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A Brief Introduction to Chiles Viticultural Landscape

December, 2009
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Geography:
Atacama Desert to the North
Andes Mountains to the East
Pacific Ocean to the West
Antartica to the South
Geographically Protected from
PESTS and DISEASE
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Geography:
Most vineyards planted in Central Valley
New vineyard plantings moving toward
the hills and towards the ocean
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Climate:
Summers:
Dry (almost no rain from October to April)
Low humidity
Bright sunshine
Hot during day, but cooling at night (up to
20C temperature difference between day
and night)
Winters
Moderate, with minimum low temperature
around -5C
Ample rains
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Pluviometry & Average Temperature
Rain in
Winter
Dry during
maturation
and harvest
season
Mild average
temperatures
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Melting snow
provides
irrigation
water during
the dry
summers
Nearly all
Chiles
vineyards
are irrigated
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Less Rain
Warmer
More Rain
A little Cooler
More rain in the South, less rain in the North
Temperature difference less important
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Variations Within Valleys give Chile a
great number of microclimates
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The seasonal cycle
Pruning: July early September
Budding: Early October
Flowering: November
Veraison: Late January
Harvest: Late February (whites) to
mid May 3 months for
harvest
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Colchagua, Curico and Maule have 72%
of Chiles viniferous vineyards.
Source: SAG (Chilean Agriculture and Livestock Service) Catastro Vitivinicola Nacional 2007
Vitis Vinifera Distribution
% of Total Hectares
Colchagua
28%
Bio Bio
12%
Aconcagua
5%
Maipo
9%
North
2%
Curico and
Maule
44%
Total Grape Hectares, 2007
Viticultural Zone
Fresh
Grapes
Pisco
Grapes
Viniferous
Grapes Total
North 19,044 9,982 2,311 31,337
Aconcagua 12,183 5,567 17,750
Maipo 11,838 10,800 22,639
Colchagua 11,302 34,257 45,559
Curico and Maule 745 50,574 51,319
Bio Bio 7 14,050 14,057
55,119 117,559 182,661
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76% of Chiles wine grape production is of
Red grapes.
Source: SAG (Chilean Agriculture and Livestock Service) Catastro Vitivinicola Nacional 2007
White vs. Red Grape Distribution
White
27,658 has.
24%
Red
86,790 has.
76%
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Cabernet is 46% of total red grape area
Source: SAG (Chilean Agriculture and Livestock Service) Catastro Vitivinicola Nacional 2007
Red Grape Variety Distribution, % area
Pais, 17%
Cabernet
Sauvignon, 46%
Merlot, 15%
Carmenre, 8%
Tintoreras, 3%
Syrah, 4%
Cab. Franc, 1%
Cot, 1%
Other, 3%
Malbec, 1%
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Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Moscatel
are 82% of white grape vineyard area
Source: SAG (Chilean Agriculture and Livestock Service) Catastro Vitivinicola Nacional 2007
White Grape Variety Distribution % Area
Mosc.Alejandra,
21%
Sauvignon Blanc,
31%
Chardonnay, 30%
Other, 6%
Viognier, 1%
Riesling, 1%
Torontel, 4%
Semilln, 6%
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Chiles grape producing area is concentrated in
the central part of the country
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Chile has 9 major valleys
Aconcagua
Casablanca
Maipo
Cachapoal
Colchagua
Curic
Maule
Itata
Bo Bo
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Administrative divisions are a
little different:
Casablanca is a
subvalley of
Aconcagua
Cachapoal and
Colchagua are the 2
subvalleys of Rapel
Valley
Curic + Maule are
often put together as
Maule Region
Itata + Bo Bo are
often put together as
Bo Bo Region
Rapel
Valley
Aconcagua
Valley
Maule
Region
Bo Bo
Region
Santiago
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Administrative divisions are a
little different:
Maipo, Rapel
(Cachapoal +
Colchagua), Curic
and Maule are joined
together to form the
Central Valley
Central
Valley
Santiago
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Appendix 1: Estimated Costs
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Appendix 1: Key Costs
Estimated market prices for bare land, non worked,
with water rights:
Maule Valley: US$ 8.000 / ha.
Curic Valley: US$ 10.000 / ha.
Colchagua Valley: US$ 14.000 / ha.
Maipo Valley: US$ 22.000 / ha.
Aconcagua Valley: US$ 15.000 / ha.
Casablanca Valley: US$ 30.000 / ha.
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Appendix 1: Key Costs
Vineyard Planting Costs*:
Horizontal (Pergola): US$ 13.000 / ha.
