Chile Flashcards

1
Q

What are the four general defining geographical features in Chile? (West to East)

A

Pacific Ocean
Coastal Ranges
Central Valley
The Andes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What has caused gaps to form in the Coastal Ranges in Chile?

A

Rivers running from the Andes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the weather like during the growing season?

What is the general overall climate of Chile?

A

Dry and sunny

Warm, Mediterranean

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are shortfalls in rain made up for by?

What is the issue with this?

A

Irrigation

Increasingly short supply of irrigation water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Where in Chile will you find vineyards with cooler and wetter conditions?

A

The South

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the name of the two phases of cyclical weather phenomenon experienced across the Pacific? What does each bring (in Chile)?

A

El Nino - Big Rains

La Nina - Drought

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Where does the Humbolt current originate?

A

Antarctica

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Name two ways in which prevailing winds blowing in from the Humbolt Current might cool vineyards

A

Winds blow inland up river valleys

Some fog may form close to the coast

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Where will cool sea breezes have most effect?

A

Where coastal mountains are lowest

Where vineyards are closer to the sea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What may cool vineyards in the foothills of the Andes?

A

Cold air descending from mountains overnight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why are the flat, easy to cultivate lands between the mountains less moderated?

A

They are more sheltered

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What style of farming is generally practiced by both large and small estates?

A

Sustainable and Organic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the 3 new (2012) classification categories in Chile?

A

Costa
Entre Cordilleras
Andes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Can the new 2012 terms, Costa, Entre Cordilleras and Andes be used in conjunction with DO or are they replacement terms?

A

Can be used in conjunction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why are the terms reserva, reserva especial, reserva privada and gran riserva, not great indications of quality overall? What are they useful for?

A

They have no real meaning

They can be useful for communicating quality levels within a producers portfolio

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the 5 black varieties found in Chile?

A
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Carmenere
Syrah
Pinot Noir
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Which black grape is often thought of as Chile’s signature grape? What two clusters are balanced in best examples?

A

Carmenere

Black fruit and Herbal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Body and Tannin of Carmenere? When does it ripen?

A

Full and High

Late

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Plantings of which two international varieties dominate Chile?

A

Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Where are the best examples of Sauvignon Blanc found? (general, example)
Flavours tend to focus on ripe apple and which two clusters?

A

Cooler regions
Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys
Citrus and Tropical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Chardonnays tend to be made in an international style with ripe fruit and …. flavours?

A

Oak

22
Q

What grape is mainly used in Pisco?

A

Muscat of Alexandria

23
Q

What are the four principal regions of Chile?

A

Coquimbo
Aconcuaga
Central Valley
Southern Region

24
Q

Which Region floats way up north by itself?

What quality of grapes tend to be found here?

A

Coquimbo

High-quality

25
Q

There are three winemaking subregions in the Coquimbo region. Choapa Valley, … and …? What is a common challenge in these regions?

A

Elqui Valley and Limari Valley

Water access/irrigation access

26
Q

Which grapes does Elqui Valley have a high reputation for?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

Syrah

27
Q

For which white grape does the Limari Valley have the best reputation in Chile?

A

Chardonnay

28
Q

What are the moderating influences found in the Coquimbo region?

A

Altitude, sea breezes

29
Q

What subregions are found in the Aconcagua Region?

A

The Aconcagua Valley
Casablanca Valley
San Antonio Valley

30
Q

The Aconcagua Valley is known for which three red grapes?

A

Cab Sauv
Syrah
Carmenere

31
Q

A push from rich, ripe-fruity, high alcohol, tannic wines towards fresh, more complex, lower ABV styles has occurred in the Aconcagua Valley. How has this been acheived?

A

Plantings have moved focus from the fertile valley floor to the slopes or towards the coast

32
Q

Which two subregions of the Aconcagua region share similar characteristics?

A

Casablanca Valley

San Antonio Valley

33
Q

Where do the Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys sit geographically? What are the moderating influences here that allow the production of white grapes?

A

Between the Pacific and the coastal mountains

Coastal breezes and morning fog

34
Q

Between the Casablanca Valley and the San Antonio Valleys, which has the higher reputation for Sauv Blanc production? What smaller, cool, valley zone in particular?

A

San Antonio

Leyda Valley Zone

35
Q

Which two black grapes do well in the Casablanca Valley and the San Antonio Valleys?

A

Pinot Noir and Syrah

36
Q

Between the Casablanca Valley and the San Antonio Valleys which subregion has the best reputation for Syrah? Where is it planted in the region?

A

Casablanca

To the East where it’s warmer (inland)

37
Q

Which region can be described as ‘vast warm flat region where a majority of Chilean vineyards have always been found’?

A

Central Valley

38
Q

The production of inexpensive fruity wines in the Central Valley focus on which two grape varieties?

A

Merlot and Chardonnay

39
Q

The Central Valley is divided into four subregion valleys: Maipo Valley, Rapel Valley, Curico Valley and Maule Valley. Which is again subdivided into two zones?

A

Rapel

40
Q

Mint is particular characteristic of Cabernet Sauvignon grown in which Central Valley subregion? What is this region cut-off from?

A

Maipo Valley

Coastal influence

41
Q

Where might you find more premium styles of wine being grown in the Maipo Valley? What is the cooling effect here?

A

Andes foothills

Descending air from the mountains

42
Q

What are the two zones of the large and varied Rapel subregion of the Central Valley?

A

Cachapoal Valley

Colchagua Valley

43
Q

Cachapoal (catch a pole) is a warm area cut off from ocean breezes. What grape does well on the valley floor? What grapes do well in the cooler eastern part of the zone?

A

Carmenere

Cab Sauv and Syrah

44
Q

What is the name of the larger and more varied zone of the Rapel subregion in the Central Valley region?

A

Colchagua (kolsch-agua - beer-water 👍)

45
Q

The center of Colchagua Valley is warm with some ocean influence. The valley is primarily known for Cab Sauv but also Syrah and Carmenere. Where are some more premium sites now found in this region?

A

Slopes (planted as the region expanded, note: Apalta)

West, where the ocean influence is stronger

46
Q

Between the Curico and Maule Valleys of the Central Valley Region, which one is cooler? Which one is home to dry-farmed, old bush vine Carignan?

A

Maule

Maule

47
Q

What are the names of the two Central Valley region subregions that are known for producing inexpensive red and white blends grown in warm and fertile soils?

A

Curico and Maule Valleys

48
Q

What is useful about the temperature difference between Maule and Curico Valleys?

A

Maule’s cooler sites can bring higher levels of acidity to blends

49
Q

What is the Southern-most region in Chile?

A

Southern region

50
Q

Arrange the Bio Bio Valley, the Itata Valley and the Malleco Valley in order from North to South. What happends climatically as we head further south?

A

Itata
Bio Bio
Malleco
It gets cooler and wetter

51
Q

Which two valleys out of the Southern Region (Itata, Bio Bio and Malleco) are gaining attention from premium producers? What for (both are different)?

A

Bio Bio for high-quality, aromatic and acidic W+B grapes

Malleco for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir