Chile

Front 1

What geographical feature shape Chile’s vineyard area?

Back 1

The pacific to the west and the Andes mountains to the east.

Front 2

What does the Central Valley refer to?

Back 2

Where the Andes develops a depression between the two ranges. This occurs south of Santiago.

Front 3

What’s the overall climate of Chile?

Back 3

Warm Mediterranean

Front 4

What are the weather patterns that can effect Chile’s vineyards?

Back 4

El Niño and La Niña. Rainfall can increase drastically in El Niño years and drought can occur in La Niña years.

Front 5

What are the two noted cooling influences of the vineyard areas?

Back 5

The Humboldt Current, and resulting winds blow onto the costal sites. Inland at the foot of the Andes, cold air descends overnight resulting in a large diurnal range.

Front 6

What’s Chile’s GI labelling laws?

Back 6

Chile’s vineyards are divided into Denominaciones de Origen (DOs) with four principal regions; Coquimbo, Aconcagua, Central Valley and Southern Region.

Front 7

What is the 2012 further degree of classification to these labelling laws?

Back 7

New classifications according to the vineyards distance from the coast. They are Costa (for coastal areas), Entre Cordilleras (the areas between the mountain ranges) and Andes (mountain areas).

Front 8

What’re the black grape varieties here?

Back 8

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Carmenère.

Front 9

What’re the white grape varieties here?

Back 9

Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

Front 10

Where’s the Coquimbo region located? What’re the sub-regions here?

Back 10

The Coquimbo region is the north-most growing region of Chile. The sub-regions are the Elqui Valley, Limarí Valley and then Choapa Valley.

Front 11

What’re the influencing climatic factors in the Coquimbo Region?

Back 11

The region enjoys vast sunshine, moderated by cooling ocean breezes and altitude. Lack of water is the biggest challenge here, with irrigation being essential.

Front 12

Where’s the Aconcagua Region located? What’re the sub-regions here?

Back 12

The Aconcagua Region is south of the Coquimbo Region and contains the Casablanca Valley, San Antonio Valley and Leyda Valley.

Front 13

What are the climactical influences in the Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys?

Back 13

Sites here lie between the pacific and the costal mountains. This offers cooler growing conditions from the morning fogs and afternoon winds provided by the ocean.

Front 14

What varieties is the Aconcagua Valley known for?

Back 14

As it is cooler here, the plantings of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay enjoy the highest reputation for whites, and Pinot Noir and Syrah are the most successful black varieties.

Front 15

What are the sub-regions of the Central Valley?

Back 15

Maipo Valley, Cachapoal Valley, Colchagua Valley, Curicó Valley and Maule Valley.

Front 16

What is the vineyard area like in the Central Valley?

Back 16

Protected by mountains, this area sees very little costal influence. A lot of production is from the flats, where grapes can ripen reliably and easily.

Front 17

Where are the more premium sites of the Central Valley located?

Back 17

On the foothills, which are cooled by deciding air. Producing an elegant and structured style.

Front 18

How does the climate of the Central Valley differ further south?

Back 18

Here we start to see less protection from the sea, as such white varieties are favoured?

Front 19

That being said, what are for Curicó and Maule Valley’s know for?

Back 19

Predominantly inexpensive blended red and white wines made on the fertile soils.

Front 20

Talk through the southern region’s climate and varieties?

Back 20

Further south is cooler and wetter than the rest of the region. Plantings are dominated by País and Muscat of Alexandria, mostly for local consumption.