Chile

Question 1

What is the prominent mountain range in Chile?

Answer 1

The Andes

Question 2

What are the six regional DO’s of Chile?

Answer 2

Atacama
Coquimbo
Aconcagua
Valle Central (Central Valley)
Sur (the Southern Regions)
Austral Region: A new area at the southernmost limit of grapegrowing in the country.

Question 3

What does DO stand for?

Answer 3

Denominations of Origin

Question 4

What are the northernmost regions of Atacama and Coquimbo like in climate?

Answer 4

Dry and desert-like

Question 5

Grapes planted in Atacama and Coquimbo are most commonly used in production of what?

Answer 5

Pisco

Question 6

Whereare are all of the “better” vineyards located?

Answer 6

The Central Valley south of Santiago

Question 7

What influences make the Central Valley so prime for grapes?

Answer 7

Closer proximity to the Andes provides cooler nighttime temperatures and along the coast the Humbolt Current cools the vines.

Question 8

Where are the Coastal Mountains?

Answer 8

Between the Central Valley and the Pacific.

Question 9

How does Humbolt current keep the vines cool?

Answer 9

Pushes cool, sea air inland through the river valleys

Question 10

Is there irrigation in Central Valley and Aconcagua?

Answer 10

yes.

Question 11

What is common about the more southern regions and there climate?

Answer 11

The growing season is cooler and shorter and there is a little more rain.

Question 12

In what year was the Chilean wine law established?

Answer 12

1995

Question 13

What did Chilean wine law establish?

Answer 13

The 75% rule, where if a grape, DO or vintage is listed on the label then it must contain 75% of it.

Question 14

What is the common % that producers go by for the rule?

Answer 14

85% to comply with EU standards for export.

Question 15

Are hybrid grapes allowed?

Answer 15

No

Question 16

What is the Min alc content for Chile?

Answer 16

11.5%

Question 17

What do the Reserva and Reserva Especial stand for?

Answer 17

A req. 12% abv

Question 18

What do the Reserva Privada and Gran Reserva labels refer to?

Answer 18

Min of 12.5% above and mandatory time in oak.

Question 19

What are Chile’s main red and white grapes?

Answer 19

Cabernet Sauvignon
Pais
Merlot
Carmenere
Syrah
Pinot and Cabernet Franc

Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Vert
Chardonnay
Semillon

Question 20

What are the Muscat of Alexandria planting mostly used for?

Answer 20

Pisco distillation

Question 21

What % of Acerage in Chile is planted to red?

Answer 21

73%

Question 22

What is the northernmost region in Chile?

Answer 22

Atacama

Question 23

What is the climate like in Atacama

Answer 23

Desert-like and vines can only exist with irrigation.

Question 24

What are the three sub-regions of Coquimbo?

Answer 24

Valle del Elqui
Valle del Limari
Valle del Choapa

Question 25

What two sub-regions in Coquimbo are beginning to be known for their wines?

Answer 25

Valle del Elqui | Valle del Limari (acres of vineyards have dramatically increased since the 1990's)

Question 26

What grape is garnering attention in the Elqui Valley?

Answer 26

Syrah - in the high, cool altitude vineyards.

Question 27

What are the characteristics of Limari subregion of Coquimbo?

Answer 27

It is more coastal, has limestone soils

Question 28

Where is the Valle del Choapa located?

Answer 28

In the south of the region of Coquimbo, where the Andes and the Coastal mountains converge.

Question 29

From where does the Acocongua DO get it's name?

Answer 29

Aconcagua River

Question 30

Which direction does the Aconcagua river flow?

Answer 30

From east to west - into the Pacific.

Question 31

What is the predominant soil type in the Aconcagua DO?

Answer 31

Alluvial - Aconcagua runs along the river. Dominated by Cabernet and Merlot.

Question 32

What is the majority of the climate like in the Aconcagua?

Answer 32

Most of the valley is distressingly hot for viticulture.

Question 33

What is the one commune in Aconcagua that is a little cooler?

