Chile

Question 1

When were Vinifera vines planted in Chile?

Answer 1

16th Century

Question 2

When did the modern wine industry begin in Chile?

Answer 2

Mid 19th Century.

Question 3

What style are Chilean wines made in and why?

Answer 3

A clean, new world style. Foreign investment has introduced modern, stainless steel equipment.

Question 4

What is the sales/export trajectory of Chilean wine?

Answer 4

Sales/exports are increasing rapidly, with 60% of total production exported.

Question 5

What are the main export countries for Chilean Wine?

Answer 5

UK and USA. Republic of Ireland also important.

Question 6

When was the Chilean appellation system set up?

Answer 6

1995

Question 7

Chilean DO wines must contain what percentage of wine from the stated region?

Answer 7

75% if consumed locally, 85% if exported to EU.

Question 8

How many tiers are there in the Chilean DO system, and which ones can be stated on the label?

Answer 8

4 tiers (region, subregion, zone, area). Any of the 4 can be stated on the label.

Question 9

What is the climate of Chile like as a whole?

Answer 9

Maritime for the entire country, with near perfect growing conditions.

Question 10

Where are most vineyards in Chile planted?

Answer 10

The Central Valley, between the coastal cordillera and the Andes.

Question 11

What is a cordillera?

Answer 11

A chain of mountains or mountain ranges.

Question 12

What is the climate of the Central Valley?

Answer 12

Dry, warm, maritime, with cooling Pacific breezes.

Question 13

Which is more important in Chile, the influence of the Pacific breeze or latitude?

Answer 13

The Pacific breeze.

Question 14

Where in Chile is spring frost an issue?

Answer 14

In higher altitude areas, and areas with a notable influence from the Pacific breezes.

Question 15

What are the regions of Chile?

Answer 15

Aconcagua, Central Valley, Southern Region, Coquimbo.

Question 16

What are the Aconcaguan subregions of Casablanca and San Antonio best known for?

Answer 16

High quality Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Question 17

What is the name of the ocean current which affects Aconcagua?

Answer 17

The Humboldt Current (cooling effect).

Question 18

What similarities does Aconcagua have with California due to the Humboldt Current?

Answer 18

Morning fogs, relaying ripening and leading to more complex flavour development.

Question 19

What are the subregions of the Central Valley?

Answer 19

Maipo, Rapel, Curicó, Maule.

Question 20

Where is the Central Valley located?

Answer 20

In Central Chile, between the cordillera and the Andes.

Question 21

Which varietals do well in the Central Valley?

Answer 21

Bordeaux varietals.

Question 22

What percentage of exported Chilean wine comes from the Central Valley?

Answer 22

Over 90%.

Question 23

What is Maipo best known for?

Answer 23

Old Cabernet Sauvignon vines, producing high quality wines.

Question 24

Which city does the Maipo Valley surround?

Answer 24

Santiago, which is slowly taking over the vineyard areas.

Question 25

What is the climate of the Maipo Valley?

Answer 25

Warm maritime.

Question 26

The Rapel Valley is divided into which zones?

Answer 26

Colchagua Valley and Cachapoal.

Question 27

What would you expect to find in the Colchagua Zone?

Answer 27

Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot. These may be blends or single varietal wines.

Question 28

What varieties is the Cachapoal Zone developing a reputation for?

Answer 28

Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère.

Question 29

Where is the Curicó subregion?

Answer 29

In the Central Valley, South of Rapel.

Question 30

What are the climactic conditions for Curicó?

Answer 30

Cooler and wetter, due to cloud cover and Southerly latitude.

Question 31

Which of the four subregions of the Central Valley is the wettest?

Answer 31

Maule.

Question 32

What are the most important grapes for the Maule subregion?

Answer 32

Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Pais for the local market.

Question 33

Research into better regions for grape growing in the Southern Region has led to increased plantings where?

Answer 33

On hills and nearer to the sea.

Question 34

What are the two most important subregions of the Southern Region?

Answer 34

Bio-Bio and Itata.

Question 35

Do Bio-Bio and Itata require irrigation?

Answer 35

No, irrigation is unnecessary.

Question 36

What style of variety are Itata and Bio-Bio best suited to?

Answer 36

Aromatic whites like Gewürztraminer and Riesling.

Question 37

What is the northernmost region of Chile?

Answer 37

Coquimbo.

Question 38

What is Coquimbo important for?

Answer 38

Growing grapes for Pisco production.

Question 39

What are the sub-regions of Coquimbo?

Answer 39

Elqui Valley and Limari Valley.

Question 40

Geographically, what is important about the Elqui Valley?

Answer 40

It is the northernmost subregion in Chile, as well as the highest altitude.

Question 41

What altitude do vineyards in the Elqui Valley reach?

Answer 41

2000m above sea level.

Question 42

What effect does the high altitude of the Elqui Valley have on growing conditions?

Answer 42

It creates long, cool growing conditions.

Question 43

Which grapes are the growing conditions of the Elqui Valley suited for?

Answer 43

Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

Question 44

What is interesting geographically about the Limari subregion?

Answer 44

It is situated on an East/West valley.

Question 45

How does the Pacific Ocean benefit the Limari subregion?

Answer 45

It provides a morning fog, cooling the climate and making it suitable for fine wine production.

Question 46

How much rainfall does the Limari Valley get, and how does this affect viticulture?

Answer 46

Low (80-100mm per year), necessitates drip irrigation.

Question 47

What are yields like in Chile?

Answer 47

Commonly high, though this doesn’t always cause a drop in quality.

Question 48

How does rainfall affect viticulture in Chile in general?

Answer 48

Low rainfall levels mean that irrigation is required.

Question 49

Where does the water for drip irrigation come from in Chile?

Answer 49

Snow melt from the Andes.

Question 50

What issue has drip irrigation exacerbated?

Answer 50

Nematodes.

Question 51

How are nematodes being combatted in Chilean viticulture?

Answer 51

Through grafting onto rootstocks with nematode resistance.

Question 52

What are the major international grape varieties grown in Chile?

Answer 52

``` Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Carmenère Pinot Noir Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc Carignan Malbec Syrah ```

Question 53

Describe Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Answer 53

Made as either blended or varietal wines, showing intense fruit and capsicum.

Question 54

Describe Chilean Carmenère.

Answer 54

Chile’s specialty. Pungent red, velvet tannins.

Question 55

What is challenging about Carmenère in Chile?

Answer 55

It can be difficult to ripen tannins and avoid herbaceous flavours without very high alcohol levels.

Question 56

Where in Chile does Pinot Noir show great promise?

Answer 56

San Antonio and Casablanca.

Question 57

Describe Chilean Chardonnay.

Answer 57

Crisp citrus and apple, often complemented by toast and caramel from oak.

Question 58

Describe Chilean Sauvignon Blanc.

Answer 58

Clean, ripe tropical fruit, avoids extreme herbaceous notes.

Question 59

What grape was previously sold under the misnomer Sauvignon Blanc?

Answer 59

Sauvignonasse, which produces less distinctive wines.

Question 60

Describe Chilean Carignan.

Answer 60

Can make high quality, savoury reds. Old vines in the south of the Central Valley.

Question 61

What is the current state of Chilean Malbec?

Answer 61

New plantings in recent years met with continuing success.

Question 62

Describe Chilean Syrah.

Answer 62

High quality, with ripe black fruits and subtle pepperiness, especially from areas like San Antonio.