Key Regions (4)

Answer 1

1. Coquimbo
   
   1. Elqui valley
   2. Limari valley:
2. Aconcagua
   
   1. Aconcagua (north): hottest + driest
   2. Casablanca: cool Mediteranean
   3. San Antonio:
3. Central Valley (90% of exported wines)
   
   1. Maipo: most famous, not largest
   2. Rapel (31,000ha): Largest
   3. Curicó (19,000ha): cooler
   4. Maule (29,300ha): wettest
4. Southern regions (14,000ha)

• New areas; mainly on hills or nearer the sea.

1. Itata: Mediterranean
2. Bio-Bio: moderate Mediterranean climate
3. Malleco:

Answer 2

Coquimbo

1. Newest wine region; dry weather + cooling ocean influence delays ripening + clear skies = great conditions
2. Historically grape growing for Pisco & table wine production but recent devt of quality wines in:
   
   1. Elqui valley: highest wine region (up to 2,000m); desert-like climate, altitude + cool growing conditions ->Cab Sauv + Syrah & Sauvignon blanc
   2. Limari valley: east/west valley w morning fogs from Pacific; lo rainfall necessitates drip irrigation (desert-like climate). Cab Sauv, Carmenere & Chardonnay. Fresh wines w mineral edge.

Answer 3

Aconcagua (named after river which bisects it)

1. Aconcagua (north): Mediterranean climate; hottest & driest w alluvial soils -> good red wines. Cab Sauv, Syrah, Carmenere + coastal SB.
2. Casablanca: cool Mediterranean, firstvines in ’82 by Concha y toro; Winkler Region I thanks to cool morning fogs brought by Humboldt and fewer clear days (//Carneros in California) -> slower ripening + more complex flavours. Mainly Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay & Pinot noir. Risk of spring frosts.
3. San Antonio: new subregion w pronounced Pacific influence -> fresh Sauvignon Blanc & top Pinot Noirs (Leyda).

Answer 4

Central Valley (90% of exported wines)

1. Maipo: most famous but not largest (10,500ha); hottest subregion just south of Santiago; Mediterranean climate;sandy soils w gravel top Cabernet Sauvignon & Chardonnay. Most bodegas’ headquarters based there.
2. Rapel (31,000ha): divided into Cachapoal & Colchagua subregions; Mainly alluvial & clay soil + 600-1,000m hi; mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Camenere; home Luis Felipe Edwards & Ch. Lafite’s Los Vascos.
3. Curicó (19,000ha): cooler wetter conditions due to cloud cover & latitude; known for quality Chardonnay but also good value Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc/Sauvignon & Merlot; home to Vina Montes & Torres
4. Maule (29,300ha): wettest of four subregions; Mediterranean climate, volcanic soils & rolling hills; mainly País but also Cabernet Sauvignon & Chardonnay.

Answer 5

Southern regions (14,000ha)

• New areas; mainly on hills or nearer the sea.

1. Itata: Mediterranean climate w hi rainfall. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Chardonnay
2. Bio-Bio: moderate Mediterranean climate w highest rainfall in CL, strong winds -> less sunshine, longer growing seasons -> devt of Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
3. Malleco: moderate Mediterranean climate w hi rainfall. Chardonnay & Pinot Noir.