Week 4 - Chile Flashcards

George Brown Continuing Education - Australia, NZ, SA, Chile and Argentina Wines

1
Q

Name the 4 wine regions in Chile

A
  1. Coquimbo
  2. Aconcagua
  3. Central
  4. Southern
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2
Q

Name the 3 wine areas in Coquimbo.

A
  1. Elqui Valley
  2. Limari Valley
  3. Choapa Valley
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3
Q

Name the 4 regions in Aconcagua.

A
  1. Aconcagua Valley
  2. Casa Blanca Valley
  3. San Antonio Valley
  4. Leyda Valley
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4
Q

Name the 5 regions of the Central Valley

A
  1. Maipo Valley
  2. Cachapoal Valley (31,000ha)
  3. Colchagua Valley (na)
  4. Curico Valley (19,000ha)
  5. Maule Valley (29,000ha)
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5
Q

Describe the geography of the Central Valley Region.

A
  1. Santiago to Itata
  2. Vast, warm, flat
  3. Majority of vineyards here
  4. Grapes ripen easily
  5. High production based on cheap fruity Merlot and Chard
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6
Q

Name 2 regions in the Southern Region.

A
  1. Bio Bio
  2. Itata
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7
Q

Describe the wine regions of Chile.

A
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8
Q

Describe the geography of Chile.

A

4,300 km long
900km north to south, but only 100km wide
80/% of land mountainous
Isolated from rest of the world

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9
Q

Is Chile phylloxera free?

A

Yes. So very isolated area.

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10
Q

Name 2 areas that are free of phylloxera.

A

Barossa Valley
Chile

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11
Q

When did wine exports begin in Chile?

A

1980’s: wine exported
2000’s: Miguel Torres introduces modern technology
2000’s: Value wines
Now: developing reputation for high-quality wines

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12
Q

Describe the shift in quality of Chilean wine being served in restaurants.

A

History of value driven: inexpensive housewines served “by the glass options”
Now: talented winemakers moving to Chile making good wines; restaurants now serving quality

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13
Q

How are winemakers gaining a deeper understanding of Chile?

A

Winemakers have a better understanding of Chilean terroir, thus allowing them tremendous success in cool climates along coast and in Andes foothills

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14
Q

What is Chile’s Mission Statement?

A

“To establish Chile as the most
impressive and dynamic source of premium quality New World wines.”

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15
Q

In what years did vineyards double?

A

1993-2003

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16
Q

What is emphasized more: wines made in the vineyard or the winery?

A

Vineyard

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17
Q

What aspects of viticulture are grapegrowers focussing on? What is the goal of doing this?

A
  1. Vine management
  2. Clonal selection
  3. Irrigation
    Goal is to improve quality.
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18
Q

What kinds of wine is Chile known for?

A

Lean and fruit forward Bordeaux Blends.

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19
Q

Describe the overall climate of Chile.

A

Multi-Climate Mediterrean region.

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20
Q

Describe the climate of Coastal Chile.

A
  1. Cool climate
  2. Moderated by Humboldt current
  3. Morning Fog
  4. Prominent wines
    Saline, citrus driven whites
    Pinot Noir
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21
Q

Describe the climate of the Entre Cordilleras.

A
  1. Warm Climate
  2. Inland from coast but below elevation of the Andes
  3. Bordeaux varietals with red fruit and elevated acidity
  4. Extreme diurnal shifts
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22
Q

Describe the climate of Chile’s Andes.

A
  1. Warm Climate
  2. Higher elevation vineyards in the
    foothills of the Andes
  3. Ripe fruit
  4. Primarily reds
  5. Elevated acidity
  6. Bigger structure
  7. Elevated tannins
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23
Q

Describe Chile’s appelation system.

A

Denominacion de Origen (DO)
* Some wineries are following but most don’t indicate
* Gaining momentum with increased focus on quality– greater need for higher price points
* Vintage Reserva means nothing but must display place of origin

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24
Q

What are the labelling requirements regarding listed varietals?

