South America - Chile Flashcards
Chile map
Where is Chile located?
West coast of South America
2,670km north to south
217 miles wide
17-53 degrees latitude
What is the climate in Chile?
Hot desert to cool to cold from north to south
What is the desert in Chile?
Atacama desert in the north
One of Earth’s driest places
What are the climate moderators in Chile?
Pacific Ocean provides cool breezes and fog
COASTAL RANGE CREATES RAIN SHADOW
Andes Mountains (to the east) provide elevation and dinural shifts.
What is the name of the current that blows over Chile’s wine region?
Humboldt current
What is the soil type in Chile?
Sand
Why was phylloxera never present in Chile?
Geographic isolation and sandy soil
Mostly ungrafted vines in Chile
Desert to the north and frozen tundra in the south act as natural barriers
Where does Chile get its irrigation?
Snowmelt from Andes
What are the main white grapes in Chile?
Sauv Blanc
Chardonnay
What are the main red grapes in Chile?
Cab Sauv
Merlot
Carmenere
Syrah
Pais
“Pais” was formally known as Listan Prieto, the Vitis vinifera variety brought from Spain to be used by missionaries and shaped the entire wine industry in South America
What are the wine laws in Chile?
Denominacion de Origen (DO) System
Refers to a geographic place of origin only, no other additional laws
What are DOs divided into?
Regions
Subregions
Zones
Areas
What are the minimum percentages in Chile?
75% min for variety labelling
75% min for vintage labelling
75% min for origin labelling
EU requires 85% min in these three categories, export-oriented Chilean wines will hold the 85% standard.
What are the DOs of Chile?
Aconoagua DO
Casablanca DO
Valle Central DO
Rapel DO
Colchagua DO
Cachapoal DO
Curico Valley DO
Maule DO Valle de Mapio DO
What is the subregion of Aconagua DO?
Casablanca DO
What is the climate of Aconagua/Casablanca DO?
Cool, maritime west of Coastal range
What grapes are used in Aconoagua/Casablanca DOs?
Chardonnay
Sauv Blanc
Pinot Noir
Casablanca DO
Cool climate
Most coastal wine area
Specializes in white wine
Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir
Where is the Valle Central DO located?
Between the Coastal Range and Andes
What is the climate of the Valle Central DO?
Warm to hot climate
How much of Chile’s wine production is made in the Valle Central DO?
80%
What grapes are used in the Valle Central DO?
Cab Sauv
Carmenere
Merlot
Where is the Valle de Maipo DO?
Surrounds Santiago in the Maipo River Valley
Most historical wineries are located here
Heart of Chile’s winemaking culture
What is the main grape of Valle de Maipo DO?
Cab Sauv
Rapel Valley DO (made up for Cachapoal & Colchagua Valley DOs)
Focused on premium red wine production
Warm climate
Curico Valley
No maritime influence
Lots of foreign investment in 1970’s
Red and white wine
Maule Valley DO
Southern end of Central Valley
One of the largest subregions in terms of acreage
Cab Sauv is main grape, but lots of Pais is also planted here
Organic viticulture practiced
What styles of wine are made in Chile?
Big, intense, fruit driven, high alcohol wines
Chilean producers to know
Concha y Toro
Santa Rita
Errazuriz
Casa Lapostolle
Carmen
Chilean wine history
1500s: Grapes being growth in South America Spanish colonies
1600s: Prohibitive laws from Spanish restricting wine production
1800s: Political indepence and influx of European immigrants leads to an explosion of viticulture
1970s-80s: Influx of foreign investment
