Chile Flashcards
topography of chile
4240km long / 150km wide
wine area is central, bounded between Pacific and Andes
(costa / entre cordillera / andes)
Coastal hill running north to south between plains and Andes
main varieties in chile
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Merlot
Carmenere (nationl grape)
Syrah
Main regions in Chile
Atacama
Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Valle Central
Sur
Austral
min % of grapes when location is stated
85%
Atacama DO
most northerly
dry, hot, Desert
Table grapes + wine for distillation into spirits and Pisco
Coquimbo DO
proximity to Atlantic + altitude mitigates climate
3 sub-regions:
- Elqui valley
- Limari Valley (all chile’s varieties)
- Choapa Valley (syrah/cab sav)
Aconcagua DO
named after Aconcagua River
3 main sub-regions:
- Valle de Aconcagua: some of Chile’s best Cab Sav and Syrah (Erraruriz)
- Valle Casablanca: best chardonnay and Sauvgmnon Blanc
(ocean mist drops temperature prolonging growing season) - Sant Antonio: morning sea-mist prolong growing season
excellent Sauvignon Blanc , Pinot Noir
Valle Central DO
4 main sub-regions:
- Maipo Valley (santiago): Cab Sauvignon
- Rapel Valley:
Valle de Cachapoal / Valle de Colchagua
Cab Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere
- Curico Valley (Cab Sauvignon / Sauv Blanc)
- Maule Valley:
(Chile’s largest region)
Cab Sav / Merlot / Carmenere / Pais (30% plantings, local)
Sur DO
Valle del Bio / Valle del Malleco
Difficult climate: strong winds, frost, heavy rainfall, short growing season
Pais / Sauvignon Blanc / Chardonnay / Pinot Gris / Muscat d’Alexandria
Region de Nuble’
Muscat d’Alexandria / Pais
3 sub-regions:
Itata Valley / Diquillin / Pumilla
Region de Austral
most southerly + proximity to Ocean and Humbolt current = Coolest region
2 sub-regions:
- Cautin Valley
- Osorno Valley
