Chile Flashcards
Settlers from Spain brought Vitis Vinifera to Chile in the ____ before taking it across the Andes to Argentina
1550s
The earliest Chilean vineyards were planted in the ___ before spreading to the ____ Valley and further into the ____ regions, where large amounts of ____ wine were soon produced.
These early wines were unsophisticated by today’s standards and made in an ____ style from ____ and ____.
Planted in the north before spreading to the Central Valley and further into the southern regions.
Large amounts of cheap wine were soon produced.
Made in an oxidative style from País and Muscat
Why were European producers drawn to Chile following the phylloxera outbreak in the late 1800s?
Chile had started an experimental nursery in the 1830s which included stocks of European vines. These had not been hit by the pest.
When were the first vines from Bordeaux imported to Chile?
1851
Describe the state of the Chilean wine industry at the beginning of the 20th century.
What type of wine was being made and where was most of it consumed?
Booming
Majority of wine was cheap and consumed domestically
Why did the Chilean wine industry go into decline by the mid 20th century? (2)
Chile was politically isolated from the rest of the world
Domestic demand declined
Why did the Chilean wine industry begin to boom again in the late 20th century? (4)
- Return to democracy and the free market
- Producers began to heavily invest in new technology
- Shift in focus to make quality wine for the export market
- Large vineyard areas were replanted and new vineyards were established
Chile is surrounded by the _____ ____ to the north, ____ ____ to the east, the ____ ____ to the west and ____ ____ to the south
Atacama desert to the north
Andes Mountains to the east
Pacific ocean to the west
Patagonian Glaciers to the south
At what latitude are what most Chilean vineyards found?
How does this effect sunlight?
Between 30 and 38 degrees south
Sunlight is very intense due to low latitude
Describe the general climate in Chile
Warm Mediterranean with a long, dry growing season.
The country becomes cooler and wetter further south
What are El Niño and La Niña?
How do these effect vintage variation in Chile?
La Niña causes water in the eastern Pacific to be colder than usual. In the same region, El Niño can cause the water to be warmer than usual.
Areas that are hit with drought during La Niña years are pummeled with rain in El Niño years.
This causes high vintage variation.
What is the main cooling influence found in the west of Chile?
In the east?
The Pacific ocean
The Andes
What is the Humboldt Current?
The Humboldt current flows up from Antartica bringing cold water and cold air.
Warm air from the land rises up during the day, sucking in cool air in its place, creating cooling winds and morning fogs
What effect do the Coastal range and Andes Mountains have on the Central Valley?
What type of production is common here?
They shelter it, creating a dry, warm sunny valley.
High volume inexpensive wines
What type of soils are found in the river valleys in Chile?
Alluvial, fertile soils with areas of clay, silt and gravel
What types of soils are found on the slopes in the Coastal Ranges?
Less fertile: gravel with sand and silt
What types of soils are found on the slopes in the Andes?
Less fertile soils. Volcanic, mainly granitic
Where might you find small outcrops of limestone in Chile?
What benefit do these have?
In Limarí Valley
These can retain some water, useful in desert-like conditions
How many hectares are there under vine in Chile?
137,000
What percentage of Chile’s vineyards are irrigated?
Over 85%
Where do most grape growers source irrigation water from?
Melt water off the Andes
Where rivers are not present (e.g. Casablanca) irrigation may come from aquifers via wells
Why has Chile remained phylloxera free?
Strict quarantine rules and physical geographical barriers
Where would you find significant plantings of old bush vines in Chile?
Itata and Maule
What is the most common training method used in Chile?
VSP
Why are recently planted vines grafted in Chile?
To protect from nematodes
Name the seven most planted varieties in Chile.
Cabernet Sauvignon Sauvignon Blanc Merlot Chardonnay Carmenere País Syrah
Where is País suddenly seeing a revival in Chile?
In Maule, Itata and Bio Bio, where old vine stock is being used
Chile has become a leading producer for what types of wines?
