Wset Level 3 - Chapter 36 Chile

Front 1

Over which area range Chile's vineyards?

Back 1

over an area that covers more than 900 km from north to south

BUT

rarely more than 100 km from east to west

Front 2

Which are the key geographical features?

Back 2

1. to the west is Pacific Ocean

2. just inland are the coastal mountain ranges

3. to the east are the Andes

4. north of Santiago two ranges tend to merge, but south of the capital is large depression between the two mountain ranges that is called Central Valley

Front 3

What causes the gaps in the Coastal Range?

Back 3

River valleys that drain the water from the Andes

Front 4

General climate

Back 4

warm Mediterranean.

Front 5

weather conditions

Back 5

The dry, sunny growing season - grapes can ripen reliably and the is a low risk of fungal diseases.

short in rainfall in many places - irrigation necessary however water supply is short.

Front 6

In which regions conditions become cooler and wetter?

Back 6

In the Southern Regions

Front 7

What are El nino and La nina?

Back 7

Weather patterns that can affect Chile's regions in some years.

El nino - rainfall levels can dramatically increase

La nina - drought

This cyclical weather phenomenon is experienced throughout Pacific

Front 8

What is a common feature that moderates temperatures on the western and eastern areas along the north-south axis?

Back 8

The cold Humboldt Current (flows up from Antarctica along the Chilean coast) prevailing winds blow cool air inland along the river valleys.

In the areas close to the coast it also include fog

Front 9

Where is the cooling effect of this winds strongest?

Back 9

In the areas where the coastal mountains are at their lowest, and in the parts of the valleys that lie close to the Pacific

Front 10

What cause another cooling effect in the vineyards in the foothills of Andes?

Back 10

cold air that descends from the mountains overnight and can cause a large diurnal temperature range

Front 11

How is climate between the two mountain ranges?

Back 11

Is more sheltered and the large expanses of flat land are easier to cultivate.

Front 12

These two cooling influences are the reason for...

Back 12

new labelling terms introduced in 2012

Front 13

What kind of grape growing is largely practised?

Back 13

Sustainable and organic

Front 14

Which is the most planted variety of either colour?

Back 14

Cabernet Sauvignon

Front 15

Style of Cabernet Sauvignon?

Back 15

Variety of styles

FROM simple and fruity

TO full-bodied premium examples.

This wines usually have very ripe black fruit aromas and flavours often with a herbaceous character

Front 16

Which grapes are frequently blended with Cabernet Sauvignon?

Back 16

Merlot, Carmenere or Syrah

Front 17

Inexpensive Merlot

Back 17

medium-bodied and fruity; very successful on export markets;

but fuller bodied and more complex examples are also found

Front 18

Carmenere characteristic

Back 18

is late ripening variety that is most successful in the warmest and sunniest sites.

usually: full-bodied, high tannins.

a balance between black fruit and herbal aromas.

Front 19

Carmenere if not fully ripe

Back 19

can have overtly herbaceous aromas

Front 20

Syrah

Back 20

planted in a wide variety of sites and comes in a variety of styles.

From cooler coastal regions as Elqui Valley lighter in body with peppery nose

From hotter climate as Colchagua Valley great intensity of black fruit flavour and fuller bodied.

Front 21

Pinot Noir

Back 21

Showing considerable promise in cooler parts such as the San Antonio and Casablanca Valleys.

Front 22

White variety domination

Back 22

Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay

Front 23

Where Sauvignon Blanc performs particularly well?

Back 23

In cooler vineyards such as those of the Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys, which yield excellent wines with high acidity and intense fruit flavour.

Front 24

the flavours of this Sauvignons

Back 24

ripe apple, citrus and tropical flavours,

sometimes herbaceous notes.

Some have richness and texture from less stirring and oak

Front 25

Styles of Chardonnay

Back 25

To date, most have been made in a modern international style with ripe fruit and oak

The Limari Chardonnay with structure, elegance and restraint (together with Aconcagua and Casablanca)

Front 26

Which is the third most planted variety?

Back 26

Muscat of Alexandria

Front 27

What for is that mainly used?

Back 27

For production of the grape brandy Pisco

Front 28

What are other whites planted?

Back 28

Small plantings of aromatic varieties such as Viognier, Riesling and Gewurztraminer (making fresh fruity wines from cool regions such as Bio Bio and Itata Valleys)

Front 29

Coquimbo region location

Back 29

borders onto the Atacama Desert and is currently the most northern region.

Front 30

Name the three sub-regions of Coquimbo Region?

Back 30

Elqui Valley

Limari Valley

Choapa Valley

Front 31

quantity vs quality

Back 31

Platings are relatively small compared to the south but the quality tends to be high

Front 32

All three valley have slightly different features but they all benefit from...

Back 32

brilliant sunshine and marked cooling influences either from sea breezes or mountain air.

Some vineyards are now being planted at very high altitudes

Front 33

What is the biggest challenge of Coquimbo region?

Back 33

Lack of water, irrigation is essential but expensive cause water supplies are very low

Front 34

What for is known Elqui Valley?

Back 34

Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah

Front 35

What for is known Limari Valley?

