18 Argentina

Question 1

Overview - spw in Argentina

• origin?
• styles?

Answer 1

• began 1959 when Moet & Chandon based first overseas subsidiary in Mendoza
• In recent years rapid incr - prod & other producers.
  
  • more styles, varieties, brands at diff price points
• Most wines tank method
  
  • fruity, off dry - med dry, acc-good, inexp
• Some carbonation
• Trad method from CH, PN,
  
  • ripe apple, lemon fruit, light autolytic,
  • Brut style, G/VG; most inexp, some mid to prem price.

Question 2

Describe the varieties, growing environment and grape growing in Argentina

Answer 2

• Inexp carbonated or tank method wines: grapes grown in warm parts of Mendoza, alongside grapes for still wines.
• Higher Q wines : grapes grown in subregion
  
  • lujan de Cuyo, Uco Valley
    
    • high alt means climate cool enough to preserve delicate flavours and acidity in grapes
  • New VY for SW developed in Neuquen, Rio Negro - Patagonia
    
    • southerly lat ~ low temps
    • high diurnal range and continentality
• Harvest
  
  • 1 / 2 months before grapes for still wines
  • avoids hi alc, preserves acidity.
• Top Varieties:
  
  • Pedro Giménez (no relation, a Criolla variety) largest
  • CH & PN - high growth in plantings (ind demand)
  • Chenin Blanc; Ugni Blanc; Semillon
• Natural Hazards
  
  • hail, spring frosts
  • nematodes
  • Little spraying needed due to dry climate

Question 3

Wine making in Argentinian sparkling

Answer 3

• Blending from diff sites (warmer/cooler) nec to get suitable base wine.
• Some wineries have own vineyards, many rely on independent growers to sell their grapes.

Traditional

• vintage or NV majority white
• grapes from best sites, mainly CH & PN
• majority 12mths on lees (often much longer)
• Style:
  BRUT; ripe apple/lemon, autolytic,
  m/m+ acidi, m/m+ body, m alcohol.
• Recently Super-premiums eg Baron B Unique, best fruit and longer lees ageing (ie 18mths)
• G/VG ; mid - prem price

Tank

• wide range of varieties incl CH & PN
• fruity; off-dry - med dry;
• A/G quality - mid price

Inexpensive Argentinian typically carbonation

• Pedro Giménez, CB; Semillon
• also add flavours (like strawberry)
• A; Inexp

Question 4

Discuss the regulations on SW in Argentina, and the local market

Answer 4

• Recent growth: Govt agreed to remove domestic tax of 12% in exchange for national wine trade investing in sparkling wine 2005
  
  • Agreement part of wider policy to promote Argentinian wine. Sales & production up
  • Future of tax concession still being debated
• Approx 160 wineries produce SW
  
  • Majority in Mendoza, also Neuquen, Rio Negro, San Juan.
• Domestic market ​consumes nearly all.
  
  • bought retail, home consumption
  • >60% is “Seco” style which means <11g/L) ~ upper end of EU “Brut”
• Leading companies
  
  • Moet Hennessy (incl Chandon and Baron B brands)
  • Lorente
  • Mumm (Pernod Richard)
  • Norton
• Many large EU companies have invested in ARgentina to produce still and sparkling wines for the S American market (Freixenet; Sogrape)