Inexpensive fruity wines made in temperature controlled stainless steel vats
Where would you expect to source simple inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon from in Chile?
The flat Central Valley
Where does Cabernet Sauvignon perform best in Chile, and why?
Performs best in soils near the Andes.
Poor soils contain vigour
Cool nights slow ripening and help retain acidity
What blending partners might be used with Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile?
Syrah
Merlot
Carmenere
Give a typical tasting note for good to very good quality Carmenere.
Ripe black fruits, blackberry, bell pepper, eucalyptus, chocolate and coffee from oak
Medium acidity
High tannin
Full body
Where might you find Pinot Noir plantings in Chile?
Casablanca Valley
San Antonio Valley
Where are better quality examples of Sauvignon Blanc planted in Chile?
Limarí Valley
Casablanca Valley
San Antonio Valley
Where would you find very good examples of Chilean Chardonnay?
Limarí Valley
Name the six original Chilean DOs
Atacama Coquimbo Aconcagua Central Valley Southern Austral
Name the two valleys included within Rapel Valley
Colchagua Valley
Cachapoal Valley
To qualify as a Chilean DO wine, ___% of grapes must come from that region.
What does this figure rise to if exporting to the EU?
75%
85% if exporting to the EU
If a variety is labelled on a Chilean DO wine, ___% of grapes must come from that variety.
What does this figure rise to if exporting to the EU?
75%
85% if exporting to the EU
What are the ageing requirements for Chilean wines labeled “Reserva Privada” and “Gran Reserva”?
Must be oak aged for a minimum of 6 months
Name the three subregions within the Coquimbo region
Elquí, Limarí and Choapa
Why are summer temperatures high and sunlight intense in Coquimbo region?
What cooling influences here delay ripening?
Low latitude (it is the most northerly region)
Mountain and ocean influences delay ripening
What is the name of the current that brings cool breezes and morning fogs to the Coquimbo region?
The Humboldt Current
What is the average rainfall in the Coquimbo region?
What effect does this have?
Below 100mm (very low)
Irrigation is essential, yet reduced snowfall in the Andes has led to shortages and threatens the area’s potential
Is production in Coquimbo region large scale or small scale? Why?
Production is small and can fetch premium prices
Growing conditions are difficult and there is poor access
Which two varieties perform well in the fog affected areas of Elquí Valley?
What styles of wines are produced from them?
Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc
Wines have relatively high acidities and fresh fruit flavours
What elevations are Elquí’s highest vineyards in the east?
What grapes perform well here?
What styles of wines are produced from them and why?
2,200m
Syrah
Deep coloured wines with intense fruit flavours and fresh acidity
Intense sunlight and high diurnal range
What is the most planted grape in Limarí Valley?
Where would you expect to find lighter styles?
Where would riper, fruitier examples come from?
Chardonnay
Lighter styles from near the coast (cooling influence from fogs and breezes)
Riper, fruitier examples from further inland
Which three subregions are included in the Aconcagua Region?
Aconcagua Valley
San Antonio Valley
Casablanca Valley
The central part of Aconcagua Valley is ___ and ___, whereas vineyards along the Pacific coast are some of Chile’s _____.
____ wine production dominates.
Hot and dry.
Some of Chile’s coolest.
White wine production dominates
Describe the growing conditions in Aconcagua Entre Cordilleras.
What style of wines are produced?
What grape varieties are commonly planted?
Warm and dry with some afternoon breezes from the coast.
250mm rain - irrigation essential
Ripe full-bodied, high alcohol red wines
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah
Describe the growing conditions in Aconcagua Costa.
What style of wines are produced?
What grape varieties are commonly planted?
Lots of cooling influence from cooling breezes and fogs from the coast
Fresh, white wines.
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah
Describe the growing conditions in Aconcagua Andes.
What style of wines are produced?
