Chile - WSET L3 in Wines Flashcards
What are Chile’s key geographical features?
The Andes Mountains to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Coastal Range in between.
What is the climate of most Chilean wine regions?
Warm Mediterranean, with dry, sunny growing seasons.
How do the Andes influence Chilean vineyards?
Provide cooling nighttime air, creating large diurnal temperature ranges that enhance acidity and freshness.
What is the role of the Humboldt Current in Chilean viticulture?
Brings cool air from the Pacific Ocean, moderating coastal and river valley vineyards.
How do El Niño and La Niña affect Chile’s wine regions?
El Niño increases rainfall, while La Niña causes drought, impacting yields and grape quality.
What are the four principal wine regions in Chile?
Coquimbo, Aconcagua, Central Valley, and Southern Region.
What classification terms indicate proximity to the coast or mountains?
Costa (coastal areas), Entre Cordilleras (between mountains), and Andes (mountain areas).
What labeling terms are commonly used but loosely defined in Chile?
Reserva, Reserva Especial, Reserva Privada, and Gran Reserva.
What is the most planted grape variety in Chile?
Cabernet Sauvignon.
What are the characteristics of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon?
Ripe black fruit flavors with herbaceous notes, often blended with Merlot or Carmenère.
What is Chile’s signature grape variety?
Carmenère, producing full-bodied wines with black fruit and herbal aromas.
What white grape varieties dominate plantings in Chile?
Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
What is Muscat of Alexandria primarily used for in Chile?
The production of Pisco, Chile’s grape brandy.
What are the three sub-regions of Coquimbo?
Elqui Valley, Limarí Valley, and Choapa Valley.
What is the climate of the Coquimbo region?
Dry, with cooling influences from high altitudes and coastal breezes.
What grape varieties thrive in Limarí Valley and Elqui Valley?
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc respectively.
What are the three sub-regions of the Aconcagua region?
Aconcagua Valley, Casablanca Valley, and San Antonio Valley.
What is the primary grape variety in Aconcagua Valley?
Cabernet Sauvignon, producing full-bodied wines with high alcohol and ripe black fruit.
What is the climate of Casablanca Valley?
Cool, moderated by morning fog and afternoon breezes from the Pacific.
What grapes are prominent in Casablanca Valley?
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.
What is the Leyda Valley known for?
Part of San Antonio Valley, it produces high-quality Sauvignon Blanc with high acidity and tropical fruit flavors.
Name black grapes grown in Aconcagua Valley?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Syrah.
What are the four sub-regions of the Central Valley?
Maipo Valley, Rapel Valley, Curicó Valley, and Maule Valley.
What is Maipo Valley best known for?
Premium Cabernet Sauvignon, often with a distinctive minty character.
Name the subregions of Rapel Valley?
Cachapol Valley and Colchagua Valley.
What is the primary grape variety in Colchagua Valley?
Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Syrah and Carmenère.
What distinguishes Maule Valley wines?
High acidity and concentration, often from old-vine Carignan.
What are the three sub-regions of the Southern Region?
Itata Valley, Bío Bío Valley, and Malleco Valley.
What grapes dominate plantings in Itata and Bío Bío?
País and Muscat of Alexandria, though Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are gaining prominence.
What is the potential of Malleco Valley?
Produces premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with growing interest from producers.
What styles of Sauvignon Blanc are produced in Chile?
Fresh, high-acid wines with tropical fruit flavors, particularly in cooler regions like Casablanca and Leyda.
What is the typical style of Carmenère?
Full-bodied with ripe black fruit flavors and a balance of herbal and spicy notes.
How do river valleys influence Chile’s vineyards?
They allow cool air from the Pacific to penetrate inland, moderating temperatures.
How does altitude affect vineyards in Chile?
High-altitude vineyards in the Andes provide cool nights, enhancing acidity and freshness.
Why is sustainable viticulture important in Chile?
Dry conditions and limited water availability encourage practices that conserve resources and promote biodiversity.
What are the main challenges in Chilean viticulture?
Water scarcity and the cyclical effects of El Niño and La Niña.
What makes Chilean Syrah unique?
Cooler regions like San Antonio produce peppery, aromatic Syrahs, while warmer areas like Colchagua create bold, ripe styles.
What is the primary characteristic of Chilean Pinot Noir?
Fresh red fruit flavors, high acidity, and earthy notes, especially from cool regions like Casablanca and Leyda.
What is the significance of País in Chile?
A historic variety used for simple, rustic red wines, now seeing a revival in premium, old-vine styles.
How long and width is Chile’s wine?
900km long and 100km wide.
What role do the Coastal Mountains play in Chilean viticulture?
They block much of the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean, except where river valleys or gaps allow cool air to penetrate.
How do the Andes influence Chile’s vineyards?
Provide descending cold air at night, creating large diurnal temperature variations that enhance acidity and aromatic intensity in wines.
What is the significance of river valleys in Chile?
River valleys, such as the Maipo and Colchagua, channel cool Pacific air inland, moderating vineyard temperatures.
What is a “zone” in Chilean wine classification?
A subdivision of the principal wine regions, encompassing multiple smaller appellations or areas. Leyda is a zone in San Antonio sub-region.
How is a DO (Denominación de Origen) defined in Chile?
A classification for wines produced within specific geographical boundaries, focusing on origin but not production methods.
What is the effect of descending cold air from the Andes?
It cools vineyards at night, preserving acidity and creating balance in wines.
Why is Merlot a popular export variety from Chile?
It produces fruit-forward, soft, and approachable wines that appeal to a wide range of consumers.
How are grape varieties matched to regions in Chile?
Cooler regions like Casablanca are suited for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, while warmer areas like Colchagua are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère.
What is the focus of vineyards in the Central Valley?
Large-scale production on flat lands, emphasizing simple, fruit-driven wines for mass-market appeal.
What is dry farming, and where is it practiced in Chile?
A method relying on natural rainfall rather than irrigation, commonly used in Curicó and Maule Valleys for old-vine Carignan.
What are the characteristics of wines from the Central Valley’s flat lands?
Fruit-forward, simple wines suitable for early drinking, often at an affordable price point.
What makes Chile’s wine industry unique?
Its phylloxera-free status, allowing the use of ungrafted vines and preserving native biodiversity.
How does the combination of geography and climate affect Chilean wines?
The interplay of coastal mountains, the Andes, and river valleys creates diverse microclimates, enabling the production of a wide range of wine styles.
What is smallest and most southern region?
Malleco.
Name grapes in Malleco?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
