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WSET Diploma D3 - Wines of the World > 29. Argentina > Flashcards

29. Argentina Flashcards

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1
Q

Why does Argentina have a high rate of domestic consumption?

A

Generations of European immigration

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2
Q

What three general factors make Argentina suitable for grape growing

A

1) High altitude
2) Low latitude
3) Irrigation availability

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3
Q

What are the three pink criolla varieties important for domestic sales and consumption?

A

1) Cereza
2) Criolla Grande
3) Criolla Chica (Pais)

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4
Q

What is Argentina’s general climate?

A

Continental - hot and dry in Andean rain shadow

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5
Q

What are the two extreme north and south regions?

A

North - Salta
South - Rio Negro

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6
Q

What is the Zonda?

A

A strong, hot and dry wind in late spring/early summer

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7
Q

What is a positive impact of the Zonda?

A

Lowers humidity/disease pressure

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8
Q

What are two negative risks associated with the Zonda?

A

1) Can induce water stress by increasing evapotranspiration
2) Strength can affect fruit set and flowering

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9
Q

What are the three key weather threats, particularly in Mendoza

A

1) Hail
2) Spring frost
3) Summer rain

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10
Q

How is hail mitigated (2)

A

1) Netting
2) Owning plots across the region

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11
Q

What soils can be found in the higher altitude sites towards the Andean foothills?

A

Alluvial with larger stones and calcarious deposits

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12
Q

What combination of three soil types can be found in the central areas of Argentina?

A

Gravel/sand/silt

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13
Q

What soil can be found in the lower areas of Argentina?

A

Deep loam-clay higher in nutrients

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14
Q

What is the most common form of irrigation? Why?

A

1) Flood
2) It is relatively cheap to deploy for existing vineyards

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15
Q

Why is drip irrigation becoming more common for new vineyards?

A

It is cheaper and easier to install than levelling a sloped vineyard to enable flood irrigation

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16
Q

Why are Argentina’s soils particularly poor in terms of nutrients?

A

There is little organic matter due to the dry, continental climate particularly at higher altitudes

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17
Q

When is irrigation?

A

More in winter and less in summer

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18
Q

Why is the timing of irrigation important?

A

To replicate weather patterns and to ensure the roots grow at depth while preventing excessive vigour in favour of fruit development

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19
Q

What is the traditional training system and why?

A

1) Pergola (locally known as Parral)
2) Fruit is trained high away from ground heat and the canopy provides shade

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20
Q

What are the main four black varieties?

A

1) Malbec
2) Bonarda
3) Cabernet Sauvignon
4) Syrah

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21
Q

Describe Malbec in the vineyard (2)

A

1) Mid-ripening
2) Vigorous

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22
Q

Describe high altitude Malbec vs Malbec from warmer sites?

A

Higher acidity, lighter body, less ripe and firmer tannins

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23
Q

How might Malbec clones in Argentina differ from those in France? (2)

A

1) Smaller berries/bunches
2) Softer tannins

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24
Q

Describe Bonarda in the vineyard (2)

A

1) Late ripening
2) High yielding

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25
Q

What oak type (if any) is used for Bonarda and why?

A

1) Large and/or old
2) Oak can overwhelm the variety

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26
Q

In what two areas is Bonarda mainly planted? (2)

A

San Juan and warmer Mendoza

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27
Q

Why is careful site selection required for Cabernet Sauvignon in Argentina compared with Malbec?

A

It is more susceptible to extremes of temperature than Malbec

28
Q

In which region(s)/area(s) is Syrah mostly planted? (2)

A

Hotter Mendoza and San Juan

29
Q

What are the three key white plantings?

A

1) Pedro Gimenez
2) Torrontes
3) Chardonnay

30
Q

Torrontes is a cross of what two varieties?

A

1) Muscat of Alexandria
2) Criolla Chica (Pais)

31
Q

Describe Torrontes in the vineyard (2)

A

1) Early ripening
2) High yielding

32
Q

What are the two best areas for Torrontes?

A

1) Cafayete (Salta)
2) Uco (Mendoza)

33
Q

In which region might premium Chardonnay be found?

A

Uco, Mendoza

34
Q

What are Argentina’s two DOCs?

A

1) Lujan de Cuyo
2) San Rafael

35
Q

What is Argentina’s GI structure? (6)

A

1) Region - Cuyo
2) Province - Mendoza
3) Sub-region - Uco Valley
4) Department - San Carlos
5) District - La Consulta
6) GI inside district - Paraje Altamira

36
Q

What are the three regional quality tiers in Argentina?