High altitude sites (up to 1,000m)
Warm sunny days, cold air descends at night creating large diurnal range.
Mostly pronounced, ripe red wines with fresh acidity
In Aconcagua Valley, fresher, more complex wines with lower alcohol are produced where?
What price point are these wines sold at?
Aconcagua Costa and Andes - producers are moving away from the valley floor to cooler sites on the valley sides at the west and east ends of the valley
Mid priced to premium (production remains small scale)
Casablanca has a good reputation for fresh white wines from which varietals?
Which two red grapes can also be of high quality here?
What price points are these wines?
Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
Pinot Noir and cool climate style Syrah
Mid priced to premium (small production)
Describe the growing conditions and topography of Casablanca Valley.
One of Chile’s coolest growing regions
Low hills to the west do little to diminish ocean influence
Higher hills to the east and north restrict cool, humid air from escaping
Western low lying areas are the coolest
Where is spring frost a problem in Casablanca Valley and why?
In low lying vineyard areas
There is very little moderation from the coast at night
What is the flagship variety grown in San Antonio Valley? Give a typical tasting note.
Name three other grapes commonly planted here.
Sauvignon Blanc
Citrus, herbaceous and wet stone aromas
High acidity
Medium body
Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay
Name the zone within San Antonio Valley
Leyda Valley
Describe the topography of San Antonio Valley and how this might influence the wines produced there.
It is an area of undulating hills west of the coastal range with strong oceanic influence
Hills give a range of aspects, with greater or lesser exposure to ocean influence, affecting ripeness
What are the main cooling influences in Leyda Valley?
Foggy mornings and cool afternoon breezes from the ocean (close to the coast)
What are the four main varieties planted in Leyda Valley?
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah
What style of wines made Chile successful in the export market?
Where are the majority of these wines sourced from?
Ripe, fruity, inexpensive red wines
Central Valley
Central Valley vineyards are sheltered from maritime influence by the ____ ____. Grapes grow prolifically on ___, ____, well-irrigated plains.
Sheltered by Coastal Ranges
Warm, fertile, well-irrigated plains
Some Central Valley producers are seeking to make more complex, small production, premium wines. Where are they doing this?
By planting on the valley sides, in the Andean foothills and parts of the valley that are closer to the Pacific
Name the four sub-regions within Central Valley, from north to south.
Maipo Valley
Rapel Valley
Curicó Valley
Maule Valley
What varieties are commonly grown in Maipo Valley?
What quality/ style are these?
Cabernet Sauvignon (good to v. good)
Carmenere (v.good)
Syrah (v.good)
Merlot (acceptable to good mostly for inexpensive wines)
Name the two areas in Alto Maipo
Puente Alto
Pirgue
What styles of wine are produced in Puente Alto and Pirgue?
What is the main cooling influence here?
What price and quality would you expect from this area?
Fresh and elegant styles of red, mainly Cabernet / Bordeaux blends
Mountain breezes (higher diurnal range)
Premium wines, very good to outstanding
Which is the more northerly and warmer of the two Rapel Valley zones?
Cachapoal Valley
Why is Cachapoal Valley suited to producing large volumes of inexpensive red wine?
What are the three main grapes used for these wines?
- Cut off from Maritime influence by coastal ranges
- Vines are planted on the warm, fertile valley floor
Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Syrah
Puemo is in which larger zone?
Cachapoal Valley
Describe the growing conditions in Puemo.
Which variety is commonly used here to produce very good quality, full bodied wines?
Located in the valley - sheltered from the cold weather from the Andes
Winds are funnelled in from the coast, reducing frost risk
Long, warm growing season
Carmenere
Where might high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah be grown in Cachapoal Valley?
In the cooler eastern end of the valley near the Andean foothills
Which is the larger of the two Rapel Valley zones?
Colchagua Valley
Where are cheap, full-bodied reds sourced from in Colchagua Valley?
Warm, fertile part of the valley floor
Explain how Colchagua Valley is developing a reputation for some of Chile’s finest, most expensive wines.
