Chile-Central Flashcards

1
Q

Where does the Aconcagua DO take its name from?

A

The Aconcagua River (not the peak)

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

Where is Panquehue, and who is its most famous producer?

A

Panquehue is an area of Aconcagua. Errázuriz is its most famous producer, notably for Seña, a BDX blend

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

What Chilean wine had its own “Judgment of Paris” moment?

A

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.

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

What is the climate like in San Antonio and Casablanca? What is the dominant wine style?

A

Much cooler than the rest of Aconcagua, due to their coastal locations; dry whites of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, with some Pinot Noir.

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

What is the oldest viticultural region in Chile?

A

Valle Central DO

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

What is the major wine style of the Valle Central?

A

Red wines of BDX varietals: >50% of the acreage is Cab Sauv, plus Carmenère and Chardonnay.

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

Aconcagua is in what administrative region?

A

Valparaíso

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

How does the climate of the Valle del Aconcagua change from west to east?

A

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.

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

Most planted varieties in Valle del Aconcagua?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Carmenere

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

What makes Valle de Casablanca a coastal region? What is the climate like?

A

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.

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

Where in Aconcagua do you see vines planted on rootstocks (v. own rooted), and why?

A

Casablanca. No phylloxera, but the sandy soils are a magnet for nematodes.

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

Casablanca: Major grape varieties

A

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir

75% of acreage is white grapes

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

Which is more coastal: Casablanca or San Antonio?

A

San Antonio

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

San Antonio: Subzones by climate (official and unofficial)

A

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).

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

What are the administrative regions of the Valle Central?

A

Santiago
O’Higgins (named for Bernardo O’Higgins, who declared independence from Spain in 1818)
Maule

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

How does rainfall change from north to south in the Valle Central?

A

It increases as one moves south, rising from 300mm to 750mm annually

17
Q

What major city sits in the Maipo Valley?

A

Santiago

18
Q

Maipo: Unofficial Subzones

A
Alto Maipo (400-600M): Gravel and alluvials, large diurnal shift (20ºC +), evening wind, generally west facing slopes.
Medio Maipo: warmer overall than Alto Maipo, clay-based soil, wines tend to be softer of structure, popular for Carmenère.
Maipo Costa/Maipo Bajo: not actually coastal, youngest and coolest subzone in the region.

Do not necessarily correlate with Andes, Entre Cordilleras, and Costa

19
Q

Name five wines originating in the Alto Maipo

A
Don Melchor (Concha y Toro)
Almaviva
Viñedo Chadwick (Errazuriz)
Antiyal (Alvaro Espinosa, Carmenere, Cab Sauv, Syrah)
Casa Real (Santa Rita)
20
Q

What is significant about the soils of Puente Alto? What significant wines originate in this area?

A

Particularly gravelly, caused early international exposure.

Don Melchor, Viñedo Chadwick, Almaviva

21
Q

What is the administrative region of the Valle del Rapel?

A

O’Higgins

22
Q

What is the most heavily planted subregion in the Valle Central?

A

Rapel

23
Q

What two rivers combine to create the Rio Rapel, and where do they combine?

A

Cachapoal and Tinguiririca; they both flow into the Rapel Reservoir, created when the river was dammed in the 1960’s.

24
Q

What is the major grape in Cachapoal, and why?

A

Very warm (no direct access to the coast), clay and alluvial soils, no risk of frost, rain, or temperature variation (good for Carmenère as it is very late-ripening).

25
Q

Which two high end Carmenere bottlings appellate as DO Peumo? Why is this notable?

A

Herencia (Santa Carolina)
Carmín de Peumo (Concha y Toro)

Areas are rarely used for labeling, as zones generally have broader recognition.

26
Q

What major city sits in Cachapoal?

A

Rancagua

27
Q

Name five major producers in Colchagua

A

Cono Sur, Viu Manent, Casa Silva
Lapostolle, Los Vascos, Hacienda Araucano
Montes, Neyen, Koyle

28
Q

Where and what is Apalta?

A

The most important (but still unofficial) area for red wine in Colchagua (and therefore in Chile period, outside of the Maipo), seated on the north bank of the Tinguiririca River in the DO Santa Cruz.
Slightly cooler climate, lower sunshine hours (mountains to the east, west, and north) and well-drained granitic soils.

29
Q

Apalta: Top Wines

A

Clos Apalta, Casa Lapostolle, 66% Carmenere, 19% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, dry-farmed vineyard, planted 1920.
Alpha M, Montes, Cab Sauv dominant BDX blend.

30
Q

Curicó and Maule: Administrative Region

A

Maule

31
Q

Curicó: Climate and soils

A

Cooler, with more winter rainfall than the DO’s to the north, creating frost troubles in the fall.
Most vineyards are planted on heavy clay in the interior and schist on the coast.

32
Q

What is Chile’s second largest producer, and where are they based?

A

San Pedro

Curicó

33
Q

Important producers in Curicó

A

San Pedro (mostly bulk wine)
Miguel Torres Chile (specifically the Manso de Velasco plot, 100yo Cabernet Sauvignon)
Viña Escheverría

Currently, Curicó is largely given to bulk plantings.

34
Q

Maule Valley: Size

A

Responsible for more than 25% of Chile’s overall production.
More vine acreage than any other single region, save the whole Rapel zone.
Maule administrative region (Maule + Curicó) holds nearly 50% of Chile’s acreage.
Virtually all of Chile’s major producers either own or source fruit from Maule.

35
Q

Maule: Major Grapes`

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Pais

Some old vine Carignan, Malbec, and Sémillon to be found in spots.

36
Q

What is VIGNO, and what requirements surround it?

A

VIGNO is the brand trademarked by the Vignadores de Carignan in western Maule.
Restricted to a delimited area
Dry-farmed
Minimum 30 years vine age (may be grafted)
Aged 2 years before release
Minimum 65% Carignan

37
Q

Name three VIGNO producers

A
Bravado Wines
De Martino
Garage Wine Company
Lomas de Cauquenes
Meli
Miguel Torres
Morande
Odfjell
Valdivieso
Viña Roja