Sparkling wines: Chile

Question 1

One card on Chilean Sparkling wines

Answer 1

• 19th C with Valdivieso
• Grown rapidly recently
• Mainly tank fermented and fruity (Brut & slightly sweeter)
• A few trad method
• Main garpes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Sauvignon Blanc
• Most inexpensive, some in export markets mid-priced
• Acceptable to v good quality

Question 2

Where grapes grown for Chilean Sparkling

Answer 2

• Cooler coastal areas, cooler Andean foothills or milder regions in South (some cheap from warm Central Valley)
• Best quality (high acidity) Pacific or altitude
• Best wines from specified areas, cooled by Pacific
  
  • Casablanca
  • San Antonio (Leyda)
  • Limari
  • coastal Curicó
  • Bío Bío (southerly latitude, ocean-influenced)
• Itata and Maule historically grow Moscatel and Pais

Question 3

Irrigation and harvest in Chile

Answer 3

• Irrigation in all areas except Itata (plenty of rain)
• Harvest early Feb to early March, several weeks earlier than regular harvest, as you’d expect
• Harvest mainly hand-picked because of steep slopes, bush vines (and cheap labour)
• Some machine harvest

Question 4

Winemaking in Chile

Answer 4

• 90% tank method
• Very modern, new equipment, so sector grown quickly
• Chardonnay commonly used
• Also Sauvignon Blanc to retain aromatic primary fruit
• 10% traditional method
  
  • chardonnay & pinot noir
  • some Pais (Blanc de Noirs or rosé)
  • Moscatel

Question 5

Wine law in Chile

Answer 5

• Labelling for residual sugar follows EU

Question 6

Describe Chilean Sparkling Wine Business

Answer 6

• A few very large cos then several small ones
• Main producers Valdivieso (over 1/3), Vina Mar, Undurraga, Conch y Toro, Cono Sur, Miguel Torres
• Domestic sales 2/3 of production, growing fast, esp at premium end
• Consumption per capita 1.2l, 95% Chilean Sparkling
• Exports growing, Japan (over 1/3 export market, Columbia, Brazil