South America Study Guide Flashcards
When did viticulture first appear in South America?
16th century
When did Chile, Argentina, and Brazil gain independence thus relaxing restrictions on wine production by Spain and Portugal?
1800s
What major contribution did Frenchman Claudio Gay provide to Chile?
He set up a repository of pre-phylloxera Vitis vinifera vines at the University of Chile’s Quinta Normal department.
This provided many of the parent vines for Chile’s modern wine industry as the county’s geographic isolation due to the Andes has left vineyards of Chile phylloxera free.
Why is Chile phylloxera-free?
Geographic isolation due to the Andes mountains.
Why was the Phylloxera outbreak a boon for Chile?
A strong domestic market plus the fact that the European export market was in need of wine was a boon for advancing the Chilean wine industry.
What is the fifth largest wine-producing country in the world?
Argentina
The Mission grape is identical to what grape in the Canary Islands?
Listán Prieto
Up until the 21st century, what was the most planted grape in Chile? What is it known as in Argentina? What is it known as in the Canary Islands?
País (Mission)
Known as Criolla Chica in Argentina
Known as Listán Prieto in Canary Islands
What is the Mission grape known as in Argentina? What are two other grapes traditionally were highly planted in Argentina?
Criolla Chica
Cereza and Criolla Grande
What grape crossing led to the production of Torrontés Riojano and Torrontés Sanjuanino? What is the third Torrentés sub variety? Is it also a product of the same crossing?
Criolla Chica (Mission) x Muscat of Alexandria
Torrontés Mendocino. Not a product of the same crossing. Only has Muscat as a common parent
What are the three Torrontés sub varieties? Which are the product of the same crossing? Which is the odd one out? Why?
Torrontés Riojano
Torrontés Sanjuanino
Torrontés Mendocino
Riojano and Sanjuanino are products of the same crossing.
Mendocino is the odd one out an only has Muscat as a common parent
What two grapes were confused for Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc respectively in Chile?
Merlot that was planted turned out to be Carmenère
Much of the Sauvignon Blanc planted in Chile turned out to be Sauvignon Vert/Friulano
What grape does Argentina and Chile claim to be a unique varietal expression to their country respectively?
Malbec in Argentina
Carmenère in Chile
How long does Chile stretch from North to South? How many of these miles are dedicated to viticulture?
3,000 miles
roughly 800 miles are dedicated to viticulture
What are the 6 regional Denominations of Origin (DO) of Chile from north to south?
Atacama Coquimbo Aconcagua Valle Central Sur Austral
What is the climate like in Atacama and Coquimbo and what have the grapes been here historically been used for?
Dry and desert-like
Grapes here have been traditionally been used for Pisco production or table grapes
What DO of Chile contains the most suitable vineyards for fine wine?
Valle Central (Central Valley)
Where is the Valle Central located geographically compared to Santiago?
South of Santiago
What is the name of the cool ocean current that flows along the coast of Chile?
Humboldt Current
What natural influences combine to create the climate experienced in the Central Valley of Chile?
The cool nighttime temperatures contributed by proximity to the Andes and the cold, maritime influence of the Humboldt Current.
What mountain range separates the Central Valley in Chile from the Pacific Ocean?
Coastal Mountains
Though the climate isn’t as dry as that experienced in the north in Atacama and Coquimbo, what is essential in the vineyards of Aconcagua and the Central Valley?
irrigation
How is the climate and growing season in the vineyard areas of Southern Chile different to central?
Rainier, cooler and a shorter growing season
Chilean wine law, established in 1995 instituted what min % for labels that state vintage, varietal, and denomination? What min% for grape varietal listed on labels do most producers follow in order to comply with EU standards for export?
Min 75% for each
Most producers however follow the min 85% rule for varietally labeled bottles to comply with EU standards for export.
Are hybrid grapes permitted in Chilean wine?
No
What is the min abv required for all wine? What about wines labeled Reserva/Reserva Especial? Reserva Privada/Gran Reserva?
11.5% for all wines
12% for Reserva/Reserva Especial
12.5% for Gran Reserva/Reserva Privada
What percentage of Chile’s total plantings are attributed to red grapes? What are the leading red grapes produced in Chile? (7)
73%
Cabernet Sauvignon País Merlot Carmenère Syrah Pinot Noir Cabernet Franc
What are the main white grapes produced i Chile? Which is used chiefly for distillation?
Sauvignon Blanc (and Sauvignon Vert)
Chardonnay
Sémillon
Muscat of Alexandria (used for distillation)
What two DOs of northern Chile are known for the production of Pisco and table grapes? Which of the two contains two subzones that are gaining reputation for quality wine production?
Atacama and Coquimbo
Coquimbo has two subregions, Valle del Elqui and Valle del Limarí, that are gaining a reputation for Syrah and Chardonnay respectively
What are the three subzones of Coquimbo? Which is gaining attention for quality Syrah? Which for Chardonnay?
Valle del Elqui DO (Syrah)
Valle del Limarí DO (Chardonnay)
Valle del Choapa DO
What soil type has made Limarí DO within Coquimbo an up and coming region for Chardonnay?
Limestone
What two mountain ranges converge in the Valle del Choapa DO within Coquimbo in Chile?
Coastal Mountains and Andes
What river does the Aconcagua DO get its name? From what mountains to what ocean does it flow?
Aconcagua River nearby
Flows from the Andes Mountains to the Pacific Ocean
What are the dominant soil types of the Aconcagua Valley DO subregion of Aconcagua DO in Chile? What are the major grapes of their region?
Alluvial soils
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
What commune is Errázuriz located in? What DO? What is the flagship wine produced at the estate? What is it famous for?
Panquehue commune in Aconcagua Valley DO which is a sub zone of the larger Aconcagua DO
Seña is the flagship wine produced here. Famed for placing ahead of both Château Lafite and Château in the 2004 Berlin Tasting, an event compared to the 1976 Judgement of Paris for Napa.
What are the three subregion DOs of Aconcagua DO? Of the three, which two are the coolest and considered to be producing some of Chile’s best white wine?
Aconcagua Valley DO
Casablanca DO
San Antonio DO
Casablanca and San Antonio are considered the coolest and among the best DOs for white wine in Chile from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
What are the 4 subzones of San Antonio DO?
Leyda
Lo Abarca
Rosario
Malvilla
What are the DO subregions of the Valle Central DO from north to south in Chile? Which is the most famous and considered the classic region in Chile for Cabernet Sauvignon?
Maipo Valley
Rapel Valley
Curicó
Maule Valley
Maipo is considered the most famous and classic for Cabernet Sauvignon
What grape does Maipo Valley specialize in? What % of its total acreage is devoted to it? What are the next 3 most important grapes here?
Cabernet Sauvignon (over 50%)
Merlot, Chardonnay, and Carmenère
What are 3 top producers located in the Maipo Valley?
Concha y Toro
Santa Rita
Cousiño Macul
Who is Chile’s largest producer of wine?
Concha y Toro
What sub zone of the Maipo Valley is sourced for the production of Errázuriz’s “Viñedo Chadwick”, Concha y Toro’s “Don Melchor”, and “Almaviva”, a joint project between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Concha y Toro?
Puente Alto
Who makes “Viñedo Chadwick”? What is the grape? “Don Melchor”? Where are these wines produced? (sub zone, DO, Regional DO?
Errázuriz makes Viñedo Chadwick
Concha y Toro makes “Don Melchor”
They are both Cabernet Sauvignon varietal wines produced in the Puente Alto sub zone of Maipo Valley DO, a DO within the regional Valle Central DO