Argentina Flashcards
Regions to Know {north to south}
”- Salta
- Cafayate
- La Rioja
- San Juan
- Pedernal Valley
- Mendoza (Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley)
- Neuquen
- Patagonia
- Río Negro”
Main Production Area
160 wineries, the majority in Mendoza and a few in Neuquén, Rio Negro, and San Juan.
Primary Method
Tank {but carbonation and traditional method also used}
Growing Environment - Low Quality
Warm parts of Mendoza alongside grapes for still wines
Growing Environment - High Quality
”- Subregions: Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley
- High altitude = cool enough to preserve delicate flavors and acidity
- Southerly latitude {Neuquén, Rio Negro, Patagonia} plus high diurnal range due to continentality to keep temperature down”
Harvest
1 - 2 months before grapes for still wines to avoid high alcohol and preserve acidity
“Grape Varieties {most to least}
*growing”
”- Pedro Giménez {not related to PX}
- Chardonnay*
- Chenin Blanc
- Pinot Noir {only red}*
- Ugni Blanc
- Semillion”
Hazards
”- Hail
- Spring Frost
- Nematodes
{dry so not a lot of risk for fungal disease}”
Winemaking - Inexpensive
”- Carbonation {using Pedro Giménez, Chenin Blanc and Semillon}
- Sometimes additional fruit flavoring is added {e.g. strawberry}”
Winemaking - Mid
- Tank {using a wide range including Chard, PN}
Winemaking - Mid to Premium
”- Traditional {using Chard, PN}
- Vintage or NV
- 12 months on lees {many doing more}
- Mostly white”
Winemaking - Mid to Premium Flavor Profile
”- Ripe apple, lemon, autolytic
- M+ acid
- M+ body
- M abv”
Winemaking - Super Premium
”- Longer time on lees {18 instead of 12)
- e.g. Baron B Unique”
1959
Moët & Chandon bases its first overseas subsidiary in Mendoza starting sparkling wine production in Argentina
2005
”- Government removed domestic tax of 12% on sales in return for the Industry would invest in sparkling wine sector
- Part of wider policy to promote Argentinian wine
- Contributed to growth”
