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24 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Export
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- 60% of production exported
- UK and US main markets |
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Wine laws
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- 1995 appellation system set up
- DO = Denomination of Origin - 75% of grapes from stated region (85% for EU exports) - 4 tiers, Regions, subregions, zones and areas (any one of these can be stated on labels) |
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Chilean Regions North/South
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- Elqui
- Limari - Aconcagua - Casablanca - San Antonio - Maipo - Cachapoal - Colchagua - Curico - Maule - Bio Bio |
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Aconcagua Region
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- Casablanca & San Antonio subregions
- Best Chardonnay, Sauv B & PN - Close to sea, maritime influence of Humbolt current - Morning fogs slow ripening and allow complex flavour development (like California) |
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Central Valley Region
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- Most important of the 5 regions
- Cooled by Humbolt current and between Andes and coast - Good for Bordeaux varieties - 90% of all exports from here - Main sub regions, Maipo, Rapel, Curico, Maule |
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Maipo
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- Central Valley Region
- Old Cab Sauv vines, high quality - Warm site valley - Near Santiago suburbs |
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Rapel
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- Central Valley Region
- 2 subregions: Colchagua for outstanding Cab, Merlot, Carmenere Cachapoal for Cab Sauv & Carmenere (developing rep) - Considerable foreign investment - wines show great promise |
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Colchagua Valley
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- Rapel (Central Valley) subregion
- Outstanding Cab Sauv, Merlot and Carmenere |
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Cachapoal
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- Rapel (Central Valley) subregion
- Developing reputation for Cab Sauv and Carmenere |
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Rapel sub regions
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- Colchagua Valley (best)
- Cachapoal |
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Curcio
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- South Central Valley
- Cooler and wetter due to cloud cover and latitude - Wide range of varieties |
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Maule
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- Wettest of the four Central Valley regions
- Cabernet Sauvignon is important - Pais for local market |
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Southern Region
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- Bio Bio and Itata subregions
- Research has lead to new plantings on hills and nearer the sea - Irrigation unnecessary - Suitable climate for aromatic whites - Gewürztraminer and Riesling - |
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Coquimbo Region
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- Chile's northernmost region
- Important for pisco grapes - 2 sub regions recently developed for quality wines: * Elqui Valley - Highest region in Chile up to 2000m. Long cool growing conditions perfect for Cab Sauv and Syrah * Limari Valley. East/West valley benefits from cooling morning fogs. Low rainfall makes drip irrigation necessary. |
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Viticulture
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- High yields common but not incompatible with high fruit quality
- Low rainfall means snow melt drip irrigation is vital (except in Southern Region). - Nematode problems from irrigation - Phylloxera free (but new plantings on grafted rootstock) |
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Grape varieties
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- Cab Sauv
- Merlot - Carmenere - Pinot Noir - Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Carignan - Malbec - Syrah International varieties dominate to satisfy export markets |
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Carmenere
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- Pungent red with velvet tannins
- Very difficult to ripen tannins and avoid herbaceous flavours without very high alcohol levels - Chile's speciality red |
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Chilean Cab Sauv and Merlot
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- Varietal and blended
- Intense berry fruit and capsicum |
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Pinot Noir
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Showing great promise especially in:
San Antonio Casablanca (both Aconcagua subregions) |
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Chardonnay
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- Purity of flavour from ripe healthy fruit
- Crisp citrus and apple complemented by toast and caramel from oak treatment |
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Sauvignon Blanc
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- Clean, ripe tropical fruit
- Avoiding extreme herbaceous notes - New plantings replaced Sauvignonasse variety which was less distinctive and lower quality but sometimes sold as Sauv Blanc |
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Carignan
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- Very old plantings to south of Central Valley
- Can make very high quality, savoury red wines |
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Malbec
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- Recent plantings have been successful
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Syrah
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- High quality areas include San Antonio
- Ripe black fruits backed up by subtle pepperiness |