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Vins > Chili > Flashcards

Chili Flashcards

1
Q

What is unique about Chile’s geography and its relative vineyard area?

A

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 (Central Valley). 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.

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2
Q

What are the four main geographic features that influence Chile’s wine growing areas?

A

Andes Mountains
Coastal Mountains
Pacific Ocean
Central Valley

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3
Q

What is the general climate of Chile?

A

Overall Chile has a warm Mediterranean climate, but it varies depending on latitude and altitude.
The dry, sunny growing season ensures that the grapes reliably ripen and fungal diseases are kept to a minimum. In most places the
shortfall in rainwater can be made up for with irrigation but water for irrigation is in increasingly short supply.

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4
Q

Chile’s climate varies between north and south.

Where is it most likely to be hot and dry?

A

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.

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5
Q

What country borders Chile to the east?

A

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.

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6
Q

What are the two mountain ranges of Chile?

A

ANDES Mountains: separates Chile from Argentina; cold air descends from the mountains overnight and can cause a large diurnal
temperature range.
COASTAL RANGE: separates the Central Valley from the Pacific.

Between the two mountain ranges, the climate is more sheltered and the large expanses of flat land are easier to cultivate.

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7
Q

What is the Humboldt Current?

A

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 river valleys.

In some regions, like the San Antonio Valley, the Humboldt Current encourages morning fog

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8
Q

What two Pacific Ocean climate drivers can influence Chile’s weather?

A

El Niño: increases rainfall and humidity
La Niña: can increase drought conditions

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9
Q

Is irrigation allowed in Chile?

A

Yes, but water for irrigation is diminishing.

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10
Q

What are the four main regions of Chile?

A

From north to south:
Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Central Valley
Southern Region
They are divided in sub-regions that generally follow the valleys running west from the Andes to the Pacific.

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11
Q

In 2012, Chilean wine law changed, further dividing the wine regions. Producers can now classify vineyard areas by their proximity to the coast.

What are these 3 new classificiations?

A
  • Costa: for coastal areas
  • Entre Cordilleras: areas between the Andes and the Coastal Range
  • Andes: area nearest the Andes

These classifications are not DOs: a producer can add them in addition to using a DO.
There are other labelling terms which carry little meaning: Reserva, Reserva Special, Reserva Privada, Gran Reserva.

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12
Q

What are the 5 most common red grapes planted in Chile?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Carmenère
Syrah
Pinot Noi

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13
Q

What is the most planted grape variety, of either color, in Chile?

A

Black varieties have always accounted for the majority of
the plantings in Chile.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON is the most planted grape.
Wines are made in a VARIETY OF STYLES from simple and fruity to full-bodied premium examples. These wines usually have very ripe black fruit aromas and flavours, often with a herbaceous character.
It is often blended with Merlot, Carmenere or Syrah

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14
Q

Which red grape is the trademark of Chile?

A

Carmenère

late ripener
performs well in warm, sunny sites
high tannin
full bodied
black fruit character, herbal aromas
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15
Q

What are the other red grapes?

A

MERLOT
Usually medium-bodied and fruity for export markets.
Fuller -bodied, more complex versions can also be found.

SYRAH, PINOT NOIR

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16
Q

Syrah is planted all over Chile, but from ________ Valley it’s lighter in body with peppery notes, and from ________ Valley it’s fuller in body and has greater intensity of black fruit flavours.

A

Lighter: ELQUI Valley (cooler coastal / northerly region)

Fuller: COLCHAGUA Valley

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17
Q

Where in Chile does Pinot Noir shows its best?

A

In cool, coastal regions such as San Antonio Valley or Casablanca Valley.

18
Q

What are the two dominant white varieties planted in Chile?

A

SAUVIGNON BLANC in cooler sites (Casablanca, San Antonio Valleys):
excellent wines with high acidity and intense fruity
flavours: ripe apple, citrus and tropical flavours, sometimes herbaceous notes. Richness and texture sometimes come from lees stirring and oak.

CHARDONNAY in a modern international style with ripe fruit and oak flavours. Growing quality, extending range of styles.
Limari Valley: structure, elegance and restraint.
Aconcagua / Casablanca Valley and many other regions produce fine wines.

Small plantings of Viognier, Riseling, GW making fresh, fruity wines in cooler areas.

19
Q

What role does Muscat of Alexandria play in Chile?

A

MUSCAT of Alexandria is mostly used for Pisco.

20
Q

What region lies south of the Atacama Desert?

