Chile

Question 1

Describe a typical sparkling wine from Chile

Answer 1

• Tank method = 90% –> primary fruit
• Brut or Extra Dry
• Chard, PN, Sauvignon Blanc
• Inexpensive - mid-priced
• Acceptable to VG

Question 2

Describe the regions where most sparkling wine is grown?

Answer 2

• Coastal areas e.g. Casabalnca, Leyda, Limari, Curico
• Andean foothills
• Far south e.g. Itata, Bio Bio (also influence by Ocean)
• Cheap fruit from warm Central Valley

Question 3

When are grapes for sparkling wine harvested?

Answer 3

• early Feb to early March

- several weeks before regular harvest –> acid and sugar

Question 4

Which grapes are used in the production of Chilean sparkling and what styles are the used for?

Answer 4

Chard - tank
PN - trad
SB - tank
Moscatel - trad
Pais - BdN or rosé

Question 5

Which is the only sparkling wine producing region not to use irrigation?

Answer 5

Itata

Question 6

Which region is cheap sparkling wine usually from?

Answer 6

Blend from multiple regions with many grapes from Central Valley

Question 7

Describe the structure of production.

Answer 7

Dominated by a few, large companies e.g. Valdivieso, Vina Mar, Undurraga

Question 8

Where is sparkling wine sold?

Answer 8

Domestic - 2/3 of sales with most sparkling wines sold in Chile made domestically

Exports - 1/3 - Japan, Columbia, Brazil