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WSET 4 > Chile > Flashcards

Chile Flashcards

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1
Q

History of winemaking in Chile

A

Vinifera brought in by Spanish settlers in 1550s
- Pais and Muscat (often oxidative)

19th century - independence from Spain

1851 Silvestre Ochagavia Echazarreta imported vines from Bordeaux

During Phylloxera time in Europe many European winemakers went to Chile

1980s Chile is isolated from the rest of the world - vineyards being pulled up

Democracy and free market - new investments and focus on quality

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2
Q

Geography and climate

A

30-38’S

Fairly consistent climate from north to south.

  • warm Mediterranean long dry summers (cooler and wetter further south)
  • Low latitude - strong sunshine

Varying rainfall 80-1200mm

El Nino phenomenon (high rainfall) La Nina (drought)

Significant vintage variation

Pacific and Andes - cooling influence (acidity retention)

Humboldt current (from Antarctica) brings cold water and air which is sucked up inland (also creating fog) increased humidity

Costal ranges (low mountains) and Andes part south - creating large dry warm and sunny central valley 
 - inexpensive wines

Cool air descending from Andes (high diurnal range)

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3
Q

Soils

A

Fertile river valleys (alluvial soils with clay, sand, silt and gravel)

Slopes - less fertile

Coastal ranges - more gravel with sand and silt

Andes - volcanic soil, mainly granite

(very limited limestone)

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4
Q

Vineyard management

A

Significant vintage variations (el Nino)

Reliable ripening

Risk of fungal diseases usually minimal
- can be issue in coastal regions

Sustainable and organic is widely practised

85% of vineyards are irrigated (except Itata, Bio Bio)
- water from melting snow

Forest fires
Phylloxera free - old ungrafted vines
VSP is now common
Mechanization is easy on flat land (but still low - cheap labour)

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5
Q

Grape varieties

and winemaking

A

Until 1990 most common - Pais
- 75% was pulled up since 1980

Recent shift towards international varieties - Bordeaux

Issues with vine identification (Carmenere x Merlot 1994)
(Sauvignon Blanc x Sauvignonasse, Sauvignon Gris)

Increasing diversity in wine styles

Experimentation with less oak, concrete, whole bunches, gentler extraction, skin and lees contact

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6
Q

Key black grape varieties

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

  • single varietal or blend with Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah
  • Full body, high but ripe tannins, pronounced dark fruit
  • Often herbaceous (mint, eucalyptus) character
  • traditionally grown in poorer soils of Andes

Merlot

  • Usually inexpensive, export wine
  • soft tannins, med body, dark fruit

Carmenere

  • officially identified in 1994 (confused with Merlot)
  • full body, high tannin, med acidity, black fruit, herbaceous, spice
  • Site selection is important
  • Ripens 3 weeks later than Merlot (needs warmth and sun)
  • Can get overly alcoholic

Syrah
- variety of styles

Pinot Noir
- improving rapidly

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7
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon

A
  • single varietal or blend with Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah
  • Full body, high but ripe tannins, pronounced dark fruit
  • Often herbaceous (mint, eucalyptus) character
  • traditionally grown in poorer soils of Andes
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8
Q

Merlot

A
  • Usually inexpensive, export wine

- soft tannins, med body, dark fruit

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9
Q

Carmenere

A
  • officially identified in 1994 (confused with Merlot)
  • full body, high tannin, med acidity, black fruit, herbaceous, spice
  • Site selection is important
  • Ripens 3 weeks later than Merlot (needs warmth and sun)
  • Can get overly alcoholic
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10
Q

Key white grape varieties

A

Sauvignon Blanc

  • cooler areas
  • very good quality, high acidity, citrus to tropical
  • sometimes lees contact and oak

Chardonnay

  • med+ (high) acidity
  • citrus, stone fruit
  • oaked or unoaked
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11
Q

Official wine law (DOs)

A

1995 Decominaciones de Origen (DOs)

6 main regional DOs (mainly along political boundaries)

Sub-regions (following river valleys)

Zones within sub-regions

Areas (can belong to zone or sub-region if zone does not exist)

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12
Q

Addition to DO system

‘East to west classification’

A

2011 addition to DO system

Costa (coastal influence)

Entre Cordilleras (between)

Andes

(slow to adopt this system)

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13
Q

DO requirements

A

75% of grapes must come from the region
(or 85% if exported to Europe)

Varietal labelling - 75% of that variety
(or 85% if exported to Europe)

Minimum alcohol 11.5%

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14
Q

Legally recognised labelling terms

A

Superior
Reserva (min 12%)
Reserva Especial (min 12%)
Reserva Privada (min 12.5% min 6 mths in oak)
Gran Reserva (min 12.5% min 6 mths in oak)

Little meaning beside of higher min alcohol

More useful for distinguishing between wines in one portfolio

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15
Q

4 main wine producing regions

A

Coquimbo

Aconcagua

Central Valley

Southern

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16
Q

Sub-regions in Coquimbo

A

Elqui

Limari

Chaopa Valley

17
Q

Sub-regions in Aconcagua

A

Aconcagua Valley

Casablanca Valley

San Antonio

18
Q

Central Valley sub-regions

A

Maipo Valley
- Alto Maipo Area

Rapel Valley

  • Cachapoal Valley Zone
  • — Puemo Area
  • Colchagua Valley
  • — Apalta Area

Curico Valley

Maule Valley
—- Cauquenes Area

19
Q

Sub-regions of Southern region

A

Itata Valley

Bio Bio Valley

Malleco Valley

20
Q

Coquimbo region general

A

Traditionally source of grapes for Pisco (now high quality area)

