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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) > Chile + Argentina > Flashcards

Chile + Argentina Flashcards

Learn the history of viticulture in each country, plus each country's unique topography, major regions and grapes, and important subregions.

1
Q

Chile is wedged between which 2 natural boundaries?

A
  • Pacific Ocean to the west
  • Andes Mountains to the east

Both the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains provide climatic influences on Chile’s growing regions

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2
Q

When did viticulture first arrive in Chile?

Who brought it there?

A

Mid-1500s (16th century), brought to Chile by Spaniards

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3
Q

How long is Chile?

A

2,670 miles long*

*4297 km

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4
Q

How wide is Chile at its widest point?

A

217 miles

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5
Q

What is the name of the ocean current that cools down Chile?

A

Humboldt Current

It ushers in cool, moist air + fog.

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6
Q

What is the name of the desert at the northern end of Chile?

A

Atacama Desert

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7
Q

What is the name of the mountain range that creates a rain shadow in Chile?

A

Coastal Range

Same name as the range in the Pacific Northwest!

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8
Q

Thanks to the rain shadow from Chile’s Coastal Range, what is the climate for the winegrowing areas between the Coastal Range and the Andes?

A

Warm Mediterranean

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9
Q

Does the climate in Chile become hotter or cooler as you move further south?

A

Cooler

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10
Q

In Chile, where are vineyards planted?:

  • valley floors
  • foothills/hillsides
  • high elevation
  • all of the above
A

All of those areas!

The wines’ expressions, color, and intensity will vary from all of these sites.

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11
Q

In the 19th century, the majority of the vines that were planted in Chile came from _____.

A

Bordeaux

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12
Q

What are the 2 main white grapes in Chile?

A
  1. Chardonnay
  2. Sauvignon Blanc

White grapes account for only 25% of all plantings in Chile.

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13
Q

What are the 3 main red grapes in Chile?

A
  1. Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. Merlot
  3. Carmenère
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14
Q

For a long time, many thought that the Carmenère planted in Chile was this other grape.

A

Merlot

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15
Q

What vineyard pest does not exist in Chile?

Why?

A

Phylloxera

Phylloxera does not exist in Chile thanks to:

  • Chile’s geographical isolation
  • Chile’s strict agricultural quarantine laws
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16
Q

Where does Chile’s irrigation water come from?

A

Andean snowmelt

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17
Q

What wine laws (or appellation system) does Chile use?

A

DO (Denominación de Origen)

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18
Q

Are hybrids allowed to use the DO system in Chile?

A

No, only Vitis vinifera

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19
Q

What are the 6 regional DOs in Chile from north to south?

A
  1. Atacama
  2. Coquimbo
  3. Aconcagua
  4. Valle Central
  5. Sur
  6. Austral

Click here for a great wine map of Chile.

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20
Q

Of Chile’s 6 DOs, which 2 are the most important?

A
  1. Aconcagua DO
  2. Valle Central DO

Both have noteworthy subregions nested within them.

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21
Q

If a bottle of Chilean wine has one of the 6 DOs listed on the label as its DO, what minimum percent of the wine must come from that DO?

A

75%

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22
Q

If a bottle of Chilean wine has a grape listed on the label, the wine must be what minimum percent of that stated grape?

A

75%

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23
Q

If a bottle of Chilean wine has a vintage listed on the label, the wine must be what minimum percent of that stated vintage?

A

75%

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24
Q

Even though Chile subscribes to the 75% minimum rule for stated grape, vintage, and DO, what minimum do they actually follow?

A

Chile exceeds that minimum and follows the EU’s 85% rule for stated grape, vintage, and DO.

