Argentina Flashcards
Argentina History
First vineyards 1550s by Spanish settlers
Indepedence from Spain in 1816 and attracted European settlers who brought wine culture. Viticulture and wine school founded in 1851.
High domestic wine consumption while Argentina isolated.
1970’s return to global trade & democracy, domestic consumption fell and producers looked to export.
1980’s & 90’s brough foreign investment bc of weak peso, also made prices attractive for export consumers.
Climate
Low latitude, very warm. Altitude provides moderating factor (vineyards are almost all in the foothills of the Andes).
Wide diurnal range, over 20C. Low latitude + high altitude = intense sunlight & higher tannin/anthocyanin.
Continental climate in the Andes rainshadow. Less than 200mm rain in some areas. Dry air reduces fungal disease.
Hot & dry Zonda wind can disrupt fruit set and flowering and cause water stress.
Hail is a threat, and netting is expensive. Growers spread out their vineyards in different areas.
Frost an issue in flat areas or bottom of slope.
El Nino every 2-10 years.
Soils
Alluvial soils from rivers flowing down Andes.
Higher altitudes = larger stones with calcerous deposits
Mid altitudes = gravel, sand, silt
Lowers altitudes = loamy clay soil with lots of nutrients
Calcarous soils in Gualtallary and Paraje Altamira in Uco and Pedernal Valley in San Juan –> high quality wines
Area under vine
2019 - 200,000 hectares
300,000 in the 70’s and 80’s, but a vine pull scheme was introduced after falling domestic demand, lots of Malbec vines torn up.
Still 30% of vines are 40+ years old
Irrigation
Irrigation is needed (200mm of rain in some places).
Flood irrigation most popular (70% of vineyards), heavier in winter and lighter in summer to mimic natural patterns. Distributed by channels and dams.
Free-draining soils prevent water logged roots and allows water to drain deep in soil so root systems still have to grow.
Drip irrigations systems now cheaper than levelling a vineyard for flooding, and allows more precise watering. Water shortages in recent years prevent flooding.
Vine Training
Historically, pergolas called Parrals were used to train vines high to avoid heat reflecting back on grapes, and to allow shading. Good for high yields like Criolla Grande and Pedro Ximenez. Still used for Torrontes and other high yielding varieties.
Other growers using VSP for drip irrigation and canopy management.
Hazards and Pests in the vineyard
Phylloxera present but not a threat, perhaps because of the sandy soils.
Fungal disease not an issue as dry climate, so it is an ideal place for organic and biodynamic viticulture.
Labour
Historically, labour was cheap and most vineyards worked manually, but rising costs have made it harder to find workers. Producers turning to mechanisation where possible.
Grape Varieties: Criolla
Cereza, Criolla Grande, Criolla Chica: historical varieties with pink skins. High yielding, light wines. Still make up 20% of plantings.
Grape Varieties: Malbec
20% of total vineyard area, which increased 350% during 1995-2018.
High sunlight hours give high but soft tannin and colour, with medium to medium (+) aciditiy, with black fruit.
In cooler sites, lower alcohol, medium(+) acidity, medium (+) firm tannins, with a floral or herbal note and red & black fruit.
Also made into fresh, fruity rose.
Cuttings from France before Phylloxera, which were then propagated by selection massale. Argentinian clones have softer tannins and smaller berries/bunches.
Grape Varieties: Bonarda
Late-ripening, most widely planted in San Juan. Labelled Bonarda Argentina for export. High yield but can be interesting and more concentrated when yield is limited. 80+% consumed domestically.
Deep colour, red & black fruit, medium (+) acidity, medium tannin and alcohol. New oak is rarely used.
Often blended with Malbec/Cab Sauv
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon
More susceptible to heat and fungal disease than the other varieties. Challenging to sell because of international competition. Some premium single-varietal cabs now.
Ripe, high tannin, black fruit with spice, no herbaceous character.
Grape Varieties: Syrah
Successful in warmer Mendoza and San Juan.
