CHILE

Question 1

CHILE-IN GENERAL

Answer 1

-VINS AREA COVERS 900KM FROM NORTH TO SOUTH BUT RARELY MORE THAN 100KM FROM EAST TO WEST

DEFINED BY 4 KEY GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES:

• TO THE WEST: PACIFIC OCEAN & JUST INLAND ARE THE COASTEL MOUNTAIN RANGES
• TO THE EAST:ANDES, ALSO MARK CHILE’S BORDER W ARGENTINA
• THERE IS A LARGE DEPRESSION BETWEEN THE 2 MOUNTAIN RANGES IN SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL COMMONLY REFFERED AS CENTRAL VALLEY
• IN MANY PLACES: GAPS IN THE COASTEL RANGE CAUSED BY RIVER VALLEYS THAT DRAIN THE WATER FROM ANDES

Question 2

CHILE-IN GENERAL

Answer 2

• CLIMATE:WARM MEDITERRANEAN
• DRY, SUNNY GROWING SEASON=GRAPES RELIABLY RIPEN & FUNGAL DISEASES ARE KEPT TO A MIN
• IN MOST PLACES SHORTFALL IN RAINWATER CAN BE MADE UP W IRRIGATION/WATER FOR IRRIGATION IS INCR SHORT SUPPLY
• SOUTHERN REG COND: COOLER & WETTER/ EL NINO & LA NINA ARE WEATHER PATTERNS THAT EFFECT CHILE’S W REG SOME YEARS
• EL NINO: RAINFALL DRAMATICALLY INCREASE
• LA NINA:DROUGHT CAN OCCUR
• THIS CYCLICAL WEATHER PHENOMENON IS EXP THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC

Question 3

CHILE-IN GENERAL

Answer 3

• THE COLD HUMBOLDT CURRENT FLOWS UP FROM ANTARTICA ALONG THE CHILEAN COAST=THE PREVAILING WINDS BLOW COOL AIR INLAND ALONG THE RIVER VALLEYS
• AREAS VERY CLOSE TO THE COAST=FOG
• COOLING EFFECT OF THESE WINDS IS THE STRONGEST WHERE THE COASTEL MOUNTAINS ARE AT THEIR LOWEST & PARTS OF THE VALLEY THAT LIE CLOSEST TO PACIFIC
• FOOTHILLS OF THE ANDES:COOLING EFFECT CAUSED BY COLD AIR FROM THE MOUNTAINS OVERNIGHT & CAUSE A LARGE DIURNAL TEMP RANGE
• BETWEEN 2 MOUNT.RANGES, CLIMATE IS MORE SHELTERED & LARGE FLAT LANDS EASIER TO CULTIVATE
• THESE 2 COOLING INF ARE THE REASON FOR THE NEW LABELLING TERMS INTRODUCED IN 2012
• SUSTAINABLE&ORGANIC GRAPE GROWING&WINEMAKING WIDELY PRACT BY BOTH LARGE & SMALL WINE ESTATES

Question 4

COQUIMBO REGION

Answer 4

-BORDERS ONTO ATACAMA DESERT/ MOST NORTHERLY OF CHILE’S PRINC W REG

3 WM SUB-REG HERE:

• ELQUI VALLEY
• LIMARI VALLEY
• CHOAPA VALLEY
• VINS PLANT. ARE SMALL COMP W SOUTHERLY REG/ BUT Q TENDS TO BE H
• 3 V SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FEATURES BUT ALL BENEFIT FROM BRILLIANT SUNSHINE & COOLING INF EITHER FROM SEA BREEZES OR MOUNT. AIR
• SOME VINS P:VERY H ALTITUDES
• BIGGEST CHALLANGE:LACK OF WATER=IRRIGATION ESSENTIAL BUT EXPENSIVE CUZ WATER IS LESS PLENTIFUL HERE
• ELQUI VALLEY:REP FOR SAUV.BLANC&SYRAH
• LIMARI VALLEY:SOME OF CHILE’S BEST CHARDONNAY

Question 5

ACONCAGUA VALLEY-ACONCAGUA REGION(2ND SMALLEST W REG IN CHILE/DIVIDED 3 SUB-REG)

Answer 5

• SUB-REG:STEEP SIDED NARROW VALLEY/COOLING INF FROM THE OCEAN & THE ANDES MOUNT.
• NONETHELESS, VINS ON FERTILE V FLOOR BETWEEN COASTEL MOUNT.RANGE & ANDES OFFERS SOME OF THE WARMEST GROW. COND. IN CHILE
• ITS A CLASSIC RED W AREA:CAB SAUV.DOM
• SYRAH & CARMENERE: HAS BECOME INCR IMPORTANT TOGETHER

REDS:

• TRADITIONALLY:HAD RICH, RIPE F FLAV/H ALCOHOL/ H TANNINS/
• RECENT YEARS:PROD LOOKING TO REDUCE ALCOHOL L & FIND MORE FRESHNESS & COMPLEX FRUIT FLAV, AS RESULT=PLANT. LESS FOCUSED ON THE FERTILE V FLOOR& SPREAD ONTO THE SLOPES OR TOWARDS THE COAST

