wine regions in some years. Rainfall levels can dramatically ____3___ during 1 years, whereas _____4____ may occur in 2 years. This cyclical weather phenomenon is experienced throughout the Pacific.
1= El Niño 2= La Niña 3= increase 4= drought
What are two cooling influences that moderate temperatures on the western and eastern edges of vineyard areas?
1= The cold _______________
2= cold air that _________________
1=Humboldt Current
2= descends from the mountains overnight
The cold Humboldt Current flows up from ____1______ along the Chilean coast and the prevailing winds blow cool air inland along the river valleys. In areas very close to the coast this can also include ____2___. The cooling effect of these winds is strongest in the area where the coastal mountains are at their lowest, and in the parts of the valleys that lie closest to the Pacific.
1= Antarctica
南極大陸
2= fog
In the vineyards in the ____1_____ of the ____2___ there is another cooling effect caused by cool air that ______________3______ overnight and can cause a large ______4___________. Between the two mountain ranges, the climate is more sheltered and the large expanses of flat land are easier to cultivate.
1= foothills 2= Andes 3= descends from the mountains 4= diurnal temperature range
_______1_____ and _____2____ grape growing and winemaking are widely practised by both large and small wine estates.
1= Sustainable 2= organic
What are the 5 principal black varieties?
Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Carmenere Syrah Pinot Noir
What are the 2 principal white varieties?
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Chilean wine laws
Within Chile’s GI scheme the vineyard areas are divided into several ________1_______. There are four principal (______2____): Coquimbo, Aconcagua, Central Valley and Southern Region and these are divided into 13 better- known sub-regions.
1=(DOs)Denominaciones de Origen
2=regions
Within Chile’s GI scheme the vineyard areas are divided into several DOs(Denominaciones de Origen). There are four principal regions: 1,2,3,4.
1= Coquimbo 2= Aconcagua 3= Central Valley 4= Southern Region
(Law)
In 2012 a further degree of classification was announced, further dividing Chile’s wine regions. The new classification categorises vineyard sites according to their distance from the coast rather than their latitude. The following terms may appear on wine labels: _____1____(for coastal areas), _____2__________(the areas between the mountain ranges) and ____3___ (mountain areas).
1= Costa 2= Entre Cordilleras 3= Andes
Costa(_____1_____), Entre Cordilleras(_________________2_________) and Andea(____3_________). It is important to note that these are complementary terms that the producer can chose to use in addition to the DO.
1= for coastal areas 2= the areas between the mountain ranges 3= mountain areas
Black varieties have always accounted for the majority of the plantings in Chile. _________1_________ is the most planted grape variety of either colour.
1= Cabernet Sauvignon
(Black Variety)
Inexpensive medium-bodied and fruity ________ has been very successful on export markets, but fuller-bodied, more complex versions can also be found.
Merlot
Black variety
______1______ is a late ripening variety that is most successful in the warmest and sunniest sites. The wines are usually ____2___- bodied, often with ___3___ levels of tannin. 1 can have overtly herbaceous aromas when not fully ripe but good examples achieve a balance between black fruit character and herbal aromas. It is often thought of as Chile’s signature grape variety.
1= Carmenere 2= full 3= high
Syrah is planted in a wide variety of sites and comes in a variety of styles. Wines from cooler coastal or northerly regions such as ______1_____ are lighter in body with peppery notes, whereas wines from hotter climates, such as _____2_________, display a greater intensity of black fruit flavours and fuller body.
1= Elqui Valley
2=Colchagua Valley
Black variety
______1______is showing considerable promise in cooler locations such as the San Antonio and Casablanca Valleys.
1= Pinot Noir
Sauvignon Blanc performs particularly well in cooler vineyard sites such as those of the ________1______ and ______2______ Valleys, which yield excellent wines with high acidity and intense fruity flavours. The wines tend to focus on ripe apple, citrus and tropical flavours, and sometimes display herbaceous notes. Some examples have added richness and texture from lees stirring and oak.
1= Casablanca 2= San Antonio
Chardonnay
_______1______ in particular produces wines with structure, elegance and restraint, with ______2_______, _______3____ and many other regions also producing fine wines.
1= Limari 2= Aconcagua Valley 3= Casablanca Valley
_______1_____region
1 borders onto the Atacama Desert and is currently the most northerly of Chile’s principal wine regions. There are three winemaking sub-regions here, _____2_____, ______3_____ and Choapa Valley.
1= Coquimbo 2= Elqui Valley 3= Limari Valley
Coquimbo Region
=they all benefit from _____1________ and marked cooling influences either from _____2_____ or _____3_______. Some vineyards are now being planted at very high altitudes. The biggest challenge here is the lack of water. _____4_____ is essential but expensive because water is less plentiful here compared with some other regions.
1= brilliant sunshine 2= sea breezes 3= mountain air 4= Irrigation
Coquimbo Region
______1_____ has already developed a reputation for Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah and ____2_______ is producing some of Chile’s best Chardonnay.
1= Elqui 2= Limari Valley
______1_______ Region
Although well known, this is the second smallest wine region in Chile. It is divided into three sub-regions. List the three sub regions and a zone.
1= Aconcagua
Aconcagua Valley
Casablanca Valley
San Antonio Valley
Leyda Valley(zone)
Aconcagua Region
The _______1________ sub-regions is a steep sided narrow valley that enjoys some cooling influences from the ocean and the Andes Mountains. Nonetheless, the vineyards on the fertile valley floor between the coastal mountain range and the Andes offer some of the warmest growing conditions in Chile. It is a classic red wine area where _____2______ has long been the dominant grape variety although in recent years Syrah, which was pioneered in Chile in this Valley, has become increasingly important, together with Carmenere.
1=Aconcagua Valley
2= Cabernet Sauvignon
Aconcagua Region
The ________1_______ and ______2__________ sub-regions are two neighbouring sub-regions. They both lie between the coastal mountains and the Pacific. They offer growers noticeable cooler sites thanks to ______3_____ and _____4______ that blow in off the ocean.
1= Casablanca Valley 2= San Antonio Valley 3= morning fogs 4= afternoon winds
Aconcagua Region
Sauvignon Blanc has gained the greatest reputation particularly in ______1________ and its particularly cool _____2____ zone.
1=San Antonio Valley
2= Leyda Valley
Aconcagua Region
(Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley sub-regions)
Chardonnay is also widely planted and is capable of making fine wines here. _____1_____ is the most planted black variety and can produce wines with red berry fruit and herbal notes in the coolest sites. ____2____ is also successful, particularly in Casablanca Valley, where it is planted in the warmer vineyard sites in the east, giving well- structured wines with a peppery edge.
1= Pinot Noir 2= Syrah
_______1______ Region
The 1 runs south from the capital Santiago to the sub-region of Itata Valley. This is warm flat regions is where the majority of Chilean vineyards have always been found. Grapes ripen easily and a lot of production is focused on inexpensive fruity wines often made from _____2___ and _____3_______.
1= Central Valley 2= Merlot 3= Chardonnay
The Central Valley Region is divided into four sub-regions: ______1_____, Rapel Valley, ____2_____ and _____3_____. Rapel is itself subdivided into two zones: _________ and _________.
1= Maipo Valley 2= Curico Valley 3= Maule Valley Cachapoal Valley Colchagua Valley
Central Valley Region
_____1_____ sub-region
Many of the more premium sites are located in the Andean foothills, which are cooled by the ________2_______, lending elegance and structure to the red wines. 1 has a reputation for Cabernet Sauvignon that can often have a particular minty character to it.
1= Maipo Valley 2= descending air
Central Valley Region(The Rapel sub-region)
The more northerly _____1______ zone is warm area cut off from the ocean breezes. Carmenere ripens well on the Valley floors and Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah perform well in the cooler eastern end of the valley.
1=Cachapoal Valley
Central Valley region(Rapel sub-region)
______1________ zone is a larger and more varied area than ____2______ zone. The central part of this Valley is warm and open to some ocean influence. It is well known for full- bodied reds, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, but also Syrah and Carmenere.
1= Colchagua Valley 2= Cachapoal Valley
Central Valley Region
The _____1______ and ______2______ sub- regions form the southern end of Central Valley. The warmth and fertile soils make these the most important sources of fruit for inexpensive blended red and white wines. The vineyards in 2 are cooler than those of 1 and the wines retain a higher acidity, which can be a useful ingredient when blending.
1= Curico Valley 2= Maule Valley
______1______ Region
This Region has three sub-regions: Itata Valley, Bio Bio Valley and Malleco Valley. The climate here becomes cooler and wetter the further south they are located. But Bio Bio Valley has started to show great promise for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and aromatic varieties.
1= Southern