A

1) IP - Indicacion de Procedencia
2) IG - Indicacion Geografica
3) DOC

37
Q

What are the reserva requirements for Argentina’s wines? (2)

A

1) White/rose - six months
2) Red - 12 months

38
Q

What are the gran reserva requirements for Argentina’s wines? (2)

A

1) White/rose - 12 months
2) Red - 24 months

39
Q

What are the five broad divisions of Mendoza?

A

1) Northern
2) Eastern
3) Central
4) Uco Valley
5) Southern

40
Q

Northern and Eastern Mendoza are mostly known for what style?

A

Inexpensive, high volume

41
Q

Why are Northern and Eastern Mendoza known for inexpensive, high volume wine production?

A

1) Warm (lower altitude)
2) Along the rivers - irrigation

42
Q

What are two prestigious departments of Central Mendoza?

A

1) Lujan de Cuyo
2) Maipu

43
Q

Of Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu, which is at greater elevation and was Argentina’s first DOC?

A

Lujan de Cuyo

44
Q

How long must Lujan de Cuyo DOC wines be matured for?

A

24 months minimum and 12 in oak

45
Q

What are the two district-level GIs of Lujan de Cuyo?

A

1) Las Compuertas
2) Argrelo

46
Q

Where are Mendoza’s highest sites?

A

Gualtallary > Tupungato > Uco Valley

47
Q

What are three deparments with a GI of Uco Valley?

A

1) Tupungato
2) Tunuyan
3) San Carlos

48
Q

What factors contribute to Uco Valley being considered so highly? (3)

A

1) High altitude
2) Low latitude
3) Large diurnal range with intense sunshine

49
Q

What is distinctive about Gualtallary besides altitude?

A

Limestone soils

50
Q

What is most distinctive about Gualtallary Malbec? (3)

A

Lighter body, higher acid, herbal complexity

51
Q

What is San Carlos’s GI?

A

Paraje Altamira - an alluvial fan with high presence of calcium carbonate at 1,200masl

52
Q

Describe Southern Mendoza and its wines (2)

A

1) Further south so cooler with a longer summer
2) Mid-weight with slower sugar accumulation and greater acid retention

53
Q

What is the DOC of Southern Mendoza with a GI that covers the whole department and so is more commonly seen on labels than Southern Mendoza?

A

San Rafael

54
Q

Why is land under vine in San Juan falling?

A

Decline in consumption of inexpensive pink varieties

55
Q

La Rioja is best know for what wine style?

A

High volume, inexpensive Torrontes, Syrah and Malbec

56
Q

What’s the name and importance of Salta’s river?

A

1) Calchaqui
2) Essential for irrigation in the desert-like conditions

57
Q

The low latitude of Salta means what for the growing environment and fruit? (Similar can be said for most of Argentina besides Patagonia)

A

Intense sunlight (high proportion of UV radiation) leading to grapes with high anthocyanins and tannins

58
Q

Where are vines in Salta planted and why? (2)

A

1) In the valley of surrounding mountains
2) They provide shade at various points in the day shortening exposure to the extreme sunlight

59
Q

How do vines in Salta protect their fruit from from the Zonda wind?

A

Reduce yields and form thicker skins creating full-bodied, concentrated wines of freshness due to altitude

60
Q

Describe Patagonia (3) and the impact of such (1)

A

1) Higher latitude
2) Lower altitude
3) Low rainfall
4) Longer, less intense growing season

61
Q

What are two provinces of Patagonia?

A

1) Rio Negro
2) Nequeri

62
Q

What are the two main viticultural hazards in Patagonia?

A

1) Strong winds
2) Drought

63
Q

Are Argentina’s vineyards generally planted on flatter or steeper sites?

A

Flat or gently sloping

64
Q

Pergola training is still commonly used for which premium variety? Why?

A

1) Torrontes
2) The variety needs shade to retain acidity and aromatics

65
Q

What training method is more common for new vineyards?

A

VSP, which allows for the installation of drip irrigation and modern canopy management techniques

66
Q

In which two regions might Pinot Noir be found?

A

1) Uco Valley, Mendoza
2) Patagonia

67
Q

Name two significant Argentinian producers

A

1) Catena Zapata
2) Achaval Ferrer

WSET Diploma D3 - Wines of the World (42 decks)

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