Answer 33

Panquehue - home to the winery Errázuriz, one of Chile’s most prominent estates and winemaking families, experiences a more moderate climate.

Question 34

What kind of wines are the Errazuriz wine estate known for?

Answer 34

Bordeaux blend called “Seña” in 2004 tasted ahead of both Lafite and Margaux in Berlin.

Question 35

What are the other DO's in Aconcagua?

Answer 35

Casablanca | San Antonio

Question 36

Where are they located in relation to Aconcagua?

Answer 36

South and closer to the coast, therefore a little cooler?

Question 37

Since Casablanca and San Antonio are closet to the coast, what are they known for?

Answer 37

White! Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

Question 38

What grape shows promise in San Antonio?

Answer 38

Pinot Noir

Question 39

What are the four sub-regions of San Antonio?

Answer 39

Leyda Lo Abarca Rosario Malvilla

Question 40

What is Chile's oldest and most established wine making region?

Answer 40

Central Valley DO

Question 41

From North to South what are the subregions of Central Valley DO?

Answer 41

Maipo Valley Rapel Valley Curicó Maule Valley

Question 42

What is Chile's most famous winemaking DO?

Answer 42

Maipo Valley - 50% in planted with Cabernet. Merlot, Carmenere and Chardonnay.

Question 43

Who is Chile's largest producer?

Answer 43

Concha y Toro

Question 44

What are some of the other well-known producers in Maipo Valley?

Answer 44

Because Maipo id closer to Santiago. Santa Rita, and Cousiño Macul

Question 45

Why is Cabernet so successful in the Maipo?

Answer 45

Does well on the well-drained slopes of the Andes.

Question 46

What is a famous sub-region of Maipo that produces Cabernet?

Answer 46

Puente Alto

Question 47

What was the venture called between Cancha y Toro and Mouton-Rothschild?

Answer 47

Almaviva

Question 48

What took home 1st place in the '04 Berlin tasting?

Answer 48

Errázuriz’s “Viñedo Chadwick”

Question 49

The Rapel Valley is divided into two regions, what are they?

Answer 49

Chachapoal Valley | Colchagua Valley

Question 50

What kinds of wines is the Colchagua Valley known for?

Answer 50

Historically bulk wine production, but in the recent years producers have found luck in producing higher quality wines from eastern, higher alt vineyards with greater di-urnal shift.

Question 51

What kind of soils does Colchagua have?

Answer 51

Very fertile soils and in located south of Cachapoal in the more central part of the valley.

Question 52

What kind of climate does Colchagua have?

Answer 52

Warm

Question 53

What are the to sub-regions of Colchagua that are having success with premium wines?

Answer 53

San Fernando Chimbarongo Alpata

Question 54

What two famous wines are produced in Alpata, Colchaqua?

Answer 54

Casa Lapostolle’s “Clos Apalta” and Viña Montes “Alpha M,” two of Chile’s iconic Bordeaux-style blends. Viña Montes also produces “Purple Angel,” one of Chile’s highest-profile Carmenère varietal wines.

Question 55

Is Maule smaller or larger than the Maipo valley?

Answer 55

larger.

Question 56

What kind of wines are produced in the Maule Valley?

Answer 56

Cabernet just recently overtook Pais in production - mostly bulk wines.

Question 57

What kind of wines are produced in Curico?

Answer 57

Cabernet is dominate but chard and Sauvignon too.

Question 58

Why did Curico get recognition?

Answer 58

Lontué and Teno, achieved some international recognition when Miguel Torres set up Chilean operations here in the late 1970s.

Question 59

What was Carmenere confused with before they did testing?

Answer 59

Merlot

Question 60

What are the grapes of Malleco?

Answer 60

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Question 61

Name the four sub-regions of Central Valley DO.

Answer 61

Valle de Maipo DO Valle de Rapel DO Valle de Curico DO Valle de Maule DO

Question 62

What is the river in Maipo Valley?

Answer 62

Maipo River.