Warmer sites: Ripe, high tannin and alcohol, with ripe black fruit flavours.
Cooler sites: more elegant, higher acidity
Other Grape Varieties
Tempranillo: medium body and medium to full body, with red fruit and spice from oak
Merlot: used for Bdx style blends but plantings decreasing
Pinot Noir: In high altitude, cooler sites like Patagonia and higher vineyards in Uco.
Cabernet Franc: blended but sometimes single varietal, becoming more interesting
Petit Verdot: blended
Tannat: blended
Winemaking Style
Traditionally old European style: lots of new oak but foreign investment introduced modern techniques.
Harvesting earlier, natural & whole bunch fermentation, different vessels, separating parcels for vinification and then blending.
Super-premium on the rise, also dry rose.
Grape Varieties: Pedro Giminez
Still most planted white grape, neutral and high yielding, mostly domestic consumption.
Grape Varieties: Torrontes
Torrontes Riojano, second most planted white variety.
Native, natural cross of Muscat of Alexandria and Criolla Chica.
Vigorous, high yielding. Early-ripening so can be high alcohol and flabby. Often floral.
Reducing yield, picking earlier, fermenting cooler gives it citrus and peach, less floral notes.
Sometimes blended with SB or made into sweet late-harvest wine.
Grape Varieties: Chardonnay
Premium sites in Uco: med (+) to high acidity, ripe stone and tropical fruit. Usually none or little new oak.
Other white grape varieties
Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc
Chenin Blanc
Viognier
Geographical Indicators
IP: Indicacion de Procedencia
IG (or GI): Indicacion Geografica, wines of a certain quality from a certain area considered capable of quality wines
DOC: Wines from a specific geographical area with legislated winemaking regulations (Lujan de Coyo and San Rafael in Mendoza)
Reserva and Gran Reserva Ageing
Reserva: 12 months for reds, 6 months whites/roses
Gran Reserva: 24 months for reds, 12 months whites/roses
Regions: Mendoza
Largest wine producing region in Argentina: 75% of vineyard area and 2/3 production
West Mendoza in the foothills, higher altitude, cooler, access to irrigation water. East Mendoza hotter and flatter.
500m to 1500m (highest in Uco)
Broken into Northern, Central, Southern, Eastern, and Uco Valley
Regions: Northern & Eastern Mendoza
On the plains of the Mendoza river valley, low areas (500m)
Warm, with water for irrigation from Mendoza river.
High volume, inexpensive. Some premium from low-yielding Tempranillo and Bonarda vines
Regions: Central Mendoza
Called Primera Zona because longest history
600 to 1100m
Malbec is dominant, but also there is Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Syrah, and premium whites from cooler areas.
Top areas are Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu
Regions: Lujan de Cuyo
In Central Mendoza, SW of city of Mendoza
In higher area, vines between 900-1100m
Over half the vineyards are Malbec.
DOC Lujan de Cuyo was the first DOC, must be aged min 24 months with 12 in oak. Used by a handful of producers for almost exclusively Malbec.
GI Lujan de Cuyo, some well-known district GIs like Las Compuertas and Agrelo.
Las Compuertas: High vineyards iproduce full-bodied Malbec/BDX varieties with medium (+) acidity and firm tannins. Elegant whites (Chard and SB)
Agrelo: lower clay soil produced riper, fruitier reds, Very Good to Outstanding have structure for ageing. Full-bodied whites from Semillon.
Regions: Maipu
In Central Mendoza, East of Lujan de Cuyo and East of city of Mendoza
Lower altitude (600-900m)
Lots of old vines
Intensely fruity and full-bodied Malbec, higher alcohol and softer tannin,
Low, warm sites have high volume production but also some high quality Cab, Tempranillo, Syrah, and old-vine Bonarda
Regions: Uco Valley
In Mendoza, in foothills of the Andes, with highest vineyards in Mendoza
Big investments from inside Argentina and abroad, most technologically advanced in vineyard and cellar
Drip irrigation commonly used
Black varieties, mostly Malbec but also the others
Potential for premium whites in cooler, higher altitude vineyards
GI Valle de Uco covers 3 departments: Tupungato, Tunuyan, and San Carlos
Regions: Tupungato
In Uco Valley, most northerly and highest of the departments, at the base of the Mouth Tupungato volcano
Fresh, full-bodied reds from Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir
Crisp elegant whites from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc.
