South America - Chile

Question 1

Location of Chile

Answer 1

(-) Located on the west coast of South America in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 2

White grapes of Chile

Answer 2

Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay

Question 3

Red grapes of Chile

Answer 3

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Carménère
Syrah
País

Question 4

What is the climate of Chile

Answer 4

Hot desert to cool to cold from north to south.

Question 5

What are the main geographic features of Chile?

Answer 5

(-) Atacama Desert
(-) Pacific Ocean, provides cool breezes and fog.

Mountains:
(-) Andes Mountains: Elevation and diurnal shifts
(-) Coastal Range: Creates rain shadow from cold Pacific

Question 6

Soil type in Chile

Answer 6

Sand

Question 7

Grape growing in Chile

Answer 7

(-) No presence of phylloxera (because of sandy soil)
(-) Irrigation is essential from the Andes
(-) Mostly ungrafted vines

Question 8

Did Chile ever get effected by phylloxera?

Answer 8

No, it’s one of the purest countries in regards to viticulture in the world

Question 9

What grape before 1995 was mistaken as Carmenère

Answer 9

Merlot

Question 10

What famous blend is still used to this day in Chile?

Answer 10

Bordeaux

Question 11

Chile wine laws are similar to what country?

Answer 11

The United States - and there is no restriction on what grapes or where you can grow grapes like in most old world countries

Question 12

How are Chilean wines labeled?

Answer 12

By variety but it is becoming more popular to show the proprietor of the wines on the label

Question 13

Are the wine laws the same for exported and domestic Chilean wines?

Answer 13

No, if a wine is exported the variety that is named on the label, 85% of the grapes must come from that the listed region on the wine

If sold domestically, the wine shown on the label, 75% of the wines must come from the listed region, known as the “law of 75%”

Question 14

Denominación de Origen (DO) System

Answer 14

(-) Refers to a geographic place of origin only, no other additional laws.

(-) Region, Subregion, Zone, Area.

Question 15

Chilean wine law vs EU

Answer 15

Minimum Percentages:
* Variety/Vintage/Origin Labeling is 75%.
* In practice, EU requires 85% in all three categories.

Question 16

Maipo Valley

Curicó Valley

Rapel Valley

Maule Valley

This 4 subregion are apart of what region and what country

Answer 16

Central Valley ( Valle Central) and Chile

Question 17

Maipo Valley

Answer 17

• Makes mostly Bordeaux style wines and even has château style Vineyards and is the closest to the city of Santiago.
• Surrounds Santiago in the Maipo River Valley
• Most of the major historical wineries are located here
• Main red grape - Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 18

This region is home of the famous colchagua Valley subregion. Has a cooler and maritime climate due to its low elevation.

Main Red Grape - Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère

Main white grape -Sauvignon Blanc

Answer 18

Rapel Valley

Question 19

Describe Humboldt Current

Answer 19

Cold current coming from Antarctica running along the west coast of South America.

Question 20

Style of Chilean wine

Answer 20

Often big, intense, fruit driven, high-alcohol wine

Question 21

Proprietary Brands / Producers in Chile

Answer 21

(-) Concha y Toro
(-) Santa Rita
(-) Errázuriz
(-) Casa Lapostolle
(-) Carmen

Question 22

Latitude of Chile

Answer 22

Spans 17-53°S latitude

Question 23

Length and Width of Chile

Answer 23

(-) 2,670 miles or 4300 km north to south
(-) 217 miles or 350 km wide

Question 24

1500s Chile Lore

Answer 24

Grapes being grown in the South American
Spanish colonies

Question 25

1600s Chile Lore

Answer 25

Prohibitive laws from the Spanish restricting
wine production

Question 26

1800s Chile Lore

Answer 26

Political independence and influx of European immigrants led to an
expansion of viticulture

Question 27

1970s-80s Chile Lore

Answer 27

Influx of foreign investment

Question 28

Valle Central DO

Answer 28

(-) Warm to hot climate.
(-) Located between the Coastal Range and Andes.
(-) 80% of Chilean production

Question 29

Valle Central DO wines

Answer 29

Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Merlot

Question 30

Aconcagua DO

Answer 30

Subregion: Casablanca DO
Cool, maritime climate west of the Coastal Range.

Question 31

Aconcagua DO wines

Answer 31

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir

Question 32

Regions in Chile

Answer 32

(-) Aconcagua DO
(-) Maule DO
(-) Rapel DO

(-) Valle Central DO
(-) Valle de Maipo DO

(-) Casablanca DO
(-) Colchagua DO
(-) Cachapoal DO
(-) Curicó Valley DO