Vertical (Espaldera): US$ 17.000 / ha. (using
grafted clones)
Rootstock costs
Normal: US$ 0.50
Grafted: $ 1.25 (special clones)
Cost of producing own rootstock: US$ 0.25 0.40
*Estimated costs. Does not include items like wells, or special earth
preparation. Does not include purchase of machinery
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Appendix 1: Key Costs
Winery
Turnkey: about US$ 1.50 per installed liter
Metal warehouse structure: US$ 150 / m2
Storage tank costs
200.000 liters US$ 0.25 / Liter
121.000 liters US$ 0.27 / Liter
100.000 liters US$ 0.28 / Liter
Fermentation tanks
75.000 liters US$ 0.47 / Liter (w/ cooling)
60.000 liters US$ 0.49 / Liter (w/cooling)
50.000 liters US$ 0.53 / Liters (w/cooling)
30.000 liters US$ 0.68 / Liter (w/cooling)
15.000 liters US$ 0.95 / Liter (w/cooling)
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Vineyard Planting Timing factors
Feasible Planting Chronogram, has. / year
Y1: 50
Y2: 100
Y3 & onward: 150
KEY CONSIDERATION
Rootstocks are key limiting factor
Additional rootstock availability limited, and importation is not an
option due to 4 yr. quarantine
Must make decision for nursery by June, to secure vineyard
prunings to make rootstocks
New trend is to use grafted rootstocks that are resistant to
nematodes and more vigorous
Land preparation must be completed before month of May each year
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Plant Nursery
New plants ready for planting
Soil Preparation
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Plants recently
put into ground
A recently
planted vineyard
in late winter
A recently
planted vineyard
in Spring
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Appendix 2: Details of the Chilean Valleys
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Aconcagua Valley
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Aconcagua Valley
Has. Vineyard 847
Geography Only major valley north of Santiago, located in the Aconcagua River Valley
Climate Hot, but with moderating influence of Andes Mountains. Very low rainfall
Varieties Reds, mostly Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah
Positive points Very safe region, as it almost never rains during harvest
Negative points Water and land are very scarce and expensive
Land Cost / Has.*
USD 15,000
> A small valley limited to the valley immediately along the Aconcagua Valley,
traditionally dedicated to fruit and vegetable production to supply the Santiago
Metropolitan area.
> Long growing season allows long hang time, permitting the red grapes to mature
fully. Limited land and water resources mean little growth potential for the Valley
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Casablanca Valley
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Casablanca Valley
Has. Vineyard 4693
Geography
On the western side of the coastal mountains, Casablanca is very close to
the Pacific Ocean
Climate
Warm, with strong moderating influence from the cool Pacific Ocean (fog in
morning, ocean breeze in afternoon)
Varieties White grapes, mostly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
Positive points Excellent for producing premium white grapes
Negative points Water is very scarce, land is expensive, and spring frosts are very common
Land Cost / Has.* USD 30,000
> The only major valley located on the western side of the coastal mountains, and the
cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean made it famous for white grapes.
> Its location along the route between Santiago and Valpariso gives the valley a
strong touristic value
> Scarce water resources will limit future growth potential
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Maipo Valley
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Maipo Valley
Has. Vineyard 10,791
Geography Santiago region, and immediate south of Santiago
Climate
The central valley region is hot, but as you go up the Andes foothills it gets
cooler
Varieties Mostly red varieties
Positive points
On Andes foothills the cool Andes Mountain influence makes it possible to
produce premium Cabernet Sauvignon
Negative points
Land is extremely expensive, mostly due to potential for urban development
and other agricultural uses
Land Cost / Has.*
USD 22,000
> The greatest part of the vineyards are located in the fertile central valley plain,
where the soils are too vigorous and the temperatures too high for premium quality.
> It became famous because of its proximity to Santiago and the large number of
wineries located in the region
> While it is the most famous viticultural zone of Chile, its actual vineyard area is
small, and only the sections in the Andes foothills are famous for premium quality.
> Alternative uses for land, such as urban expansion, limit the growth potential of the
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Cachapoal Valley
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Colchagua Valley
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Rapel Valley (Cachapoal + Colchagua)
Has. Vineyard 33,856
Geography Central Valley and also a lot of interior valleys in coastal mountains
Climate
Hot in Central Valley and most interior valleys, getting cooler as you
approach the coastal regions
Varieties Mostly red
Positive points
Some regions, such as Marchigue, Apalta and Lolol can produce premium
quality wines
Negative points Expensive, and water is very scarce
Land Cost / Has.*
USD 15,000
> Rapel has recently become famous due to the excellent work by some of the
regions wineries, such as Montes, Viu Manent, Casa Lapostlle, Montgras.
> It is home to the second largest expanse of vineyards in Chile. It has a diversity of
climates, but is most famous for its hotter regions which produce concentrated red
wines
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Curic Valley
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Maule Valley
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Maule Region (Curico + Maule)
Has. Vineyard 50,315
Geography
The largest wine region of Chile, it covers all geographies, from Andes
foothills, to central valley to coastal regions
Climate Slightly cooler than Rapel and Maipo, with higher rainfall
Varieties Whites and reds
Positive points Cooler climate gives potential for developing more elegant wine styles.
Negative points Risk of rainfall during harvest is higher.
Land Cost / Has.* USD 8,000
> The largest viticultural zone in Chile is also the least famous. Much of the valleys
production is fragmented into small, traditional producers without much orientation
toward quality.
> The more moderate climate holds the potential to produce premium reds and
whites, once production tecniques and varieties are brought up to standard.
> The valley still has considerable land and water resources, giving it great future
growth potential
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Itata Valley
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Bo Bo Valley
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Bo Bo Valley (Itata + Bio Bio)
Has. Vineyard 14,022
Geography
The largest wine region of Chile, it covers all geographies, from Andes
foothills, to central valley to coastal regions
Climate Cooler and with much higher incidence of rainfall during growing season
Varieties Whites and early maturing reds
Positive points Cooler climate gives potential for developing more elegant wine styles.
Negative points Risk of rainfall during harvest is higher.
Land Cost / Has.*
USD 7,000
> However, its southern location, cooler climate make it less suitable for late-maturing
varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon
> The region with the largest concentration of small, traditional producers holds good
potential for future development.
> Its large land and water resources make it ideal for future growth potential.
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