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X - GB - Continuing Ed: NZ, Australia, SA, Chile, Arg > Week 4 - Chile > Flashcards

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?

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

X - GB - Continuing Ed: NZ, Australia, SA, Chile, Arg (5 decks)

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