South America Flashcards
What three major wine-producing countries are found in South America?
Argentina, Chile, and Brazil
Which mountain range separates Argentina and Chile?
The Andes Mountains
What is the climate in the Argentine wine regions?
Continental; summers are hot but lack of humidity cause nighttime temperatures to drop rapidly (helping retain acidity in grapes), winters are cold but not severe.
What is the biggest threat the climate in Argentina poses?
Hailstorms which can severly damage vineyard crops.
What is Argentina’s signature grape variety?
Malbec; Argentine malbecs are deeply colored, often inky black, and have corresponding fruit flavors of blackberry and plum.
What is the white wine Argentina is known for?
Torrontes
Where are the principal winegrowing areas of Argentina located?
On the west of the country on the lower sloeps of the Andes
Which Argentine wine region is located at the best latitude for wine production? How much wine does this region account for?
Mendoza; accounting for more than 70% of Argentina’s vineyard acreage and home to almost all of the internationally renowned Argentine wineries.
What are four important subregions of Mendoza? Which are high in elevation?
Maipu, Lujan de Cayo, Valle de Uco and Tupungato. Valle de Uco and Tupungato are both high-elevation areas.
What is Argentina’s second largest wine region? What is the climate like in comparison to Mendoza and what types of wine is it known for?
San Juan which is a much hotter area than Mendoza. It produces a lower amount of highly regarded wine but is noted for sherry and the base wines for brandy and vermouth. It is also the producer of the majority of the country’s table grapes and raisins.
What are the 8 Argentine wine regions from north to south?
Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Neuquen, Rio Negro
What is Salta known for and what is its most famous subregion?
Torrontes and it’s subregion is Cafayate.
What is unique about Cafayate’s vineyards?
Some can be found as high as 7,000 feet above sea level
What cooler province is an up-and-coming region for white and sparkling wines?
Rio Negro which is south of Mendoza in Patagonia.
What are the three levels of the Aefentine appellation system?
denominacio de origen controlada (DOC) - highest level
indicacion geografica (IG) - for quality wines below the DOC level
indicacion de procedencia (IP) - for table and regional wines
Who controls DOC regulations in Argentina?
A local consejo or council
Only two DOCs have been established. What are they are where are they located?
Lujan de Cuyo and San Rafael both of which are located in Mendoza.
What country is South America’s largest exporter of wine?
Chile
Where in Chile are most of the grapes grown and the place where most people live?
In the temperate part of Chile in the middle of of the country. The north is the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places, while the south is the frozen archipelago of Tierra del Fuego.
What climate can the winemaking region of Chile be compared to?
Conditions are very similar to some of the prime winegrowing areas of California.
What is the name of the current that flows along the Pacific shores from the polar seas?
Humbolt current
What are the main grape varieties in Chile?
3/4 of wine acreage is for red varieties, and Cabernet Sauvignon is king (representing 1/3 of all vineyard land). Sav Blanc and Chard are the leading white grapes
What grape varietal is considered the “forgotton grape” of Bordeaux and now considered by many to be the signature grape of Chile?
Carmenere
What is Pais?
A red grape that is the 2nd most widley planted grape in Chile. It was brought with the conquistadors for sacramental wine and is related to Argentina’s Criolla Grande and California mission varieties.
