29. Argentina Flashcards
Why does Argentina have a high rate of domestic consumption?
Generations of European immigration
What three general factors make Argentina suitable for grape growing
1) High altitude
2) Low latitude
3) Irrigation availability
What are the three pink criolla varieties important for domestic sales and consumption?
1) Cereza
2) Criolla Grande
3) Criolla Chica (Pais)
What is Argentina’s general climate?
Continental - hot and dry in Andean rain shadow
What are the two extreme north and south regions?
North - Salta
South - Rio Negro
What is the Zonda?
A strong, hot and dry wind in late spring/early summer
What is a positive impact of the Zonda?
Lowers humidity/disease pressure
What are two negative risks associated with the Zonda?
1) Can induce water stress by increasing evapotranspiration
2) Strength can affect fruit set and flowering
What are the three key weather threats, particularly in Mendoza
1) Hail
2) Spring frost
3) Summer rain
How is hail mitigated (2)
1) Netting
2) Owning plots across the region
What soils can be found in the higher altitude sites towards the Andean foothills?
Alluvial with larger stones and calcarious deposits
What combination of three soil types can be found in the central areas of Argentina?
Gravel/sand/silt
What soil can be found in the lower areas of Argentina?
Deep loam-clay higher in nutrients
What is the most common form of irrigation? Why?
1) Flood
2) It is relatively cheap to deploy for existing vineyards
Why is drip irrigation becoming more common for new vineyards?
It is cheaper and easier to install than levelling a sloped vineyard to enable flood irrigation
Why are Argentina’s soils particularly poor in terms of nutrients?
There is little organic matter due to the dry, continental climate particularly at higher altitudes
When is irrigation?
More in winter and less in summer
Why is the timing of irrigation important?
To replicate weather patterns and to ensure the roots grow at depth while preventing excessive vigour in favour of fruit development
What is the traditional training system and why?
1) Pergola (locally known as Parral)
2) Fruit is trained high away from ground heat and the canopy provides shade
What are the main four black varieties?
1) Malbec
2) Bonarda
3) Cabernet Sauvignon
4) Syrah
Describe Malbec in the vineyard (2)
1) Mid-ripening
2) Vigorous
Describe high altitude Malbec vs Malbec from warmer sites?
Higher acidity, lighter body, less ripe and firmer tannins
How might Malbec clones in Argentina differ from those in France? (2)
1) Smaller berries/bunches
2) Softer tannins
Describe Bonarda in the vineyard (2)
1) Late ripening
2) High yielding
What oak type (if any) is used for Bonarda and why?
1) Large and/or old
2) Oak can overwhelm the variety
In what two areas is Bonarda mainly planted? (2)
San Juan and warmer Mendoza
Why is careful site selection required for Cabernet Sauvignon in Argentina compared with Malbec?
It is more susceptible to extremes of temperature than Malbec
In which region(s)/area(s) is Syrah mostly planted? (2)
Hotter Mendoza and San Juan
What are the three key white plantings?
1) Pedro Gimenez
2) Torrontes
3) Chardonnay
Torrontes is a cross of what two varieties?
1) Muscat of Alexandria
2) Criolla Chica (Pais)
Describe Torrontes in the vineyard (2)
1) Early ripening
2) High yielding
What are the two best areas for Torrontes?
1) Cafayete (Salta)
2) Uco (Mendoza)
In which region might premium Chardonnay be found?
Uco, Mendoza
What are Argentina’s two DOCs?
1) Lujan de Cuyo
2) San Rafael
What is Argentina’s GI structure? (6)
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
What are the three regional quality tiers in Argentina?
1) IP - Indicacion de Procedencia
2) IG - Indicacion Geografica
3) DOC
What are the reserva requirements for Argentina’s wines? (2)
1) White/rose - six months
2) Red - 12 months
What are the gran reserva requirements for Argentina’s wines? (2)
1) White/rose - 12 months
2) Red - 24 months
What are the five broad divisions of Mendoza?
1) Northern
2) Eastern
3) Central
4) Uco Valley
5) Southern
Northern and Eastern Mendoza are mostly known for what style?
Inexpensive, high volume
Why are Northern and Eastern Mendoza known for inexpensive, high volume wine production?
1) Warm (lower altitude)
2) Along the rivers - irrigation
What are two prestigious departments of Central Mendoza?
1) Lujan de Cuyo
2) Maipu
Of Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu, which is at greater elevation and was Argentina’s first DOC?
Lujan de Cuyo
How long must Lujan de Cuyo DOC wines be matured for?
24 months minimum and 12 in oak
What are the two district-level GIs of Lujan de Cuyo?
1) Las Compuertas
2) Argrelo
Where are Mendoza’s highest sites?
Gualtallary > Tupungato > Uco Valley
What are three deparments with a GI of Uco Valley?
1) Tupungato
2) Tunuyan
3) San Carlos
What factors contribute to Uco Valley being considered so highly? (3)
1) High altitude
2) Low latitude
3) Large diurnal range with intense sunshine
What is distinctive about Gualtallary besides altitude?
Limestone soils
What is most distinctive about Gualtallary Malbec? (3)
Lighter body, higher acid, herbal complexity
What is San Carlos’s GI?
Paraje Altamira - an alluvial fan with high presence of calcium carbonate at 1,200masl
Describe Southern Mendoza and its wines (2)
1) Further south so cooler with a longer summer
2) Mid-weight with slower sugar accumulation and greater acid retention
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?
San Rafael
Why is land under vine in San Juan falling?
Decline in consumption of inexpensive pink varieties
La Rioja is best know for what wine style?
High volume, inexpensive Torrontes, Syrah and Malbec
What’s the name and importance of Salta’s river?
1) Calchaqui
2) Essential for irrigation in the desert-like conditions
The low latitude of Salta means what for the growing environment and fruit? (Similar can be said for most of Argentina besides Patagonia)
Intense sunlight (high proportion of UV radiation) leading to grapes with high anthocyanins and tannins
Where are vines in Salta planted and why? (2)
1) In the valley of surrounding mountains
2) They provide shade at various points in the day shortening exposure to the extreme sunlight
How do vines in Salta protect their fruit from from the Zonda wind?
Reduce yields and form thicker skins creating full-bodied, concentrated wines of freshness due to altitude
Describe Patagonia (3) and the impact of such (1)
1) Higher latitude
2) Lower altitude
3) Low rainfall
4) Longer, less intense growing season
What are two provinces of Patagonia?
1) Rio Negro
2) Nequeri
What are the two main viticultural hazards in Patagonia?
1) Strong winds
2) Drought
Are Argentina’s vineyards generally planted on flatter or steeper sites?
Flat or gently sloping
Pergola training is still commonly used for which premium variety? Why?
1) Torrontes
2) The variety needs shade to retain acidity and aromatics
What training method is more common for new vineyards?
VSP, which allows for the installation of drip irrigation and modern canopy management techniques
In which two regions might Pinot Noir be found?
1) Uco Valley, Mendoza
2) Patagonia
Name two significant Argentinian producers
1) Catena Zapata
2) Achaval Ferrer
