Chile-Central Flashcards
Where does the Aconcagua DO take its name from?
The Aconcagua River (not the peak)
Where is Panquehue, and who is its most famous producer?
Panquehue is an area of Aconcagua. Errázuriz is its most famous producer, notably for Seña, a BDX blend
What Chilean wine had its own “Judgment of Paris” moment?
Errázuriz “Seña,” a BDX blend, placed ahead of both Lafite and Margaux at the 2004 Berlin Tasting. Its Viñedo Chadwick (Cabernet Sauvignon) took first place.
What is the climate like in San Antonio and Casablanca? What is the dominant wine style?
Much cooler than the rest of Aconcagua, due to their coastal locations; dry whites of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, with some Pinot Noir.
What is the oldest viticultural region in Chile?
Valle Central DO
What is the major wine style of the Valle Central?
Red wines of BDX varietals: >50% of the acreage is Cab Sauv, plus Carmenère and Chardonnay.
Aconcagua is in what administrative region?
Valparaíso
How does the climate of the Valle del Aconcagua change from west to east?
Cool and maritime on the coast, schist and slate; the river turns sharply at Quillota, blocking the ingress of ocean air to the inner valley.
Entre Cordilleras is good for Bordeaux grapes in the side valleys and on the hillsides; in the far east, the broad open hillsides are better for Mediterranean varieties used to sun and heat.
Most planted varieties in Valle del Aconcagua?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Carmenere
What makes Valle de Casablanca a coastal region? What is the climate like?
The valley’s western end is open to the Pacific and Humbolt Current winds, resulting in overnight fog and windy afternoons. Overall, Region I. Frost prone.
Where in Aconcagua do you see vines planted on rootstocks (v. own rooted), and why?
Casablanca. No phylloxera, but the sandy soils are a magnet for nematodes.
Casablanca: Major grape varieties
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
75% of acreage is white grapes
Which is more coastal: Casablanca or San Antonio?
San Antonio
San Antonio: Subzones by climate (official and unofficial)
Leyda: Southernmost, 15km from the ocean. Cool, humid, windy, prone to rot.
Lo Abarca: Central, 4km from the ocean. Coolest and most maritime, averaging 1000 degree days.
Rosario: Northernmost, 19km from the ocean, warmest and driest (relative, obviously).
What are the administrative regions of the Valle Central?
Santiago
O’Higgins (named for Bernardo O’Higgins, who declared independence from Spain in 1818)
Maule