37 - Argentina Flashcards
2 grapes producing Argentina’s signature wines
Malbec
Torrontés
most of Argentina’s vy lie
- close to the Andes, in a series of irrigated oases in what is otherwise desert
- spread over more than 1500 km from the province of Salta in the north to Rio Negro & Neuquén in Patagonia
- 600m or more above sea level (except those in Rio Negro & Neuquén)
hight of vy in Salta
regularly extend to 2000m or more
vine training in Argentina
Historically
- because of the heat, most vy were planted in the pergola system, known locally as parral
- this lifted the grapes away from the searing heat close to the ground
- with grapes hanging down below the leaf canopy, provided some shade from the intense sunshine
- still commonly used for the Torrontés grape
Now
- many vy growing black grape varieties are planted with vertical trellises
- the canopies still need to be arranged so that grapes are shaded from the intense sunshine
what is parral
- pergola system used in Argentina
rain & water in Argentina
- rain shadow of the Andes
- rainfall is extremely low
- water can be drawn from rivers flowing down from the mountains or from subterranean aquifers
- flood irrigation was widespread
- drip irrigation is more common in newer vy (uses scarce water more efficiently)
hazards in Argentina
- extremely low rainfall
–> flood irrigation or drip irrigation -
spring frost
–> occasional problem -
summer hail
–> regular hazard, particularly in Mendoza
–> netting, vy in several diff. areas - few problems with rot or mildew (dry climate)
–> important producer of wines made from organically grown grapes
grape varieties in Argentina
(9+7)
Black
1. Malbec
2. Bonarda
3. CS
4. Syrah
5. Merlot
6. Tempranillo
7. PN
8. Cabernet Franc
9. Petit Verdot
White
1. Torrontés
2. Chardonnay
3. Chenin Blanc
4. SB
5. Semillon
6. Viognier
7. Pedro Gimenez
Argentinas’s flagship variety
Malbec
country with the largest plantings of Malbec
Argentina
Malbec in Argentina
- char./style
- maturation
- regional differences
- sv/blend
- deeply coloured
- full-bodied
- notes of black fruit
- often high levels of smooth tannins
A number of winemakers are now
- extracting more gently in the winery to create more elegant styles
Most high-quality Malbecs
- are matured in new oak –> subtle spicy flavours
Regional differences
- lower altitudes: fuller-bodied with richer black fruit
- higher altitude vy: more elegant, fresher, more floral aromas
Sv/blend
- mostly produced as a varietal
- also plays a leading role in some premium blends, generally with CS, Merlot, CF and/or PV
second most planted variety in Argentina
Bonarda
Bonarda in Argentina
- second most planted
- late ripening
- deeply coloured
- high acidity & tannin
- high yields: easy-drinking wines with medium to deep colour & fruity raspberry & blackberry aromas
- controlled yields & fully ripe fruit: greater concentration & structure
- mainly grown in Mendoza & San Juan
5 international red varieties grown in Argentina
Widely planted
1. CS
2. Syrah
3. Merlot
Smaller volumes of
4. Tempranillo
5. PN
char. of premium wines from international varieties in Argentina
concentrated ripe fruit flavours, usually with toasty notes from oak
Argentina’s white signature variety
Torrontés
Torrontés is widely planted in … (4)
- Salta
- La Rioja
- San Juan
- Mendoza
- many of the best examples of Torrontés comes from …
- char.
- high-altitude vineyards in the Cafayate region of Salta Province
- intense fruity, floral perfume, medium body & acidity & flavours of stone fruits & melon
production method of Torrontés
usually fermented in inert, temperature-controlled vessels & released from the winery in the year of harvest
is Torrontés an aromatic grape?
yes
Chardonnay in Argentina
- widely planted
- made in a range of styles
- premium: matured in oak barrels, a proportion new
grape used in cheap wines for the domestic market of Argentina
Pedro Gimenez
white variety with the greatest plantings in Argentina
Pedro Gimenez
GI system in Argentina
- 3 broad regions (ie Patagonia)
- provinces (ie Salta, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Rio Negro, Neuquén)
- more specific departments (Luján de Cuyo, Maipú, Tupungato, San Rafael)
where is Salta Province
- close to the border of Bolivia
- most northerly of the vy areas in Argentina
- climatic influence in the Salta Province
- effect on wines
- some of the highest vy in the world (some >3000m)
- great purity & concentration
the dominant grape of Salta Province
Torrontés
Torrontés in Salta Province
- the dominant grape
- highly aromatic wines
- especially in the Cafayate region
where is Cafayate region
- in Salta Province in Argentina
many of the large wineries based in Mendoza & some major European wine companies have invested in this region for its superiour quality of ….
