WSET 3 Chile

Question 1

What it the term in Chile for Wines of Origin?

Answer 1

Denominaciones de Origen (DO)

Question 2

The DO regions in Chile can be subdivided and subdivided again, what are the terms for these subdivisions?

Answer 2

13 Sub Regions
then subdivided into
Zones

Question 3

Introduced in 2012 what are the 3 new terms introduced to describe where a wine is from and what do they mean?

Answer 3

Costa = From near the coast
Entre Cordilleras = Between the (mountain) ranges
Andes = From the mountain area

Question 4

How would you describe the 4 key geographical features of Chile?

Answer 4

i To the West is the Pacific Ocean
ii Just inland are the Coastal Mountain Ranges
iii To the East are the Andes Mountains
iv South of Santiago is a large depression between the two mountain ranges called ‘Central Valley’.

Question 5

How would you describe the climate of Chile?

What is the one risk of the climate?

Answer 5

Generally Warm Mediterranean
Dry, sunny, growing season = Grapes reliably ripen and low fungal risk.
RISK - Drought but in some places water is in short supply

Question 6

What weather is potentially associated with
El Niño
La Niña

Answer 6

El Niño years - Rainfall can be very heavy

La Niña years - Drought may occur

Question 7

What 3 things provides the cooling in Coastal areas and inside much of the Inland Mountain ranges?

Answer 7

The cold Humboldt Current flows up from Antarctica
Prevailing winds blow cool air inland along river valleys
Coastal areas can experience fog

Question 8

What provides the cooling in the foothills of the Andes?

Answer 8

Cold air descends from mountains overnight providing a large diurnal range.

Question 9

Climatically, what are conditions like between the Coastal mountains and the Andes?

Answer 9

More sheltered. Large expanses of flat land that is easier to cultivate

Question 10

Working from North to South what are the 4 main wine producing regions of Chile?

Answer 10

Coquimbo Region
Aconcagua Region
Central Valley Region
Southern Region

Question 11

What 3 sub regions make up Coquimbo Region and what contributes to them making good wine?

Answer 11

Elqui Valley, Limari Valley and Choapa Valley

Brilliant sunshine and marked cooling from sea breezes or mountain air

Question 12

What is a constraint to grape growing in Coquimbo Region?

Answer 12

Irrigation is essential but very expensive due to little of it.

Question 13

Where would you expect to find Chile’s finest Chardonnay?

Answer 13

Limari Valley

Question 14

What 1 white and 1 red wine would you expect from Elqui Valley?

Answer 14

Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah

Question 15

What is the white wine that makes Limari Valley stand out?

Answer 15

Chile’s best Chardonnay

Question 16

What are the 2 sub regions of Aconcagua Valley and what is the renowned Zone within one of the subregions?

Answer 16

Casablanca Valley

San Antonio Valley containing Leyda Valley Zone

Question 17

What factors contribute to Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley being cooled?

Answer 17

They lie between the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Mountains benefitting from morning fogs and afternoon winds from the Ocean

Question 18

Except for the special regions what are growing conditions like in much of Aconcagua Region?
What 3 grapes would you find there?

Answer 18

The vineyards on the fertile valley floor are some of the warmest growing conditions in Chile.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
Carmenère

Question 19

What 2 black and 2 white grapes do well in Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley?

Answer 19

Syrah
Pinot Noir
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay

Question 20

What grape has Leyda Valley gained an excellent reputation for growing?

Answer 20

Sauvignon Blanc

Question 21

What are the 4 main sub regions of the Central Valley Region?

Answer 21

Maipo Valley
Rapel Valley
Curicó Valley
Maule Valley

Question 22

Where are the best vineyards in Maipo Valley located and what are they renowned for producing?

Answer 22

Located in the Andean foothills

A reputation for producing Cabernet Sauvignon with a ‘minty’ character

Question 23

Rapel Valley is subdivided into 2 zones, what are they?

Answer 23

Cachapoal Valley and Colchagua Valley

Question 24

What is the climate like in Cachapoal Valley and Colchagua Valley and what 3 black grapes are largely grown there?

Answer 24

Warm with little cooling although Colchagua valley is slightly cooler.
Carmenére on warm valley floor
Cab Sav and Syrah is cooler parts

Question 25

What are conditions like in Curicó Valley and Maule Valley and what is mainly grown there?

Answer 25

It’s warm and the soils are fertile.

Mainly grapes for bulk red and white blends

Question 26

Which 3 sub regions make up Southern Region?

Answer 26

Itata Valley
Bio Bio Valley
Malleco Valley

Question 27

What is the climate like in Southern region and which grapes perform well there?

Answer 27

Cooler and wetter the further south they are located

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and some aromatic varieties
The region is still in its infancy for wine

Question 28

Roughly speaking how would you describe the climate of Chile?

Answer 28

The climate of Chile is diverse but can be described generally as warm Mediterranean

Question 29

Which region is famed for its Carmenere?

Answer 29

Cachapoal Valley

Question 30

Apalta is a region gaining a strong reputation for its premium wines, where is it located?

Answer 30

Colchagua Valley, on valley slopes

Question 31

How would you describe the climate in Cachapoal Valley?

Answer 31

Warm, surrounded by mountains, no ocean influence

Question 32

How would you describe the climate of Coquimbo region?

Answer 32

Brilliant sunlight, very, very dry

Question 33

How would you describe the climate of Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys?

Answer 33

Cool, between the sea and Coastal mountain ranges.

Question 34

How would you describe the climate of Aconcagua Valley?

Answer 34

Flat, fertile and very warm

Question 35

Which region is developing a reputation for Old Bush Vine Carignan in Chile?

Answer 35

Maule Valley