Question 6

CASABLANCA VALLEY&SAN ANTONIO VALLEY-ACONCAGUA REGION

Answer 6

• 2 NEIGHBOURING SUB-REGIONS THAT SHARE SIMILAR CHAR.
• VERY VARIED AREAS:DIFFERENT SOILS, ASPECTS, BOTH LIE BETWEEN THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS & THE PACIFIC
• OFFER GROWERS NOTICEABLY COOLER SITES THANKS TO MORNING FOGS & AFTERNOON WINDS THAT BLOW IN OFF THE OCEAN
• AS RESULT=WHITE VAR DOM
• SAUV.BLANC:GREATEST REP PART. COOL LEYDA VALLEY/ CHARDONNAY W.P. & CAPABLE OF MAKING FINE WINES HERE
• PINOT NOIR:M.W.P.B.V/ RED BERRY FRUIT/HERBAL NOTES IN THE COOLEST SITES
• SYRAH:SUCCESFUL/ PART. IN CASABLANCA V=PLANT WARMER VIN SITES IN THE EAST GIVING WELL-STRUTTED W W/ PEPPERY EDGE

Question 7

CENTRAL VALLEY REGION

Answer 7

• IT RUNS SOUTH FROM THE CAPITAL SANTIAGO TO THE SUB-REGION OF ITATA VALLEY
• VAST WARM FLAT REG: MAJ CHILEAN VINS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FOUND
• GRAPES RIPEN EASILY & A LOT OF PRO IS FOCUSED ON INEXPENSIVE FRUITY W OFTEN MADE: MERLOT & CHARDONNAY
• CENTRAL VALLEY DIVIDED INTO 4 SUB-REG:MAIPO VALLEY, RAPEL VALLEY, CURICO VALLEY, MAULE VALLEY
• RAPEL IS ITSELF SUB-DIVIDED INTO 2 ZONES: CACHAPOAL VALLEY & COLCHAGUA VALLEY

Question 8

MAIPO VALLEY-CENTRAL VALLEY REGION

Answer 8

• CLASSIC HEARTLAND OF THE CHILEAN WINE INDUSTRY DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO THE CAPITAL CITY SANTIAGO
• ALMOST COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY MOUNT. & VERY LITTLE COASTEL INF REACHES THE MAIN GR GROW. AREA TO THE SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL
• MORE PREMIUM SITES ARE LOC IN: ANDEAN FOOTHILLS=COOL BY THE DESCENDING AIR, LENDING ELEGANCE & STRUCTURE TO THE RED W.
• REP FOR CAB.SAUV:MINTY CHAR.

Question 9

THE RAPEL SUB-REGION IS A LARGE & VARIED AREA: IN CENTRAL REGION

• CACHAPOAL VALLEY
• COLCHAGUA VALLEY

Answer 9

CACHAPOAL VALLEY:

• ZONE IS A WARM/CUT OFF FROM THE OCEAN BREEZES
• CARMENERE: RIPENS WELL ON VALLEY FLOORS
• CAB SAUV & SYRAH: PERFOM WELL IN THE COOLER EASTERN END OF THE VALLEY

COLCHAGUA VALLEY:

• ZONE IS LARGER & MORE VARIED THAN CACHAPOAL VALLEY
• THE CENTRAL PART: WARM& OPEN TO SOME OCEAN INF
• WELL-KNOWN FOR F BODIED REDS, PART: CAB SAUV/ ALSO SYRAH & CARMENERE
• AS AREA EXPENDED VINS INCREASINGLY P ON THE VALLEY SLOPES & SOME AREAS NOTABLY APALTA GAINED PREMIUM REP
• FURTHER TO THE WEST: COOLING PACIFIC INF BECOMES GREATER & SOME HQ WHITE WINES PROD

Question 11

THE CURICO VALLEY & MAULE VALLEY-IN CENTRAL REGION

Answer 11

• SUB-REGS FORM THE SOUTHERN END OF THE CENTRAL V
• WARMTH & FERTILE SOILS=MOST IMP SOURCE OF FRUIT FOR INEXPENSIVE BLENDED RED & WHITE W
• VINS IN MAULE V ARE COOLER THAN CURICO V=WINES RETAIN HIGHER ACIDITY, CAN BE A USEFUL INGREDIENT WHEN BLENDING
• INCR EFFORTS TO EXPLOIT THE WEALTH OF DRY-FARMED, OLD VINES THAT EXIST WITHIN THE WESTERN HILLS OF THIS REG
• CARIGNAN:STAR VAR HERE/ F BODIED/ INTENSELY CONCENT W FROM THESE ANCIENT LOW-YIELDING BUSH VINES

Question 12

SOUTHERN REGION: 3 SUB-REGIONS

• ITATA VALLEY
• BIO BIO VALLEY
• MALLECO VALLEY

Answer 12

• CLIMATE IN VINS OF THE SOUTHERN SUB-REG: NOTICEABLY COOLER & WETTER THE FURTHER SOUTH THEY ARE LOC
• 2 LARGER SUB-REG)ITATA VALLEY & BIO BIO VALLEY PLANT.: DOM BY PAIS & MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA & RESULTING OUTPUT IS MAINLY CONSUMED LOCALLY

BIO BIO VALLEY: GREAT PROMISE FOR PINOT NOIR, CHARDONNAY, AROMATIC VAR:

• INCR INTEREST AMONG THE PROD FOR FRUIT FROM HQ WHITE & BLACK VAR FOR THEIR ACIDITY & AROMATIC Q
• FULL POTENTIAL OF THESE REG HAS YET TO BE EXPLORED

MALLECO:SMALLEST & MOST SOUTHERLY SUB-REGION

-ONLY SMALL NUMBER OF PROD MAKING CHARDONNAY & PINOT NOIR:INCREASINGLY ATTRACTING INTEREST FROM PREMIUM PROD.