Chile Flashcards
Are hybrids allowed?
No, hybrids are forbidden.
What percentage of vintage, varietal, and DO must be true to be on the label? What percent do many producers end up doing?
75% rule, some do 85% to export to EU
What is the minimum alcohol percent for all wines in Chile?
11.50%
What are the four additional designations that Chilean wine bottles may have?
Reserva, Reserva Especial, Reserva Privada, & Gran Reserva
What is the minimum abv for Reserva and Reserva Especial? Is oak aging required?
12% abv, Reserva Especial mandates time in oak
What is the minimum abv for Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva? Is oak aging required?
12.5% abv, oak aging is required for Gran Reserva
What are the three additional geographic indications allowed on labels?
Costa, Entre Cordilleras, Andes
What percentage of grapes must be contained w/in Costa, Entre Cordilleras, & Andes for them to appear on the label?
85.00%
What is the northernmost wine region in Chile?
Atacama
What is the northernmost most fine wine region in Chile?
Elqui Valley
What is the southernmost winemaking valley in Chile?
Malleco, in Sur
What are the 3 subzones of Coquimbo?
Elqui Valley, Limari Valley, Choapa
What are the 5 Dos of Chile?
Atacama, Coquimbo, Aconcagua, the Valle Central, Sur
What are the three subzones of Aconcagua?
Aconcagua Valley (which inc Panquehue as an area), Casablanca, and San Antonio
What are the four subzones of San Antonio?
Leyda, Lo Abarca, Rosario, Malvilla
In which valley is Puente Alto located? Which DO?
In the Maipo Valley in the Central Valley DO
What four valleys make up the Central Valley?
Maipo, Rapel, Curico, Maule
Where is Concha y Toro’s “Don Melchor” made?
Puente Alto subregion of Maipo Valley
Where is Errazuriz’s “Vinedo Chadwick” made?
Puente Alto subregion of Maipo Valley
Who produces Seña? Where is it produced, what are the main grapes, and the first vintage?
Originally, Mondavi & Errazuriz. First vintage 1995. Constellation purschased Mondavi and Errazuriz was sole owner by 2005. The 1995 vintage was first released in 1997, it is sourced from Aconcagua and is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend, with Carmenere being the next big player with Merlot, and Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. 22 months in French Oak barrels, mostly new. Wine list price about 200.00
What was the first vintage of Almaviva? Who is it a collaboration between? Where?
First vintage: 1996, released in 1998; Concha y Toro and Baron Phillipe de Rothschidl, in Puente Alt; Named after a character in the Marriage of Figaro; Standout vintages include 2009, 2005, 2001, and 2003.
In what valley are Concha y Toro, Santa Rita, and Cousiñ Macul located?
Maipo Valley, within the Central Valley DO; near Santiago
What 2 valleys make up the Rapel Valley?
Cachapoal and Colchagua
Where is Casa Lapostolle’s “Clos Apalta” made?
Apalta in the Colchagua Valley in Rapel Valley; Bordeaux Blend
Where does the fruit for Vina Montes “Purple Angel” come from?
Colchagua Valley in the Rapel Valley; made of Carmenere
Where is Vina Montes “Alpha M” made?
Apalta in the Colchagua Valley in Rapel Valley; Bordeaux Blend
Name 2 areas within Colchagua. Name one other well-known place.
San Fernando, Chimbarongo are areas, both are “Andes.” Apalta is also there (classification unknown).
Where is Miguel Torres winery located in Chile?
Curico Valley; since 1970s; Cabernet Sauvignon, with SB and Chardonnay
What are the 3 subzones of Maule Valley?
Claro, Loncomilla, and Tutuvén
What are the 3 sub-regions of Sur DO?
Itata, Bio Bio, and Malleco
What grapes are grown in Itata and Bío Bío?
Mostly Pais and Muscat of Alexandria
What grapes grown in Malleco?
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; it’s a very tiny region
What are the 2 subregions of Curicó?
