28 - Chile

Question 1

Despite eight degrees of latitude, Chile’s climate is fairly consistent across most regions. Describe that climate.

Answer 1

Warm, Mediterranean climate –> growing season length, sunshine, rainfall

Generally low latitude –> intense sunlight, why?

Generally low rainfall - as low as 80mm in Elqui

El Nino phenomenon –> higher than average rainfall every 2-10yrs (reverse is El Nina) –> vintage variation

Question 2

Describe how mountains impact the growing environment of different regions.

Answer 2

Coastal vineyards exposed to cold Humboldt current –> afternoon breeze and morning fog –> e.g. Casablanca

Coastal Ranges 300-800m protect regions inland from this coastal influence –> some gaps in valleys running east-west with western end of valley getting significant cooling

Central Valley between CR and Andes has greater continentality with very dry, hot conditions e.g. Cachapoal Valley

Andes rise up to east - altitude and cold air descending –> plantings in foothills e.g. Aconcagua Andes

Question 3

Which soil types are found in Chile and where?

Answer 3

Alluvial soils - rivers valleys

Gravel –> Coastal ranges

Granite –> Andes

Limestone outcrops –> Limari Valley

Question 4

What are the opportunities and challenges of vineyard management in Chile? (4+, 3-)

Answer 4

+ Sunny, dry, warm climate –> heathy + ripe grapes –> tannin, anthocyanins

+ Dry –> little disease pressure –> cost of sprays, organics

+ Phylloxera free due to Andes and quarantine –> many old, ungrafted vines

+ Lots of flat land –> mechanisation

• Dry conditions require irrigation (85% of vineyards) –> drip or flood –> cost, water availability
• Forest fires –> smoke taint
• Nematodes mean many vines still need to be grafted

Question 5

Name the main exceptions to Chile’s irrigated vineyards

Answer 5

Regions of Bio-Bio and Maule - higher rainfall

Old vines with deep roots

Question 6

What are the challenges with irrigation? (4)

Answer 6

1. Reduction in water availability - less snowmelt due to warming climate, increased evapotranspiration
2. This makes flood irrigation - popular and cheap - less of an option
3. Sloped vineyards must rely on drip irrigation –> expensive, can encourage shallow-rooted vines
4. Regions without rivers must build + maintain aquifers e.g. Casablanca

Question 7

Where in Chile would fungal disease remain an issue?

Answer 7

1. Humid coastal regions
2. Itata and Bio-Bio with higher rainfall

Question 8

What are the seven most widely planted grapes in Chile?

Answer 8

Question 9

Name the style of wine Chile is best known for? How has that been changing?

Answer 9

Cheap, fruity, early-drinking from Cab, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and so on.

Improving quality and price point with a diverse array of grapes including old-vine Pais and aromatic whites plus an array of winemaking techniques

Question 10

Describe the range of styles produced using Cabernet Sauvignon, where the grape is commonly planted and any notable winemaking techniques.

Answer 10

1. Cheap, simple, fruity - planted in Central Valley
2. Complex, age-worthy - planted in Andes foothills –> vigour and ripening
3. Blended with Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah

Question 11

Where is most Chilean Merlot planted? In what style?

Answer 11

Central Valley –> cheap, fruity with med body for export market

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Question 12

Describe the characteristics of Carmenere. Describe its flavour and structure.

Answer 12

Relatively late-ripening - 2-3 weeks after Merlot

Lits warm, sunny sites to avoid too much herbaceousness + underripe tannins

Can easily become too alcoholic, however

Flavour ripe black fruit, herbaceous + oak flavours

Structure med acid, high tannin, full-body (good-VG)

Question 13

Why is the style of Carmenere likely to continue evolving?

Answer 13

More research in clonal selection, site selection and harvesting as well as less extraction and more common usage of oak

Question 14

Give examples of different regions where Syrah is planted and the style produced by each.

Answer 14

1. Cooler e.g. Limari, Elqui
2. Warmer e.g. Colchagua Valley

Question 15

Where is Pinot Noir commonly planted? Very briefly describe the style produced.

Answer 15

Cooler regions –> Casablanca, San Antonia

Red fruit, herbal with med-high ABV

Question 16

Describe the two types of Sauvignon Blanc produced in Chile.

Answer 16

1. HQ wines from cool, coastal regions e.g. Limari and Casablanca –> high acid, citrus - tropical, wet stones, herbaceous
2. Good quality, cheap Central Valley

Question 17

Where is Chardonnay widely planted in Chile?

Answer 17

1. Cool, coastal areas –> Limari - VG with med(+)-high acid, citrus and stone fruit
2. Central Valley - high vol, cheap with tropical fruit

Question 18

What is Chile’s Denominaciones de Origen based on?

Answer 18

Geography w/ minimal winemaking stipulations

Fairly relaxed - >75% of grapes from the region

>11.5% ABV

Question 19

What additional designations exist for Chilean wine?

Answer 19

1. East-West labelling - Costa, Entre Cordilleras, Andes –> can be added to DOs, take up slow
2. Superior, Reserva, Reserva Especial, Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva - indicate increasing min ABVs and requirements for short oak ageing - variable take up

Question 20

Situate Coquimbo and describe the growing conditions. Name the three DOs of the region.

What kind of wine production is it best known for?

Answer 20

Situation most northerly area

Low latitude –> sunlight, summer temps

Humboldt current / mountains

Extremely dry 100mm per year

DOs: Elqui, Limari, Choapa

Wines: previously grapes for Pisco, now small-production premium wines due to remoteness

Question 21

Compare and contrast the growing environments of Elqui and Limari and the styles of wine they produced.

