Chile

Question 1

Chile - Factors of Production

Answer 1

• Climate
  
  • Varies immensely from the hot and extraordinarily dry Atacama Desert in the north to the very cool southern regions
  • The icy ocean Humboldt Current brings cool, moist air and fog to the coastal areas.
  • The Coastal Range of mountains creating a rain shadow from Pacific. The inland areas between the Coastal Range and the Andes have a warm to hot Mediterranean climate.
• Topography: Significant variations in altitute
• Grape Varieties: The most vines were brought from Bordeaus in the 1800s
  
  • White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
  • Red (75% planting): Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere (long mistaken for Merlot)
• Viticulture
  
  • Phylloxera does not exist in Chile because of its strict quarantine laws and geographical isolation

Question 2

Chile - Regional Wine Law

Answer 2

• Denominacion de Origen (DO): The DO system defines…
  
  • Zones
  • Regions
    
    • Minimum 75% form region
    • 6 regional DO’s in chile from north to south
      
      1. Atacama
      2. Coquimbo
      3. Aconcagua
      4. Valle Central
      5. Sur
      6. Astral
  • Varietal labeling
    
    • Only Vitis vinifera (no hybrids)
    • Minimum 75% of stated variety
  • Vintage labeling
    
    • Minimum 75% of the stated variety
    • In practice most wines 85% for EU export standards

Question 3

Chile - Major Chilean Regions and Notabel Sub-Regions

Answer 3

• Aconcagua DO
  
  • San Antonio DO and Casablanca Valley DO
    
    • Both situated west of the coastal Mts near the Pacific
    • Cool maritime climate
    • Grape Varieties
      
      • White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
      • Red: Pinot Noir
• Valle Central DO (Central Vally DO)
  
  • Geography
    
    • Between the Andes and the Coastal Mts
    • More than 80% of Chile’s wine prodution is located in this region, which stretches southward 200 miles from the suburbs of Santiago
  • Climate: warm to hot
  • Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere
  • Important Sub-Regions
    
    • Maipo Valley DO*** (most famous, best known for Cabernet Sauvignon)
    • Curico DO
    • Rapel DO
    • Maule Valley DO

Question 4

Chile - What make up most of the vineyard plantings in Chile?

Answer 4

• Red grape varieties
  
  • Hybrids
  • White grape varieties
  • Grapes for fortified wine production

Question 5

Chile - The Valle Central DO is the largest wine-growing area in Chile.

Answer 5

• TRUE

Question 6

Chile - Both the San Antonio and Casablanca DOs of Chile share this trait

Answer 6

• Cool climate regions near the Pacific Coast
  
  • Cool climate, high elevation regions near the Andes
  • Warm climate regions int he Valle Central
  • Warm climate regions in northern Chile

Question 7

Chile - What is the most well known grape variety produced in the Maipo Valley of Chile?

Answer 7

• Cabernet Sauvignon
  
  • Pinot Noir
  • Malbec
  • Merlot

Question 8

Chile - Which of the following bring cool, moist air and fog to the coastal regions of Chile?

Answer 8

• Humboldt Current
  
  • Mistral
  • Zonda
  • Andes snow

Question 9

Chile - Carmenere is a grape brought to Chile from the Bordeaux region of France.

Answer 9

• TRUE

Question 10

Chile - Which of the follwing is not a sub-region of the Valle Central DO in Chile?

Answer 10

• Mendoza
  
  • Rapel Valley
  • Maipo Valley
  • Maule Valley

Question 11

Chile - For a long time, Carmenera was mistaken for which grap variety?

Answer 11

• Merlot

Question 12

Chile - In order to bear the name of a grape, vintage or region a wine must contain a minimum what % according to Chilean wine law.

Answer 12

• 75%

Question 13

Chile - Most producers use what % in order to adhere to European law for export?

Answer 13

• 85%