Viticulture is expanding into cooler less fertile areas
Apalta is located in which zone?
What growing conditions mean that this area is producing some of Chile’s finest wines?
Colchagua Valley
- South facing ampitheatre (slow ripening)
- Catches cool breezes from the west off the coast
- Poor soils reduce vigour
Name the quality wine producing area of note in Colchagua Valley.
What grapes / style of wine is made here?
Apalta
Ripe structured wines from Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah (often blends)
At the most western end of Colchagua Valley, vineyards are fully exposed to the coast; these cooler conditions are well suited to which grapes?
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Just east of the coastal ranges in Colchagua Valley, conditions are warm but coastal breezes provide some moderating influence. Which grapes are often planted here?
Syrah and Carmenere
Why is Curicó Valley suited to high volume production of inexpensive fruity reds?
- Warm, fertile soils on the valley floor
- Summers are warm and dry
- Sheltered from ocean influence by Coastal Ranges
What are the most planted varietals in Curicó Valley?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Chardonnay
Maule Valley was traditionally known for what style of production?
How is this now changing?
Traditionally known for high volume production from warm, fertile soils on the valley floor
Increasingly known for dry farmed, old vine red wines
What are the two main old vine varietals grown in Maule?
Why is dry farming possible here?
País and Muscat
Rainfall is slightly higher here
Give a typical tasting note for a wine from old vine País
Pale colour Strawberry, raspberry, spice, herbs Medium acidity Medium body Low to medium minus tannin (gentle extraction)
What is the name of the area in Maule Valley known for very good quality old vine Carignan?
What aromas would you expect from these wines?
Cauqueness
Raspberry, black plum and cherry aromas
Which three subregions make up the Southern Region?
Itata
Bio Bio
Malleco
What happens to the coastal ranges heading south into the Southern Region of Chile?
Explain how this affects the climate here.
Coastal hills diminish
There is less protection from oceanic influence, and the climate gets wetter and cooler.
What is the average rainfall in Bio Bio?
What hazards does this bring?
How are the effects of this mitigated?
Over 1,000mm
Risk of rot
Good canopy management
Cool ocean breezes can reduce humidity
What is the latitude of the Southern Region in Chile?
How does this effect the growing season?
36 to 38 degrees south
Days are cooler than the more northerly growing regions, but daylight hours are also longer, meaning grapes can ripen fully
Old bush vines of which varietals can be found in Itata Valley?
What varieties are now beginning to be planted here?
Muscat, País and Cinsault
New plantings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Chile is the ___ biggest exporter of wine in the world
4th
What percentage of Chile’s wine is exported?
70%
Chile is known for producing high volume inexpensive wines, but what are Wines of Chile looking to promote?
Promoting mid priced to super premium wines to improve Chile’s image as a producer of quality wines
How has Chile become a successful wine exporter?
The country has a number of free trade agreements in place
Which country is the biggest importer of Chilean wine and why?
Which three countries are the next biggest markets?
China - tariff free trade agreement
USA, Japan (agreement) and UK
What is the name of the free trade area in South America?
Mercosur
80% of Chilean wine is produced by which four wine companies?
Do they own their own vineyards or source from smaller growers?
Concha y Toro
Santa Rita
Santa Carolina
San Pedro
Both - they own numerous vineyards across different regions and buy in from growers.
Name four international wine companies that have invested in Chile.
What is one of the main reasons they might have been drawn to the area?
Torres
Mouton Rothschild
Lafite Rothschild
Jackson Family wines
Attracted by cheap wine and running costs, although this has to be offset by the cost of importing materials and equipment.
What does MOVI stand for? Who are they?
Movimiento de Viñateros Independientes
A group of small Chilean producers making quality wine who promote themselves together in the domestic and export markets
How are wine businesses changing in Chile?
There are more small scale wineries and producers emerging, focusing on quality production