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25
What are the nested subregional DOs of Aconcagua?
1. Casablanca Valley DO 2. San Antonio DO ## Footnote *Note that Aconcagua DO also has the nested, subregional Aconcagua Valley DO, but you only need to know Casablanca and San Antonio for this exam.*
26
Casablanca Valley DO and San Antonio Valley DO share the same climate. What is the climate? Where are they located (near or far from the coast)?
**Cool maritime, very near the coast** and west of the Coastal Range.
27
What are the main grapes, both red and white, of Casablanca Valley DO and San Antonio Valley DO?
1. Chardonnay 2. Sauvignon Blanc 3. Pinot Noir
28
Valle Central DO in Chile is located between two mountain ranges: the \_\_\_\_\_ to the east and the \_\_\_\_\_ to the west.
Andes Mountains to the east Coastal Mountains to the west
29
Valle Central makes what percent of Chile's overall wine production?
80% Most of it is everyday table wine
30
What is the climate of Valle Central?
Warm - hot
31
Is Valle Central better known for white grapes or red grapes? What are the grapes?
Red grapes: * Cabernet Sauvignon * Merlot * Carmenère
32
What are the 4 DOs of Valle Central from north to south?
1. **M**aipo Valley DO 2. **R**apel DO 3. **C**uricó DO 4. **M**aule DO
33
What is Valle Central's most important subregion?
Maipo Valley DO
34
What grape is Maipo Valley DO best known for?
Cabernet Sauvignon
35
Which South American country is the largest in terms of wine production? ## Footnote *Hint: it's also the 5th largest producer in the world.*
Argentina
36
When were vineyards in Argentina revived, and by whom?
* **Late 1800s** * By **Italian and Spanish immigrants** who were fleeing their European countries from famine; they brought their traditions of winemaking (and vine cuttings!) from their homelands
37
Which South American country is on the eastern side of the Andes?
Argentina
38
The Andes Mountains create a \_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ for Argentina, making the wine regions on the eastern side very warm, dry, and sunny.
Rain shadow
39
The rain shadow Argentina experiences from the Andes means that it's a very warm and dry region. Because of this warmth, where is the best place for grapes to grow?
**High altitudes** so the grapes can benefit from cool nights (diurnal shifts).
40
What is the average altitude at which grapes are grown in Argentina?
3000 ft asl (915 meters)
41
What is the white grape Argentina is known for? What's it like?
* Torrontés * Intensely fragrant and floral
42
What are the 4 red grapes of Argentina?
1. Malbec 2. Bonarda 3. Cabernet Sauvignon 4. Syrah
43
Why don't Argentina's vineyards suffer from fungal disease?
Because Argentina is in a rain shadow which keeps vineyards dry and low in humidity.
44
Because Argentina is in a rain shadow, it doesn't get a lot of rain. Is Argentina allowed to irrigate, and if so, from where do they source the irrigation water?
* Irrigation **is necessary** in Argentina * **Snowmelt** from the Andes
45
What irrigation systems are used to irrigate the vineyards in Mendoza IG?
1. **Flood** irrigation (aka furrow irrigation) 2. **Drip** irrigation
46
What is the Zonda? What can it do?
* **A strong wind** that blows down from the Andes into Argentina in the late spring / early summer; * **Can adversely affect the flowering stage** in a vine's annual cycle by blowing off flowers (which means a smaller crop yield at harvest).
47
What is a weather hazard in Argentina?
**Summertime hail,** which can destroy berries and perforate leaves making them unable to photosynthesize.
48
What wine laws are used to demarcate regions in Argentina?
* **IG** (Indicaciones Geográficas) * **DOC** (Denominacíon de Origen Controlada)
49
What do the IGs and DOCs demarcate in Argentina?
**IGs** = wine growing areas that are **delimited by geographical or political boundaries**. **DOCs** = wine growing areas that **grow specific grapes, practice particular viticultural methods, and have specific aging requirements**. ## Footnote *Basically, the DOC is more strict and focused than the IG system.*
50
Name 3 important IGs in Argentina.
1. **S**alta IG 2. **M**endoza IG 3. **P**atagonia IG
51
What is the important subregion of Salta IG?
Cafayate IG
52
Salta IG is Argentina's most: * northern * southern * western region.
Northernmost
53
What is the **climate** of Salta IG? At what elevation are grapes grown in Salta?
Overall it's a **warm climate**, but grapes are grown at **high elevations** so they can benefit from cooler air.
54
Salta IG's vineyards are known for being some of the \_\_\_\_est \_\_\_\_\_\_ in the world.
**Highest elevation** ## Footnote *Some are planted at nearly 10,000ft asl*
55
What are the grapes that grow in Salta IG?
* Torrontés * Malbec
56
What is the climate of Mendoza IG?
Super **dry and Continental** ## Footnote *The vineyards' elevations plays a role, though, in temperatures and diurnal shifts.*
57
What is the main red grape of Mendoza IG?
Malbec
58
Which IG of Argentina is the largest viticultural region?
Mendoza IG
59
At what elevations are most vines in Mendoza IG planted?
**2,000 - 4,000 ft** asl
60
What are Mendoza IG's important subregions?
1. Luján de Cuyo DOC 2. Uco Valley IG
61
Patagonia IG is Argentina's most: * northern * southern * western region.
Southernmost
62
What are the grapes grown in Patagonia IG?
1. Torrontés 2. Malbec 3. Cabernet Sauvignon 4. Pinot Noir
63
Why is elevation so important for viticulture in Argentina?
Because Argentina's wine regions are so warm, sunny, and arid, if the vineyards were on the valley floor they'd just sunbake. **Planting the vineyards at higher elevations helps with maintaining freshness in the grapes** and slows their development overnight.
64
What are the 3 important red grapes of Rapel Valley in Chile?
1. Cabernet Sauvignon 1. Merlot 1. Carmenère

Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) (40 decks)

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