Low lattitude (around 30’S) high summer temperatures and intense sunlight

Cooling influence from Pacific and mountains
- intense fruit flavours, fresh acidity, alcohol can be high

Humboldt Current brings morning fogs and cooling breezes (little or no rainfall)

On the edge of Atacama Desert - irrigation is essential

Difficult conditions - small production (can be premium)

21
Q

Elqui

A

River Elqui

Lack of coastal mountains - morning fog can reach further inland

  • Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc
  • high acidity, fresh fruit flavours

Some of the highest vineyards (up to 2200m)

  • intense sunshine and diurnal range
  • deep colour yet fresh
22
Q

Limari

A

Limari River cuts narrrow steep valley through Coastal Mountains

West is cooled by fog and breezes from north (no mountains in north)

Cooling influence by mountains (up to 1500m)

Pockets of calcareous soil (unusual for Chile) with good water holding capacity (useful in desert like conditions)

Chardonnay - full range of styles
Pinot Noir (experimenting)
Syrah - successful
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere (warmer east)

23
Q

Aconcagua Valley

A

(after Aconcagua river and mountain)

Andes, Costa, Entre Cordilleras is very clear here and widely used

Central part - dry and warm, lightly moderated by breezes from coast, Rain 250mm (irrigation essential)

  • ripe full bodied reds with high alcohol and tannin
  • Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (Syrah, Carmenere)
  • East and west of valley - cooler, fresher styles

Aconcagua costa - morning fogs and breezes

  • ideal for whites
  • Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Aconcagua Andes - up to 1000m, sunny warm cold nights

  • large diurnal range
  • reds with pronounced ripe fruit, fresh acidity
24
Q

Casablanca Valley

A

Hills in north restrict cool, humid air from escaping valley (one of the coolest regions

Spring frost can be severe

Reputation for whites - Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
Pinot Noir (red berry, herbaceous)
Cool climate Syrah

Small production - med to premium priced

25
Q

San Antonio

A

Heavily influenced by ocean

Variety of soils and aspects

Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc (Leyda Valley Zone) flagship

26
Q

Central Valley region

general

A

sheltered from maritime influences by coastal ranges

warm fertile, well-irrigated plains

Ripe, inexpensive fruity wines

Now also quality minded sub-regions with premium wines

27
Q

Maipo Valley

A

Surrounds capital Santiago

Coastal rages shelter area from maritime influences - warm and sunny

Dominated by black varieties (known for Cabernet Sauvignon - cassis, minty)
Carmenere, Syrah

Almost entirely surrounded by mountains
(up to 1000m)
- Alto Maipo Area (and its sub-regions Puente Alto and Pirque are known for outstanding Cabernet and Bordeaux blends)

28
Q

Rapel Valley

A

sub-divided into two zones (Rapel rarely on label)

  • Cachapoal Valley
  • Colchagua Valley
29
Q

Cachapoal Valley

A

zone of Rapel Valley

warmer (cut off maritime influences)

warm fertile valley floor (inexpensive reds)
- Cabernet, Carmenere, Syrah

Area around Puemo (recognised for full bodies Carmenere)
- sheltered from cold air from Andes but gets funnelled air from coast (reduced frost risk, long growing season for Carmenere)

30
Q

Colchagua Valley

A

zone of Rapel Valley

wide variety of wines

Warm, fertile central part (inexpensive)

Some less fertile, cooler areas - some of Chile’s most prized wines

  • Apalta - south-facing amphitheatre, captures cool breezes, great sun exposure, poor soils
    • Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Syrah (often blend)

Western end - fully exposed to coast
- Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

East of coastal ranges - Syrah, Carmenere

31
Q

Curico Valley

A

reputation for inexpensive wines

warm, fertile

Easy irrigation

Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay

32
Q

Maule Valley

A

Most plantings of Chile

Traditionally known for high volumes (changing into quality - dry farmed old vines)

Slightly cooler than Curico and wetter

Old bush vines of Pais and Muscat of Alexandria (100-200 years)
- pale in colour, med body and acidity, strawberry, spicy, herbal, low (med-) tannins (carbonic sometimes used)

VIGNO association of growers of old vine dry-farmed Carignan (Cauquenes zone is particularly known)

33
Q

Association of old-vine Carignan in Maule and most associated zone

A

VIGNO

Cauquenes Zone

34
Q

Southern Region general

A

coastal hills diminish

  • less protection from Pacific
  • cooler, wetter
  • problem of fungal diseases (ocean breezes and good canopy management help)
35
Q

Itata Valley

A

Historicaly cheap blending grapes but now raises quality

Old bush vines - Muscat of Alexandria and Pais
- dry farmed high quality wines
+ old bush vine Cinsault

New wineries - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

36
Q

Bio Bio Valley

A

some dry-farmed old bush vines of traditional varieties

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer

up to 1000mm of rain

37
Q

Malleco Valley

A

only handful of producers

Cool climate
- Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir (early ripening)

High acidity

38
Q

Wine Business

A

Fourth largest exporter in world

Exports 70% of its production (weak domestic market)

Low average value per unit

Promotional body - Wines of Chile - works on promoting premium wines

Number of free-trade agreements - China, South Korea, USA; Japan, UK

MERCOSUR free trade area with Brazil

80% of whole production is by 4 companies:

  • Concha y Toro, Santa Rita, Santa Carolina, San Pedro
  • some also own wineries in Argentina

Chile attracted some foreign investors - Torres, Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, Kendall-Jackson (cheap land and running costs)

MOVI - Movimiento de Vinateros Independientes - Movement of independt producers of quality wine

WSET 4 (32 decks)

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