Gualtallary - in the process of becoming GI for its limestone soils, 1100-1600m. Reds - Malbec with red and black fruit, floral/herbal, high acidity, sometimes blended with Cab Franc.
Regions: Tunuyan
In Uco Valley, south of Tupungato
Warmer end of valley: riper, fuller red wines
Cooler/higher end of valley: Premium whites and Pinot Noir, highest part of Mendoza
Regions: San Carlos
In Uco Valley, most southerly
Old vines, high quality Malbec, Cab Sauv, and Syrah (in warmer parts)
GI Paraje Altamira on an alluvial fan, marked presence of Calcium Carbonate and stony topsoil. 1000-1200m, more intense and full-bodied as a warmer area
Regions: Southern Mendoza
Mainly in department of San Rafael, 200km south of city of Mendoza, so cooler even though they are lower altitude. Prone to summer hailstorms.
More high volume blends, but also some premium wines. Medium bodied reds with more red fruit.
Malbec, Cab Sauv, Syrah, Bonarda for reds and Chenin Blanc for whites.
San Rafael is a DOC, but the department is more often used on labels.
Regions: San Juan Province
North of Mendoza, second largest area under vine.
600-1500m. Lower sites are warmer and more planted with pink varieties.
Syrah most planted red grape, gaining reputation for premium reds in areas of higher altitude (in the foothills) like GI Pedernal Valley - 1250-1500m.
Regions: La Rioja
North of San Juan, 3rd largest wine producing area.
Focus on high volume wines from the Famatina Valley.
La Riojana cooperative
Torrontes, Cab Sauv, Malbec, Syrah
Regions: Salta Province
In the far north of Argentina
Big investments from abroad and domestic
Vineyards along the Calchaqui River, water for irrigation.
Closest to the equator, but high altitude of 1500-3000m
Intense sunlight, high anthocyanin and tannin, but mountains provide shade.
Strong Zonda wind causes thicker skins and lower yield.
Wines are highly concentrated and full, but fresh. Malbec with medium (+) acidity, high alcohol, ripe black fruit with floral or herbal character.
White grape: Torrontes, grown in GI Cafayate
GI Cafayate: district in south of Salta, 1700m, unoaked aromatic wines.
Regions: Patagonia
700km south of Mendoza City
Lower altitude, 400m, but also further from equator
200mm rain
Pinot Noir, Cab Franc, Merlot, Semillon, Chardonnay, Riesling. Floral Malbec.
Constant winds (particularly Neuquen)
Production mostly in province of Rio Negra and Neuquen.
Regions: Neuquen
In Patagonia
Fairly new wine region, vineyards where Neuquen river joins Rio Negra river.
warmer, more arid than Rio Negra, riper styles
Malbec, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc
Production Levels
13m hL
5th largest wine producing country, but fluctuations from El Nino
60% vineyards 5ha or less.
FeCoViTa and Groupo Penaflor some of world’s highest volume producers.
Exports
2018: exported 2.8 million hL
USA main export market (22% by volume, 31% by value), then UK, Spain, Canada, Brazil
MERCOSURE trade agreement in Latin America
Boom in 2000s from weak peso, peaked in USA in 2008 for volume (4m hL) and 2012 for value ($900m)
Then, rise in inflation cause prices to go up and 2016 El Nino and 2017 spring frost caused yields to suffer.
Restrictions on foreign land ownership, which weren’t lifted until 2016.
Wines of Argentina very active. Malbec v popular but need to diversify in case Malbec falls out of favour.
COVIAR body to promote Argentinean wines.
Exports only 20% - domestic consumption still v important. down from 90L per capita to 19 - premiumisation.
