INTRODUCTION & HISTORY
- Chilean wine has a long history for a New World wine region, as it was the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors brought Vitis vinifera vines with them as they colonized the region. In the mid-19th century, French wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère and Franc were introduced.
- A large number of French peopleimmigrated to Chile during the late 20th century, bringing more vinicultural knowledge to the country. Chile is now the fifth largest exporter of wines in the world, and the seventh largest
- The climate has been described as midway between that of California and France. The most common grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlotand Carmenère. So far Chile has remained free of the phylloxera louse, which means that the country’s grapevines do not need to be grafted with phylloxera-resistant rootstocks.
- European Vitis viniferavines were brought to Chile by Spanish conquistadors and missionaries in the 16th century around 1554.
- In the 18th century, Chile was known mostly for its sweet winesmade from the Pais and Muscatel grapes. To achieve a high level of sweetness the wines were often boiled which concentrated the grape must.
CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY
- Chile’s vineyards are found along an 800-mile stretch of land from Atacama Regionto the Bio-Bio Region in the south.
- The vineyards of Chile fall between the latitudesof 32 and 38° s which, in the Northern Hemisphere would be the equivalent of southern Spain and North Africa. However the climate in Chile’s wine regions is much more temperate than those regions, comparing more closely to California and Bordeaux. Overall, it is classified as a Mediterranean climate with average summer temperatures of 59–64 °F (15–18 °C) and potential highs of 86 °F (30 °C).
REGIONS OF CHILE
- ATACAMA: The region is known primarily for its Pisco brandy and table grapes.
- COQUIMBO: The Coquimbo Regioncontains three wine-producing sub regions: Elqui, Limarí and Choapa. The Elqui Valley is located 530 km (330 mi) north of Santiago, at the southern end of the Atacama Desert in the Coquimbo Region. It is known for producing table grapes and other fruits, as well as Pisco, Chile’s most popular liquor. But it is also notable for being the most commercially viable wine-producing region of northern Chile. The area is best known for producing Sauvignon and Chardonnay, first planted during the 1990s, and also successfully produces Syrah and Pinot noir.
- ACONCAGUA: known for its white wines, most notably Sauvignon blancand Chardonnay, as well as Pinot noir, which thrives in its cooler climate. San Antonio Valley is a small wine region known for producing Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc and Chardonnay.
4. CENTRAL VALLEY: It has four subregions: the Maipo Valley, the Rapel Valley, the Curicó Valley and the Maule Valley, Rapel Valley.
- Alto Maipo
This sub-region is located in the foothills of the Andes and is highly influenced by the mountains. The climate, cold during the night and sunny and hot during the day, combined with the poor, porous, rocky soil, puts the vines under stress which in turn produces a characteristically bold, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Central Maipo
Corresponds to the area surrounding the Maipo river. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates wine production here, but the area has also started producing Carmenere wines. This sub region has rocky alluvial soils and is the warmest and driest part of the Maipo, requiring drip irrigation.
- The Pacific Maipo
Area benefits from the coastal influence of the Pacific Ocean as well as the alluvial soils found here. Because of the oceanic influence, it is a popular place to experiment with white grapes, most notably Sauvignon blanc.
The Rapel Valley is named after the Rapel River and Lake Rapel and is one of the largest wine-producing regions in the Central Valley, producing roughly a quarter of all Chilean wine. It is made up of two smaller sectors, the Cachapoal and Colchagua valleys.
The Cachapoal Valley
Most of Cachapoal’s noteworthy wineries and vineyards are located towards the east of the region, in the foothills of the Andes, away from the warmer valley floor. This is an area for Cabernet Sauvignon vines, while closer to the coast, where the ocean breezes flow through the Coastal Range, more Carmenere vines are grown.
The Colchagua Valley
Colchagua Valley is one of the best-known wine regions of Chile. It occupies the southern part of Rapel Valley, running from the Andes in the east to the Coastal Range in the west. The area is best known for its full-bodied Malbecs, Cabernet Sauvignons, Carmeneres and Syrahs. Colchagua has a cool Mediterranean climate, with 592 mm (23.3 in) rainfall, and soils of clay, sand and decomposed granite.
5. SOUTHERN CHILE: The region is located at a latitude of 36°S, a similar distance from the Equator as southern Spain or the central valley of California. The main varieties grown in the Bío Bío valley were Moscatel de Alejandria and Pais (known as Missiones in USA), but today, Pinot noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon blanc are also grown throughout the valley.
WINE LAWS
- Chile’s wine laws are more similar to the US appellation systemthan to France’s Appellation d’origine contrôlée that most of Europe has based their wine laws on.
- There are no restrictions of grape varietiesor viticultural practices. Varietal-labelled wines are required to contain at least 75% of the grape variety if it is to be consumed within Chile. Vintage-dated wines are also required to have at least 75% of grapes harvested in the named year.
- If it is to be exported, a varietal-labelled wine must contain 85% of the varietal listed on the label as well as at least 85% from the designated vintage Exported wines also have to meet minimum alcohol percentage requirements; white winesmust reach a minimum level of 12% ABV, while reds must reach a minimum level of 11.5% ABV.
- the term “Reserva Especial” has no legal definition or meaning. However, there are aging requirements for wines labeled with other specific terms: for “especial,” it is two years; four years for “reserva,” and a minimum of six years for “gran vino.”
GRAPES AND WINES
Over twenty grape varieties are grown in Chile, mainly a mixture of Spanish and French varieties, but many wineries are increasing experimentation in higher numbers.
RED WINE VARIETIES:
- Cabernet Sauvignon,
- Merlot,
- Carménère,
- Zinfandel,
- Petite Sirah,
- Cabernet franc,
- Pinot noir,
- Syrah,
- Sangiovese,
- Barbera,
- Malbec, and
- Carignan.
WHITE WINE VARIETIES:
- Chardonnay,
- Sauvignon blanc,
- Sauvignon vert,
- Sémillon,
- Riesling,
- Viognier,
- Torontel,
- Pedro Ximénez,
- Gewürztraminer and
- Muscat of Alexandria.