Chile General Flashcards
What is the only major winemaking country to remain totally phylloxera-free?
Chile
What is the Mission grape known as in Argentina? In Chile?
Pais
Criolla Chica
What 19th century estates were early promoters of French varieties?
Viña La Rosa (Cachapoal, 1824), Carta Vieja (Loncomilla, 1825)
What is Chile’s oldest operating winery, and why was it initially important?
Viña Ochagavía, Santiago, 1851. Founded by Silvestre Ochagavía
Provided a blueprint for others to follow; sometimes referred to as the “father of Chilean wine.”
Who was the naturalist who created Chile’s first research vineyard in the 1830’s?
Claude Gay; he brought dozens of grapevine cuttings in from France and planted them at Santiago’s Quinta Normal for study (adaptability to Chilean climate and soil).
Which three wineries account for 85% of domestic consumption in Chile?
Concha y Toro
Santa Rita
San Pedro
Overall, the Chilean wine industry is top-heavy, and the largest producers create and control market perceptions of Chile worldwide.
Average size of Chilean winery production
1 million cases/year = mid-size
100,000 cases /year = small
What is MOVI?
Movimiento de Viñateros Independientes
A coalition created in 2009 between 12 smaller wineries (many more today). Inclusion is less a signal of winery style and more an indicator of size and personal attention to the day-to-day affairs of the winery.
What is Chile’s first winery founded by outside investment? What important technologies did this introduce?
Miguel Torres Chile, 1979
Modern winemaking, essentially: temperature control, stainless steel ferments, new barrique, pneumatic press.
Who owns Los Vascos?
Domaine Barons de Rothschild-Lafite (1988)
Who created Viña Aquitania?
Bruno Prats (Cos d’Estournel) and Paul Pontarlier (Margaux)
Seña is a collaboration between whom?
Eduardo Chadwick (Errazuriz) and Robert Mondavi, 1995. Owned wholly by Chadwick since 2005.
Who collaborates on Aristos?
Louis-Michel Liger-Belair and Pedro Parra
Which Chablisienne producer has a Chilean outpost?
William Fèvre - William Fèvre Chile
Much of Chile’s “Sauvignon Blanc” is in fact what?
Sauvignon Vert
What is another name for Sauvignon Vert?
Friulano
Much of Chile’s “Merlot” is in fact what?
Carmenere
What are Chile’s geographic sectors from north to south? Which are relevant for winegrowing?
Norte Grande Norte Chico Zona Central Zona Sur Zona Austral
Wine grapes begin in Norte Chico (Copiapo, Atacama, 27º), and end in Zona Austral (46º).
Chile: Administrative Regions
Atacama, Region III, Norte Chico Coquimbo: Region IV, Norte Chico Valparaíso, Region V, Zona Central Santiago, Región Metropolitan, Zona Central O'Higgins, Region VI, Zona Central Maule, Region VII, Zona Central Bío Bío, Region VIII, Zona Sur La Araucania, Region IX, Zona Sur Los Lagos, Region X, Zona Sur
May or may not correspond to DO regions, even DO viticultural regions of the same name.
Chile: Latitude
17º to 53º S - 4300km long, 350km wide (max)
Chile: Cilmate by Latitude
Norte Chico: hot and arid
Zona Central: warm and Mediterranean
Zona Sur: cool, rainy, maritime
Chile: Soil
Mountain ranges are created by the tectonic interaction of the South American plate and the Nazca (oceanic) plate, as the latter pushes eastward. (making Chile subject to frequent, devastating earthquakes). Results:
Coastal range is granite, schist, and slate overlaid by clay, from the continental crust folding over
Andes range is volcanic in origin - basalt, andesite - but also contains limestone in places lifted up from the Nazca Plate.
Who oversees Chile’s wine labeling laws? When were they passed?
Originally passed 1985 (vitis vinifera only, min. 11.5% abv); permitted practices and additions added in 1986.
DO system was enacted in 1994.
Overseen by the Agricultural and Livestock Service
Chilean DO categories by size
Región Vitícola
Subregion
Zone
Area
Which current cools the Chilean Coast? What effect does it have on climate?
Humbolt Current, running northward up from the Antarctic.
The current cools the air passing over it, limiting precipitation and contributing to an inversion layer (wherein cooler tempterarures are trapped near the surface). Average temperatures are milder, and the diurnal shift is suppressed (floor remains the same; highs are lower).
What effect does El Niño have on Chile?
El Niño is caused by a weakening and warming of the Humbolt Current; Pacific Ocean temperatures warm off the coast, and rainfall increases dramatically.
Chilean Wine Law: %’s
75% for vintage, varietal, DO (if listed). Most producers do 85% to comply with EU export standards.
Are hybrid varietals allowed in Chilean wines?
NO
What is the required minimum abv in Chile?
11.50%
What Chilean designations require 12% abv?
Riserva and Riserva Especial
What Chilean designations require 12.5% abv?
Riserva Privada and Gran Reserva
Other than higher minimum alcohol, what is the requirement for Chilean Riserva Especial and Gran Reserva?
Mandatory time in wood (unspecified)
What are the three geographical designations utilized for labeling in Chile? What % of grapes must be from there to qualify? When were these implemented?
Andes, Costa, and Entre Cordilleras
85%
2012
Red grapes account for what % of Chilean acreage?
73.00%
When was Chile’s “merlot” unmasked as Carmenere, and by whom?
1994, by Jean-Michel Bourisquot on a visit to Viña Carmen
Name two high end Carmenere bottlings
Errázuriz “Kai” (Aconcagua)
Concha y Toro “Carmín de Peumo” (Rapel)
What is Chile’s largest producer? What is their flagship wine?
Concha y Toro Don Melchor (Cab Sauv, Puente Alto, Maipo)
What is Almaviva?
A joint project between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Concha y Toro (think Opus One in Chile). Cabernet Sauvignon base, Puente Alto, Maipo.
Name three brands owned by Concha y Toro
Serie Riberas Terrunyo Gravas del Maipo Casillero del Diablo Trio Marquest de Casa Concha Amelia Don Melchor Carmin de Peumo
