1- Overview of Wine History in South America Flashcards
Arrival of Grapes
Spanish Conquistadors by way of Mexico in the 16th Century. Planted Criollas seeds
Francisco Pizzaro
Leader of the conquistadors conquest again the Incas
First Vineyards Planted
1548 South of Lima, Peru. Criollas
Francisco de Carabantes
Jesuit Priest who planted the first grapes in Chile in 1548. Likely Pais
Juan Cedron
Spanish missionary who brought vine cuttings to Northern Argentina, Likely Pais and Criollas, and Argentina’s first winemaker.
Huarpe Tribe
Established the first vines in Mendoza region in the 16th century, utilizing Incan irrigation methods.
Venezuela first grapes
Brought by Spaniards in the 1520s to Coro and Cumana
Bolivia first grapes
Brought by the Spanish and Portuguese in the late 1400s into Mizque
Colombia
No written History
Ecuador
No written History
Martim Afonso de Sousa
First plantings in Sao Vicente, Brazil, in the southeast in 1532. (did not thrive). Again in 1551 in Tatuape, Sao Paulo
Rio Grande do Sul beginnings
Brazil, Jesuits arrived, expanded and maintained the vineyards.
Uruguay beginnings
Spanish settlers brought grapevines during the colonial period. No other reference until 1800s
Mercosur Free Trade Agreement
1991- shifted the focus to international consumption. Changing grapes and style for foreign palates.
Modern Growth in Chile (5 events)
- 1990s sharp decline in domestic consumption.
- MFTA
- Miguel Torres
- European sponsored enterprises
- 1990s to 2000s- explosion of acreage, new grape varieties and push into new regions.
Miguel Torres
From Penedes Spain. Bought old winery in Curico, Chile in 1979. Planted French varieties and imported stainless steel and oak barrels. Sets new standard for quality in Chile.
Los Vascos
European sponsored enterprise between Rothschilds and Eyzaguirre
Modern Growth in Argentina (5 Events)
- 70s and 80s bleak with Falkland wars, corruption, and consumption down.
- 1983 Democracy restored
- 1989 economic collapse and government subsidized pull up of old Malbec vines
- Nicolas Catena and Paul Hobbs in Mendoza in 1980s
- Arnaldo Etchart and Michel Rolland in Salta in 1987
Nicolas Cantena Contributions
Studied at UC Berkley and mentored by Modavi in the 70s. Returned to Mendoza in the 1980s and assisted by Paul Hobbs lowered yields, timed and limited irrigation, and clean practices in the winery.
Arnaldo Etchart
Assisted by Michel Rolland (Bordeaux) in increasing quality in Salta region in the 1987
Modern Brazil events.
Mainly planted with hybrids and labrusca varities. 1960s government subsidized “reconversion” was at first resisted in the co-op. Now has a small fine wine offering from independent producers growing vinifera.
Modern Uruguay events
Mainly planted with hybrids and labrusca varities. Government subsidized reconversion after local consumption down in the 80s. Led by Reinaldo de Lucaa tannat now signature grape.