Back 35

Chardonnay

Front 36

Aconcagua Region

Back 36

well known, but the second smallest wine region

Front 37

Three sub-regions of Aconcagua region

Back 37

1. Aconcagua Valley

2. The Casablanca

3.San Antonio Valley

Front 38

The Aconcagua Valley

Back 38

Step sided narrow valley that enjoys some cooling influences from the ocean and the Andes

The classic red wine area

Front 39

Which vineyards offer some of the warmest growing conditions in Chile?

Back 39

On the fertile floor between the coastal mountain range and the Andes

Front 40

Which grape is the most planted?

Back 40

Cabernet Sauvignon, although in recent years Syrah gain good reputation as well as Carmenere

Front 41

reds traditionally

Back 41

had rich, ripe fruit flavours;

high abv and tannins

Front 42

red in recent years

Back 42

producers try to reduce abv levels and find more freshness and complex fruit flavours.

As a result, plantings are less focused on the fertile valley floor and have spread either onto the slopes or towards the coast.

Front 43

Which similar characteristic share Casablanca and San Antonio Valley

Back 43

- they are two neighbouring regions

-very varied areas that offer a host of different soils and aspects

- lie between the coastal mountains and the Pacific

-offer growers noticeably cooler sites thanks to morning fogs and afternoon winds that blow in off the ocean

Front 44

Which varieties dominate in Casablanca and San Antonio?

Back 44

White ones.

Sauvignon, Chardonnay

Front 45

Where Sauvignon Blanc gained particularly great reputation?

Back 45

In San Antonio Valleys and is cooler Leyda Valley

Front 46

Which is the most planted black variety?

Back 46

Pinot Noir - can produce wines with red berry fruit and herbal notes in the coolest sites.

Front 47

Where is Syrah particularly successful?

Back 47

In Casablanca Valley where is planted in the warmer sites in the east, giving well-structured wines with a peppery edge.

Front 48

Where is Central Valley region?

Back 48

Runs south from the Santiago to the sub-region of Itata Valley.

Front 49

Central Valley climate

Back 49

warm

Front 50

Is the place of the majority of Chilean vineyards?

Back 50

Yes

Front 51

Why?

Back 51

Because grapes ripen easily and a lot of production is focused on inexpensive fruity wines often made from Merlot or Chardonnay

Front 52

Central Valley's sub-regions

Back 52

1. Maipo Valley

2. Rapel Valley

a)Cachapoal Valley

b)Colchagua Valley

3. Curico Valley

4. Maule Valley

Front 53

Which of this sub-regions is the classic heartland of the Chilean industry?

Back 53

The Maipo Valley

Front 54

Why?

Back 54

Due to its proximity to Santiago

Front 55

The Maipo Valley location

Back 55

is almost completely surrounded by mountains and very little coastal influence reaches the main grape growing area to the south of the capital

Front 56

Where are located many premium sites?

Back 56

In the foothills of Andes

Front 57

How are they cooled?

Back 57

By the descending mountainous air, lending elegance and structure to the reds

Front 58

Maipo Valley has a reputation for...

Back 58

Cabernet Sauvignon that can often have a particularly minty character

Front 59

The Rapel Valley is divided into...

Back 59

Cachapoal Valley and Colchagua Valley

Front 60

Cachapoal Valley climate

Back 60

is a warm zone cut off from the ocean breezes.

Front 61

What is planted in Cachapoal?

Back 61

Carmenere ripens well on the valley floors;

Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah perform well in the cooler eastern end of the valley

Front 62

Colchagua Valley compared to Cachapoal?

Back 62

Is larger and more varied.

Front 63

Its climate

Back 63

The central part is warm and open to some ocean influence

Front 64

What is it known for?

Back 64

Full-bodied reds, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and also Syrah and Carmenere

Front 65

What happened when an area has expanded?

Back 65

More vineyards started to be planted on the valley slopes, and some areas, as ex. Apalta, have gained a premium reputation

Front 66

Which cooling influence becomes greater further to the west?

Back 66

Pacific influence - some high-quality whites can be produced.

Front 67

What forms the southern end of Central Valley?

Back 67

Curico Valley and Maule Valley

Front 68

They are the most important source of...

Back 68

inexpensive blended reds and whites

Front 69

why?

Back 69

because have warm climate and fertile soils

Front 70

Which vineyards are cooler?

Back 70

In Maule Valley - thanks to that wines retain a higher acidity which can be a useful ingredient in the blend.

Front 71

An increased effort has to be made to exploit...

Back 71

the wealth of dry-farmed, old vines that exists within the western hills of this region

Front 72

Which grape has become star variety?

Back 72

Carignan - full-bodied, intensely concentrated wines from ancient low-yielding bush vines.

Front 73

Southern Region's sub-regions

Back 73

1. Itata Valley

2. Bio Bio Valley

3. Malleco Valley

Front 74

Climate of this vineyards?

Back 74

become noticeably cooler and wetter the further south they are located.

Front 75

Which plantings dominate in Itata and Bio Bio?

Back 75

Pais and Muscat of Alexandria - resulting output is mainly consumed locally

Front 76

Bio Bio started to show great promise to...

Back 76

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and aromatic varieties

(interest for high-quality white and black for their acidity and aromatic qualities)

Front 77

Malleco Valley

Back 77

is the smallest and the most southerly region.

Small plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - but becomes increasingly attracting