Answer 21

River Valleys allow coastal influence incl morning fog to travel far inland (no coastal mountains) –> Sauvignon Blanc does well in coastal Elqui, Chardonnay in Limari

Altitude influence in the east of each region with vineyards planted up to 2,200m in Elqui (some of the highest in Chile) –> Syrah does well in high altitude Elqui

Soils exceptionally Limari has some calcareous soils –> moisture –> Pinot Noir , Syrah and Chardonnay

Warmer further inland for both valleys –> range of Chardonnay produced in Limari as well as Cab S, Merlot, Carmenere

Question 22

Why is Aconcagua able to produce such a variety of wine styles?

Answer 22

A vast range of growing environments from hot/dry/flat in some parts of Aconcagua Valley through to some of Chile’s coolest vineyards in Casablanca and San Antonio.

Question 23

Describe how the growing environment of Aconcagua Valley changes and how this influences the style of wine produced.

Answer 23

Aconcagua Costa - morning fog/ocean breeze –> Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, cool-climate Syrah

Aconcagua Entre Cordilleras - warm and dry (250mm) –> ripe, full-bodied, high ABV reds esp. Cab S, Merlot, Syrah, Carmenere

Aconcagua Andes - >1000m –> diurnals –> red wine with lower ABV, more acid

Question 24

Why is it possible for central Aconcagua Valley to produce a range of styles?

Answer 24

Valley Floor is warm and dry

Valley sides and far east or west have cooling influences e.g. less direct sunlight, oceanic or altitude –> mid and premium

Question 25

Describe the growing environment and wines of the Casablanca Valley. Briefly compare and contrast San Antonio / Leyda Valley.

Answer 25

Hills to the north and east trap cool, humid air --\> one of Chile's coolest regions Cold nights can lead to spring frost risk Westerly / low lying areas most at risk HQ Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and some Syrah produced **San Antonio** is better protected due to westerly hills --\> Sauvignon Blanc is flagship with high acid, med body, citrus, herbaceous, wet stones

Question 26

Describe the growing environment of the Central Valley and very briefly any distinctive characteristics of its four different sub-regions and the wines that they produce.

Answer 26

**Central Valley** flat, fertile, irrigated plains, mostly cut-off from coastal influence **1. Maipo** completely cut off, eastern Alto Maipo for better quality --\> Cab, Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah **2. Rapel --\>** Cachapoal and Colchagua **Cachapoal** warm, fertile --\> cheap Cab, Carm, Syrah. Good shit from **Peumo** **Colchagua** larger, Andes to coast with most production in warm, fertile centre; hill areas in centre like **Apalta** good for HQ wines as are coastal and Andean foothills **3.** **Curcio Valley** many rivers provide irrigation, large variety of grapes planted for high vol production **4. Maule** mainly high vol but gain rep for HQ wines, slightly cooler and wetter as south, old vine **Pais** and Muscat of Alexandria

Question 27

Using the examples of Puemo, Apalta and Maule, explain how the Central Valley is able to produce HQ wines which sell for premium prices.

Answer 27

**Puemo (Cachapoal)** receives coastal winds due to river valley --\> reduces frost risk and extends growing season --\> perfect for late-ripening Carmenere **Apalta (Colchagua)** hills for a south-facing amphitheatre which catches cool breezes and has poor soils --\> controls vigour and slow ripening of Cab, Surah, Carmenere **Maule** further south so cooler + wetter in winter --\> possible to dry farm + stock of 100-200yr old vines of Pais and Muscat de Alexandria

Question 28

Describe the style of Pais produced in Maule.

Answer 28

Traditionally used for high vol wines for local market HQ from cooler sites and old vines --\> pale, red fruit, spicy, herbal, med acid, med(-)/med tannin but rough --\> gentle extraction e.g. carbonic

Question 29

Which other grape variety is being revived in Maule?

Answer 29

Carignan - VINGO growers association promotes old vines, dry-farmed examples in Cauquenes Red and black fruit, spice, med-high acid and tannin, VG/premium

Question 30

Describe the growing environment of the southern region. Name the DOs and any notable characteristics and styles.

Answer 30

**Coastal influence** due to fewer, lower coastal hills **Rainfall** much higher, up to 1,000mm in Bio Bio --\> fungal disease **Cooler** with temps rarely above 30c **Higher latitude** so longer days during growing season **Itata Valley** 3/4 planted with old bush vines of MdA and Pais plus old-vine Cinsault (med alcohol, fresh acid, red/black fruit, liquorice) + int'l varieties being planted by wineries from north worried about climate change and lack of water **Bio Bio** mix of dry farmed and trad varieties esp. Riesling, Gewurtz, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc Malleco - see above

Question 31

Chile is the world's fourth-largest exporter. What is a key challenge for the country? How is the country responding? (5)

Answer 31

Low average value per unit - only Spain and South Africa are lower 1. Wines of Chile - focus on mid-SP priced wines 2. Free-trade agreements e.g. China (now Chile's largest export market) and MERCOSUR 3. Attempts to focus on unique varieties e.g. Carmenere, Pais 4. FDI from companies such as Robert Mondavi and Sena 5. Movimiento de Viñateros Independientes (MOVI) - grouping of small producers to promote in domestic and export

Question 32

To what extent is Chile's wine production concentrated?

Answer 32

Highly concentrated - 80% produced by four companies incl. Concha y Toro Wineries own large swathes of lang and source grapes from growers

Question 33

Why is disease pressure not as high as it might be in the southern regions?

Answer 33

Despite wet climate strong coastal breezes improve evaporation Enables organic e.g. Emiliana world's largest organic produce