Chile Flashcards
Today, Chile is the only major winemaking country to remain totally phylloxera-free; in the late 1800s the country was able to capitalize on Europe’s vineyard devastation and a large domestic consumption to advance its own industry. True or False
True
Ampelographical research determined that much of Chile’s Sauvignon Blanc was actually____ , or ____, and a significant portion of the country’s Merlot turned out to be Carmenère, the sixth “lost” grape of Bordeaux.
Sauvignon Vert or Friulano
Chile stretches for nearly 3000 miles up the west coast of South America, separated from the remainder of the continent by the ________. Viticulture occupies around 800 of these coastal miles, with most major regions of production to the south of the capital city, _______.
Andes Mountains; Santiago
From north to south, the six regional Denominations of Origin (DOs) in Chile are?
Atacama Coquimbo Aconcagua The Valle Central (Central Valley) Sur (the Southern Regions), and Austral Region-a new area at the southernmost limit of grapegrowing in Chile
Leading grape varieties in Chile after ____ and ___ include Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc (and Sauvignon Vert), Chardonnay, Carmenère, Syrah, Sémillon, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc. Muscat of Alexandria retains a large share of plantings, but the grape is used chiefly for distillation.
Cabernet Sauvignon; País
Red grapes account for approximately 73% of the total acreage in Chile.
Chilean wine law, established in 1995, instituted the __% rule: vintage, varietal, and denomination of origin must, if listed on the bottle, comprise a minimum __% of the blend.
75%; 75%
Many wineries observe the EU standards of __% minimum for all three categories, to comply for export. Only permitted varietals may be used, hybrid grapes are forbidden. Chilean law requires all wines to show a minimum alcohol content of __%. Wines labeled Reserva and Reserva Especial must have a minimum __% abv, Wines labeled Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva require a minimum __% abv. In addition, Reserva Especial and Gran Reserva wines spend mandatory time in oak.
85%; All Chilean Wines-11.5% Reserva & Reserva Especial-12% *Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva-12.5% *spend mandatory time in oak
In Atacama, the northernmost winegrowing region in Chile, viticulture is only possible through irrigation, and the region’s wines are generally distilled. Pisco and table grape production is also prominent in Coquimbo, but the region’s two northern valleys—___and ___—are starting to develop a reputation for their wines, and vineyard acreage devoted to noble grapes has dramatically increased since the 1990s. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted grape in both regions, but Syrah is gaining attention in the regions’ cool, high-altitude vineyards. Coquimbo’s third subregion, Choapa, is located in a narrow area to the south, where the Andes and Coastal Mountains converge.
Elqui and Limarí
The Aconcagua DO takes its name from the ___River, rather than the nearby Argentinean peak—the highest mountain in the Americas. The sunny, dry Aconcagua Valley subregion follows the river as it flows from the Andes to the Pacific. Soils in the Aconcagua Valley are generally alluvial, and red grapes dominate the valley’s vineyards, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Aconcagua River
Although much of the valley is distressingly hot for grape-growing, the commune of Panquehue, home to Errázuriz, one of Chile’s most prominent estates and winemaking families, experiences a more moderate climate. Errázuriz’s “Seña,” an iconic Bordeaux-style blend and one of the premier reds of Chile, placed ahead of both Château Lafite and Château Margaux in the 2004 Berlin Tasting—a milestone for the Chilean wine industry likened to the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris.
A
Aconcagua DO’s other subregions—Casablanca and San Antonio—are located along the coast, and are among Chile’s coolest new winemaking zones, in stark contrast to the heat of the interior Aconcagua Valley. With a relatively short history, Casablanca has become the Aconcagua DO’s most prominent zone of production and one of Chile’s most exciting areas for fresh, crisp and fruity Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The emerging area of San Antonio is directly south of Casablanca, and is divided into four subzones: Leyda, Lo Abarca, Rosario, and Malvilla. Like Casablanca, San Antonio is predominantly a white wine region, with Pinot Noir also showing promising results.
A
The Central Valley DO, located between the Andes and the hills and ranges along the coast, is Chile’s oldest and most established winemaking region. From north to south, the DO’s subregions are?
Maipo Valley
Rapel Valley
Curicó
Maule Valley
The warm Maipo Valley is Chile’s most famous winemaking area, and the classic region in the country for ____. Over 50% of the region’s more than 10,000 hectares are devoted to the grape, followed by Merlot, Chardonnay and Carmenère. Due to its proximity to Santiago, many of Chile’s established houses are based in the region, including Concha y Toro (Chile’s largest producer), Santa Rita, and Cousiño Macul.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet thrives on the well-drained, low slopes of the Andes, and some of Chile’s most premium red wines issue from the subregion of Puente Alto, such as Concha y Toro’s “Don Melchor” and Errázuriz’s “Viñedo Chadwick” Cabernet Sauvignon varietal wines, and “Almaviva”, a joint project between Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Mouton-Rothschild) and Concha y Toro. The 2000 “Viñedo Chadwick” took first place in the 2004 Berlin Tasting.
A
The Rapel Valley, divided into Cachapoal and Colchagua, is located to the south of Maipo. Although Cabernet Sauvignon’s position as the leading grape in both regions is firmly secure, Carmenère is growing in importance, and may soon eclipse Merlot as the valley’s second most cultivated grape. Colchagua is the larger, central portion of the valley, and is characterized by a warm climate and fertile soils.
A