1. region
2. grape
- Cafayate, Salta, Argentina
- Torrontés
dominant black varieties planted in Cafayate
Malbec & CS
the third largest area of production in Argentina
La Rioja
main vineyard area in La Rioja Province
Famatina Valley
Famatina Valley
1. where
2. vy
- La Rioja Province, Argentina
- irrigated valley floors
grapes in La Rioja Province
1. speciality
2. most planted black varieties
- Torrontés
- CS, Syrah, Bonarda
to avoid confusion with the Rioja region in Spain, the exported wines of La Rioja Province in Argentina are generally labelled as ….
Famatina
Argentina’s second most important wine area
San Juan Province
hight of vy in San Juan Province
450-1400m
San Juan Province is particularly noted for
the quality of its Syrah
grapes in San Juan Province
- Syrah
- Malbec
- CS
- Bonarda
- Chardonnay
- Viognier
most planted white varieties in San Juan Province
Chardonnay & Viognier
which province in Argentina dominates winemaking
Mendoza
the vast majority of wine produced in Argentina come from
Mendoza Province
geography & infl. in Mendoza Province
- desert conditions
- protected from rain in the west by the huge Andes Mountains & from the east by the vastness of the Argentine Pampas
Mendoza can be split broadly into
5 divisions
1. Northern
2. Eastern
3. Central
4. Uco Valley
5. Southern
Mendoza’s 5 divisions
The grapes or wines from these different divisions are … to take advantage of …
often blended
fruit from different climates
divisions which focus on high-volume, inexpensive wine in Mendoza
Northern & Eastern Mendoza
Northern & Eastern Mendoza focus on
high-volume, inexpensive wine
irrigation in Northern & Eastern Mendoza
The Mendoza river
division in Mendoza with the longest history of producing high-quality wines & some of the most famous producers
Central Mendoza
Central Mendoza has … & … are based here
- has the longest history of producing high-quality wines
- many of the most famous producers are based here
department in Mendoza which in particular has a reputation for producing very fine Malbec
Luján de Cuyo, Central Mendoza
Luján de Cuyo has a reputation for
- producing very fine Malbec
- old Malbec vines
- soft, round & sweet spice in Malbec blends
hight of vy of Luján de Cuyo
900-1100m
where is Luján de Cuyo
- Central Mendoza, Argentina
- 900-1100m
- in the foothills of the Andes
- south-west of Mendoza city
where is Maipú
- Central Mendoza, Argentina
- east of Luján de Cuyo, at lower altitudes
grapes in Maipú
- Syrah & CS perform particularly well here
- old vine Bonarda & Tempranillo
the eastern, lower part of Maipú provides
- much of the high volume, inexpensive wine for both domestic & export markets
- a valuable source of old vine Bonarda & Tempranillo
where is Uco Valley
- Mendoza Province, Argentina
- to the south-west of Mendoza
- 900-1500m
hight of vy in Uco Valley
900-1500m
highest vy in Mendoza
- Uco Valley
- 900-1500m
Uco Valley is a source of
high-quality fruit
help to retain acidity & fresh fruit flavours in the grapes & the wines sometimes display floral notes in Uco Valley
cool nights
cool nights in Uco Valley
- help to retain acidity & fresh fruit flavours in the grapes & the wines sometimes display floral notes
grapes in Uco Valley (8)
Flourish here
1. Chardonnay
2. Torrontés
3. SB
4. Malbec
5. CS
6. Merlot
7. Tempranillo
Some sites are cool enough to grow
8. PN
1 department in Uco Valley
Tupungato (to the west, high altitude)
1 department in Southern Mendoza
San Rafael
where is San Rafael
department in Southern Mendoza, Argentina
infl. in San Rafael
- low altitude compared to much of Mendoza
- southerly location makes it one of the coolest areas in the province
Argentina’s most significant plantings of Chenin Blanc
San Rafael department, Southern Mendoza, Mendoza Province, Argentina
2 provinces in Patagonia Region
- Rio Negro Province
- Neuquén Province
where is Patagonia
- south in Argentina
where is Rio Negro
province in Patagonia Region, Argentina
where is Neuquén
province in Patagonia Region, Argentina
hight of vy in Rio Negro Province
200-250m
cooling influence in Rio Negro
latitude (not altitude)
infl. & challenges in Rio Negro
- latitude as cooling influence
- strong desert winds –> challenge
- low rainfall, wide diurnal range –> low incidence of disease
- long daylight hours & cool nights –> concentrated but fresh fruit flavours, medium to high acidity
long daylight hours & cool nights in Rio Negro gives wine with …
concentrated but fresh fruit flavours, medium to high acidity
grapes in Rio Negro
- SB
- PN
- Malbec
- Merlot
the full potential of Neuquén is …
still being explored
