Chili Flashcards
What is unique about Chile’s geography and its relative vineyard area?
Chile is a long, thin, country stretching over 4,000km north to south of which only 900km is vineyard area. Chile averages only ~100km east to west.
Chile boasts two north-to-south mountain ranges, and a large, warm valley between those two ranges. The cool Pacific Ocean is to the west.
The climate varies from arid in the north to maritime in the south, and cooler conditions towards the Pacific to hot pockets inland.
What are the four main geographic features that influence Chile’s wine growing areas?
Andes Mountains
Coastal Mountains
Pacific Ocean
Central Valley
What is the general climate of Chile?
Overall Chile has a warm Mediterranean climate, but it can and does vary depending on latitude and altitude.
Chile’s climate varies between north and south.
Where is it most likely to be hot and dry?
The northern part of Chile is very close to the equator, and displays a nearly desert-like climate.
The climate becomes progressively cooler and wetter going south.
What country borders Chile to the east?
Argentina
The Andes Mountain range creates a natural border between the two countries.
Colchagua, Chile and Mendoza, Argentina are on opposite sides of the Andes from each other.
What are the two mountain ranges of Chile?
Andes Mountains: separates Chile from Argentina; down drafts cool vineyards with fresh winds;
Coastal Range: separates the Central Valley from the Pacific.
What is the Humboldt Current?
The Humboldt Current is cold water current flowing up from Antarctica that chills the Pacific waters, cooling the air and affecting Chile’s low-lying areas closest to the coast and valleys on the other side of the breaks (or low points) in the Coastal Range.
In some regions, like the San Antonio Valley, the Humboldt Current encourages morning fog
What two Pacific Ocean climate drivers can influence Chile’s weather?
El Niño: increases rainfall and humidity
La Niña: can increase drought conditions
Is irrigation allowed in Chile?
Yes, but water for irrigation is diminishing.
What are the four main regions of Chile?
From north to south:
Coquimbo Aconcagua Central Valley Southern Region
In 2012, Chilean wine law changed and producers can now classify vineyard areas by their proximity to the coast.
What are these 3 new classificiations?
Costa: area closest to the coast
Entre Cordilleras: area located between the Andes and the Coastal Range
Andes: area nearest the Andes
These classificiations are not DOs: a producer can add them in addition to using a DO.
What are the 5 most common red grapes planted in Chile?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Carmenère
Syrah
Pinot Noi
What is the most planted grape variety, of either color, in Chile?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Which red grape is the trademark of Chile?
Carmenère
late ripener performs well in warm, sunny sites high tannin full bodied
Where in Chile does Pinot Noir shows its best?
In cool, coastal regions such as San Antonio Valley or Casablanca Valley.
Syrah is planted all over Chile, but from ________ Valley it’s lighter in body and from ________ Valley it’s fuller in body.
Lighter: Elqui Valley
Fuller: Colchagua Valley
