Chile- Nellites Flashcards
Climate of Chile?
Hot desert to cool to cold from north to south.
Geographical influences of Chile?
*Desert: Atacama Desert
*Ocean: Pacific Ocean, provides cool breezes and fog.
*Mountains: Andes Mountains
(Elevation and diurnal shifts). Coastal Range (Creates rain shadow from cold Pacific.)
Main soil type of Chile?
Sand
Winemaking in Chile?
*No presence of phylloxera (because of sandy soil).
*Irrigation is essential from the Andes.
*Mostly ungrafted vines.
Grapes of Chile?
*White: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
*Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carménère, Syrah, País
Minimum grape percentages?
*Domestically: Variety/Vintage/Origin Labeling is 75%.
*In practice:EU requires 85% in all three categories.
What’s special about Denominacion de Origen (DO) system?
Refers to a specific geographical area and nothing else (Region, Subregion, Zone, Area)
HIstory of Chile?
*1500s: Grapes being grown in the South American Spanish colonies.
*1600s: Prohibitive laws from the Spanish restricting wine production.
*1800s: Political independence and influx of European immigrants led to an expansion of viticulture.
*1970s-80s: Influx of foreign investment.
Valle Central DO climate, location, production and grapes?
*Warm to hot climate.
*Located between the Coastal Range and Andes.
*80% of Chilean production.
*Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Merlot
Notable DO’s of Chile?
*Valle Central DO
*Rapel DO
*Colchagua DO
*Cachapoal DO
*Curicó Valley DO
*Maule DO
*Valle de Maipo DO
Subregion: Valle de Maipo
*Surrounds Santiago in the Maipo River Valley.
*Most of the major historical wineries are located here.
*Cabernet Sauvignon
Most notable Subregion of Aconcagua?
Casablanca DO:
*Cool, maritime climate west of the Coastal Range.
*Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
Name of the current that brings Cool air from Antarctica to Chile?
Humboldt Current
Concha y Toro
(Casillera de Diablo)
*Don Melchor Concha y Toro (owner and founder) to deter thieves, sporead the rumor that the devil lived in his cellar
*One of the most globally recognized Chilean brands
*Value and Quality
Within Mairapo in Pirque
*Concha y toro is a distributer
Vina Errazuriz
*Aconcagua staple
*First french varietals planted there
*State of the art winery
*founded in 1870
Santa Rita
*120 patriots took refuge in the cellars of the hacienda during the Chilean revolution
*Maipo Valley
*Focus on sustainability
*Founded in 1880
Casa Lapostolle
*Located in Apalta subregion of the Colchagua Valley
*Founded in 1994
*French influence through heritage
*Clos Apalta, a blend of Carmenere, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon is their flagship
*They own Grand Marnier and Château de Sancerre