A

Wines must contain 75% of stated grape and region

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25
Q

What does VIGNO stand for?

A

VIGNO (2010) – sub system
* Vignadores de Carignan
* The first true Chilean appellation = old vine Carignan only
* Maule Valley
* Name is derived from vino, the Spanish word for wine, combined with the “G” from Carignan

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26
Q

Who created VIGNO?

A

Unique collective collaboration, combining both small and large Maule producers under a unified market vision

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27
Q

What is the aim of VIGNO?

A

Raise the bar to making quality wines for the participating wineries.

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28
Q

Name the 3 main types of Chile’s regions.

A
  1. Costa
  2. Entre Cordillera
  3. Andes
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29
Q

Name an excellent Chilean vintage.

A

2020

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30
Q

What is Chile’s core white variety?

A

SB

31
Q

Describe a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile

A
  1. Citrus and tropical flavors with
  2. Underlying salinity

Mineral-driven styles akin to France’s Loire Valley
* Atacama
* Limari
* Maule

Fruit-forward style (like SB in SA)
* Colchagua,
* Casablanca
* Leyda valleys

32
Q

How does Wine Folly describe a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc?

A
  1. High aromatic
  2. Zippy acidity
  3. Citrus: pink grapefruit
  4. Stone: white peach
  5. Herbacious: green pea, lemon grass
  6. Other: freshly wetted concrete
33
Q

What was originally planted instead of Sauvignon Blanc?

A

SB was actually Sauvignonasse, aka
* Sauvignon Vert
* Tocai Friulan

Real SB now planted: quality / demand is rising

34
Q

Where is the the best SB grown in Chile?

A

Aconcagua - all four areas
1. Casablanca Valley with Char
2. San Antonio Valley with Char
3. Leyda Valley with Char
4. Alconcagua Valley - intriguing

Coquimbo
1. Elqui: small, sun-protected steep valleys

35
Q

How much SB is planted?

A

Second most planted variety
35,000 acres in Central and Coastal regions

36
Q

Is SB from Chile closer to Hawke’s Bay or Sancerre?

A

Chile SB is a mix of both

37
Q

What is the flavour profile of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon?

A
  1. Floral: violets
  2. Black fruit: ripe black cherry
  3. Herbacious: capsicum
  4. Oak: baking spices
38
Q

What is the difference between mint and eucalyptus?

A

Mint: sweet
Eucalyptus: medicinal

39
Q

How much CS is planted in Chile?

A

CS: most planted variety

40
Q

What is Chile’s niche grape?

A

Carmenère

41
Q

Describe the climate of Elqui and Limari Valley

A

Arid: less than 1 inch of rainfall a year
* Lack of water is a challenge
* Irrigation essential but expensive

Day-to-night temperature shift is
about 60ºF/16.1ºC (unique on earth)

Brillian sunshine, marked cooling influences, high altitude, some vineyards at high altitudes

42
Q

What wines are made in Elqui Valley?

A
  1. SB - slightly richer, creamier style
  2. Chardonnay
  3. Syrah - dense yet light

Lesser: PX, Muscat

43
Q

Describe the 3 climate zones in the Elqui Valley.

A

COASTAL: with morning fog and less extreme temperature shifts

MID VALLEY: with large temperature swings (this is also called diurnal shift) and 330 days of sun a year

ANDES: with high elevation vineyards, up to 7000 feet (2133 m)

44
Q

What wines are made in Limari Valley?

A
  1. SB - slightly richer, creamier style
    2.** Chardonnay**
  2. Syrah - dense yet light

Lesser: PN, Muscat

45
Q

Name 3 top producers in the Elqui and Limari Valleys.

A

Mayu– Italian winemaker making range of styles
Tabali– top level producer for Pinot Noir and Chard
Maycas del Limari– coastal outpost for Concha Y Toro

46
Q

What grapes are grown in the Acongua Valley?