A

Coquimbo

21
Q

What are the three subregions of the Coquimbo Region?

A

ELAQUI Valley (SAUVIGNON BLANC, SYRAH)
LIMARI Valley (some of Chile’s best CHARDONNAY)
Choapa Valley

22
Q

The biggest challenge in Coquimbo region is:

lack of sunshine
lack of water
lack of wind
A

LACK of WATER

Brilliant sunshine, marked cooling influences from sea breezes or mountain air. Some vineyards at very high altitudes.
Irrigation is essential but expensive because water is less plentiful compared with some other regions.

23
Q

What are the 3 subregions of Aconcagua Region?

A

Aconcagua Valley

24
Q

The Aconcagua Valley is famous for being one of the ________ wine regions in Chile.

Which grape(s) is Aconcagua Valley known for?

A

WARMEST: some cooling influences from the ocean / the Andes, but
the fertile valley floor between the coastal mountain range and the Andes offer some of the warmest growing conditions in Chile
Steep sided.

Classic red wine area. Cabernet Sauvignon dominant for years but Syrah and Carmenere are developing.
Rich, ripe fruit flavours, high alcohol and tannins.
Producers try to reduce alcohol levels / find more freshness and complex fruit flavours => plantings are less focused on the fertile valley floor and spread onto the slopes or towards the coast

25
Q

How do Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley differ from Aconcagua Valley?

A

They lie between the coastal mountains and the Pacific.
=> Cooler sites with morning fogs and afternoon winds blowing in off the ocean.
White varieties dominate: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay.

Different soils and aspects

26
Q

What is San Antonio Valley’s zone that has a reputation for making great Sauvignon Blanc?

A

Leyda Valley

27
Q

Which red varieties can be found in San Antonia / Casablanca V.?

A

PINOT NOIR is the most planted black variety and can produce wines with red berry fruit and herbal notes in the coolest sites

SYRAH in Casablanca Valley (warmer vineyard sites in the east), giving
well -structured wines with a peppery edge.

28
Q

The bulk of Chile’s vineyards are found in the ________ Region.

A

Central Valley, a vast warm flat region

29
Q

Wine production in the Central Valley region focuses on high-quality or inexpensive wines?

A

Grapes ripen easily.
Production is focused on INEXPENSIVE fruity wines often
made from Merlot and Chardonnay.

30
Q

What are the 4 subregions of the Central Valley?

A

Maipo Valley
Rapel Valley
Curico Valley
Maule Valley

31
Q

Maipo is just south of which city in Chile?

A

Santiago

32
Q

Why is Maipo Valley known for making prestige Cabernet Sauvignon?

A

Premium sites are located in the Andean foothills, which are cooled by the descending air, providing elegance and structure to the red wines.

Cabernet Sauvignon can often have a particular minty character

33
Q

What are the main red varieties grown in Rapel Valley?

A
34
Q

The Rapel Valley is divided into 2 zones. What are they?

A

CACHAPOAL Valley (warm area in the north, cut off from the ocean breezes). Carmenere ripens well on the valley floors and Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah perform well in the cooler eastern end of the valley.

COLCHAGUA Valley

35
Q

What is the area within Colchagua Valley that has gained renown for producing high-quality wines?

A

Central part of this valley is warm and open to some ocean influence. It is well known for full-bodied reds, particularly Cabernet
Sauvignon, but also Syrah and Carmenere.

As the area has expanded, vineyards have increasingly been planted
on the valley slopes and some areas, notably APALTA,
have gained a premium reputation.
Further to the west the cooling Pacific influence becomes greater and some high-quality white wines can be produced.

36
Q

The wines from Curicó and Maule Valleys are known for being expensive or inexpensive?

A

The warmth and fertile soils make these the most important sources of fruit for INEXPENSIVE blended red and white wines.

37
Q

What grape variety is a rising star in the Maule Valley?

A

CARIGNAN (ancient low yielding bush vines): full-bodied , intensely concentrated wines.

Maule Valley is cooler than Curico => higher acidity.
Increasing efforts to exploit the wealth of dry-farmed, old vines in the western hills of this region.

38
Q

What are the 3 subregions of the Southern Region?

A

ltata Valley
Bio Bio Valley
Malleco Valley

39
Q

What are the 2 traditional grape varieties grown in the Southern Region?

A

PAIS and MUSCAT of Alexandria in ltata Valley and Bio Bio Valley.

40
Q

What are some promising varieties grown in Bío Bío and Itata Valleys?

A

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Vins (40 decks)

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