Lontué Valley and Teno Valley
What are the different climates for the 3 subregions of Aconcagua?
Panquehue is really hot (part of Aconcagua Valley), Casablanca and San Antonio are cool and coastal
What is the Humboldt Current? What area does it effect?
Humboldt Current blows up from the Antarctic and moderates the Central Valley
What did producers in Chile face in 2010?
The fifth largest recorded earthquake in history.
Who produces Don Melchor, what was the first vintage and what price would you find it on your wine list?
Don Melchor is Cabernet Sauvignon made by Concha Y Toro, from vineyards also right by the Maipo River, just outside of Santiago, in Puente Alto. The first vintage was 1987. Almost always 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, but in some vintages like 2008 it has a touch bit of Cabernet Franc, like 2%. The vineyard is on Alluvial soils, it is on the southern side of the Maipo river, and is has seven different parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is aged in French oak barrels for 15 months. You can find this wine on wine lists with a 300% mark up for about 180 dollars.
What is the primary grape of the Apalta vineyard?
Merlot, at 80%
Who started Seña?
Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick (of Errazuriz), started this red wine estate in Aconcagua valley in 1995. Standout vintages include 2001, 1996 and 1997.
What is Borobo?
This is Casa Lapostolle’s Bordeaux meets Rhone meets Burgundy wine. It is a blend of Carmenère, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir. The fruit is sourced from Rapel and Casablanca.
Who produces Don Maximiano? Where is it produced, what are the main grapes, and the first vintage?
Made by Errazuriz from the Don Maximiano and Max vineyards located in Puenquehue. It is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Carmenere, 5% syrah, 3% Petit Verdot, aged 22 months in new French Oak Barrels. It was introduced in the 1989 vintage. 200.00 dollars on a list.
Who produces Vinedo Chadwick? Where is it produced, what are the main grapes, and the first vintage?
Vinedo Chadwick: Started by Eduordo Chadwick in honor of his father (the descendents of Don Maximiano Errazuriz). It comes from Puente Alto in the Maipo, on the northern bank of the Maipo river. The 37 acre vineyard was planted in 1992, it is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 22 months in French Oak. There is some Merlot planted in the vineyard but thus far it has not been used. The first vintage was 1999 which was released in 2002, the vines were planted in 1992. above 400.00 on a list.
Viña Altaïr produces two wines. What are they?
They release two bottlings, their flagship wine is the Altaïr, a red blend sourced from Cachapoal and their second wine named Sideral sourced from Rapel. Both are primarily made from Cabernet Sauvignon with classic blending partners with some Syrah in the mix.
Who produces “Folly” Syrah? What region does it come from?
Montes (Aurelio Montes); it is considered Chile’s first “Ultra-Premium” syrah and is considered the equivalent quality as the Montes Alpha “M”; the grapes for this wine are grown on the steepest slopes (45degrees) of the Finca de Apalta estate in the Apalta Valley of Chile
Which grape is used to make Pisco in Chile?
Moscatel
Viña Falernia is known for making wine where?
Elqui Valley
What is the largest single biodynamic vineyard in the world and who operates it?
Los Robles estate in Colchagua operated by Viñedos Organicos Emiliana (VOE) which is a subsidiary of Concha y Toro. This particular estate is run by Alvaro Espinoza, Chile’s organic pioneer.
Carmenere is a natural crossing of which two grapes?
Cabernet Franc x Gros Cabernet
What is Pastel de Choclo?
Pastel de Choclo is a sweetcorn and minced beef savory pie that is a traditional favorite of Chile
What is the minimum required alcohol by volume % required for wines of Maipo Valley?
Chilean law requires all wines to show a minimum alcohol content of 11.5%
What river runs through Maule Valley?
The Colorado River
Name the compound that is responsible for aromas of gooseberry and jalapeno pepper in Sauvignon Blanc and bell pepper in Cabernet Sauvignon?
Methoxypyrazine