A

WSET3: CS, Syrah, Carmenère
PN, SB, Char

47
Q

Describe the climate of the Aconcagua Valley

A

Steep sided, narrow, some cooling from ocean and Andes
One of the hottiest, driest regions in Chile
Pioneered Syrah
North of Santiago

48
Q

What are the recommended wines of Ancongua?

A

Syrah and other red blends

49
Q

Name some top producers from Aconcagua.

A

Errazuriz– large historic estate with modern
vision. Rich mountain reds with cooler
coastal whites.

50
Q

Describe Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys.

A

First vines in 1982 (Concha y Toro)

Similar to Carneros in California with a cool marine influence – morning fogs

PN, Char and SB
* Syrah and Merlot recently added

Casablanca: excellent SB and PN

51
Q

Describe the Leyda Valley

A

Relatively new DO: established reputation for high-quality wines

  • SB, Pinot Noir, Syrah
52
Q

Describe a SB from Leyda or Casablanca.

A

Citrus: lime
Tropical: honeydew
Herbal notes
Other: chalk, salinity, smoke

Closer (in style) to Loire than NZ:
* Less sweet fruit
* Leaner, more crystalline structure

53
Q

Describe Maipo Valley’s geography

A

The valley follows the Maipo river valley to the south of Santiago out to the Pacific Ocean

Receives cooling winds from the ocean and has a much more Mediterranean climate.

Sandy soils with gravel top soils

Napa Valley of Chile – most famous

Most bodegas HQ

54
Q

What are the most important parts of the Maipo Valley?

A

Alto Maipo are at the base of the Andes
Towns: Pirque and Puente Alto

Full-bodied red blends like CS from Napa

55
Q

Name a top producer in the Maipo Valley

A

Concha y Toro’s “Don Melchor” vineyard (largest producer in Chile)

56
Q

Name the 4 subregions of the Rapel Valley

A
  1. Cachapoal
  2. Colchagua
  3. Curicó
  4. Maule
57
Q

What grapes are grown in Colchagua?

A

Cab/Mer, Carmenère, Syr
Chard

58
Q

What grapes are grown in Cachapoal?

A

Cab/Mer, Carmenère, Syrah
Big area, close to Santiago

59
Q

What grapes are grown in Curicó?

A

Cab/Mer
Slightly cooler and wetter so SB
Miguel Torrès, 1970’s

60
Q

What grapes are grown in the Maule Valley?

A

Cab/Mer, Carignan, Paìs

61
Q

Describe the Maule Valley

A

Largest producing valley

Wettest of all four subregions

Very diverse geography

Kendall Jackson has winery here

62
Q

Describe Carignan

A

High number of century-old vines

Dry farming, horse plowing

Red fruit:
Grilled plum, dried cranberry
Pungent: white pepper
Baking spices: nutmeg
Other: iron,

Acid - heightened
Body - medium
Deep concentration

63
Q

Describe Itata

A

Mediterranean climate
High rainfall
Cab/Merlot, Chardonnday

64
Q

Describe Bio Bio

A

Moderate Mediterranean climate
Strong winds/less sunshine
Longer growing seasons
Riesling & Gewurztraminer

65
Q

Describe Malleco

A

Moderate Mediterranean climate
High rainfall
PN / Char

66
Q

What kind of climate does Chile have?

WSET3

A

Warm mediterreanean

67
Q

What does Chile’s dry, sunny growing season ensure?

WSET3

A

Reliable ripening
Fungal diseases kept to mimimum

68
Q

How can a lack of rain be mitigated?

A

Irrigation, but increasingly short supplies.

69
Q

What is the climate like in the southern regions?

A

Cooler and wetter

70
Q

What does El Niño cause?

A

Increased rain

71
Q

What does La Niña cause?

A

Drier weather

72
Q

Name 2 factors that cool Chile.

A
  1. Humboldt current. Winds cooled by this current blow east and moderate. The effect is stronger where the mountains are lower
  2. Cold air that descends from the Andes mountains overnight
73
Q
A