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D3 KID > Argentina > Flashcards

Argentina Flashcards

1
Q

Domestic consumption declined in Argentina in 1970s onwards. So what?

A

Along with return to democracy in 80s and 90s, producers (Eg Nicolas Catena) looked to export, and shift quantity to quality

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2
Q

Three significant wine consultants that impacted Argentina (modernisation)

A

Michel Rolland
Alberto Antonini
Paul Hobbs

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3
Q

Argentina has low latitude and high altitude. So what?

A

Vital, otherwise it would be too hot for viticulture

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4
Q

Altitude in Argentina

A

500m-3,300m

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5
Q

Topography of Argentina vineyards?

A

High altitude BUT

generally falt or gently sloping sites

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6
Q

Argentina has a high diurnal range (over 20C in some places). So what?

A

Cool nights extend growing season, allow grapes to retain acid and aromas

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7
Q

Combination of low latitude and high altitude means what for sunlight in Argentina?

A

Intense sunlight, relatively high ultraviolet radiation

=> high levels of tannins and anthocyanins

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8
Q

Climate in Argentina?

A

Mostly CONTINENTAL

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9
Q

Is rainfall high or low in Argentina?

A

Low!
Less than 200m in parts
Irrigation essential

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10
Q

What is zonda?

A

Hot, dry powerful wind in Argentina
Late spring, early summer
Lowers humidity, induce water stress, can affect flowering etc

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11
Q

How can growers mitigate against zonda in Argentina?

A

Use trees as a windbreak

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12
Q

What does hail do in Argentina?

A

a constant threat, can significantly reduce yields

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13
Q

How do growers mitigate against hail in Argentina?

A

Netting (but it’s expensive)

Spread vineyards around place (insurance)

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14
Q

What does El Nino bring to Argentina?

A

Every 2-10 years
Much higher rain than average, more hailstorms

2016: reduced production by 25% overall, 40% in Mendoza

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15
Q

Soils in Argentina are generally alluvial soils from what?

A

Deposited by rivers flowing down from the Andes

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16
Q

Poor soils at altitude in Argentina. Why? So what?

A

Dry continental climate so little organic matter from decomposed flora/fauna
Poor soils
Naturally low yielding, high quality viticulture

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17
Q

What’s notable about Gualtallary and Paraje Altamira (Uco Valley) and Pedernal Valley (San Juan)?

A

Deposits of calcareous soils found here

Increasingly known for high quality wines

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18
Q

Land under vine in Argentina

A

200,000ha (was much higher in 1970s/80s)

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19
Q

Vine pull scheme in Argentina in 80s/90s. So what?

A

area under vine went from 300,000ha to 200,000
response to rapid fall in demand

but 1000s of hectares of Malbec pulled out just before its potential was recognised!

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20
Q

Argentina: irrigation rainwater from where?

A

Rivers (eg the Mendoza and its tributaties) deliver pure meltwater from winter snow/glaciers in the Andes

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21
Q

Flood irrigation common in Argentina. Why?

A

Suitable for Argentina’s free draining soils
=> water goes deep in the soil
also: cheap!
used in 70% of vineyards

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22
Q

Drip irrigation is increasing in Argentina (vs flood irrigation which is most common). What are the benefits?

A

Increased efficiency
Little wastage
Sutstainable (water shortages an issue in Mendoza, La Rioja and San Jaun)

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23
Q

What is parral?

A

Argentinian pergola system, traditionally

Still widely used in warmer areas for eg Torrontés

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24
Q

Why is pergola/parral suitable for Torrontés?

A

it needs shade to retain acidity and aromas

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25
Q

Phylloxera is present in Argentina but not a problem. Why? So what?

A

Sandy soils and arid climate

Most vines ungrafted

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26
Q

Most vines in Argentina are ungrafted. But grafting is now more common. Why?

A

Risk from nematodes

Benefit that some rootstocks have to resist drought

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27
Q

Why is mechanical harvest common in Argentina now?

A

Fewer casual labourers available, people don’t want to work for such low pay

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28
Q

Dr Nicolas Catena and who else have done a lot of work on understanding Malbec?

A

Aldo Biondolillo

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29
Q

Improvements in Argentinian viticulture in recent years?

A

Increase in drip (vs. flood) irrigation
Better canopy management
Understanding clonal selection of eg Malbec
Understand how soils affect wine styles

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30
Q

Historically Argentina was dominated by what kind of grapes?

A

Pink criolla grapes

eg Cereza, Criolla Grande, Criolla Chica (aka Pais)

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31
Q

What are pink criolla grapes?

A

They have pink skins when fully ripe
Make light coloured wine
Long used for inexpensive domestic production in Argentina

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32
Q

Pink criolla grapes account for what % of Argentinian planting?

A

20%

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33
Q

Malbec accounts for what % of total Argentina plantings?

A

20%

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34
Q

Increase of Malbec plantings in Argentina 1995-2018?

A

increase of 350%!!!

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35
Q

Is Malbec vigorous?

A

Yes

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36
Q

When does Malbec ripen?

A

Mid-ripening

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37
Q

Argentinian Malbec style (warm, sunny conditions)

A 
deep colour
full body
high tannin, soft
high alcohol
ripe blackberry, black plum
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38
Q

In Argentinian blends, what is Malbec blended with?

A

Bordeaux varieties
Bonarda
Syrah

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39
Q

Argentina’s most planted grape

A

Malbec of course

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40
Q

Argentinian Malbec from cool sites (high altitude, high latitude): style

A 
lower alcohol
medium (+) acidity
firm, medium (+) tannin
fresh fruit flavours
red adn black fruit
floral and herbal
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41
Q

Berry size of Malbec clones in Argentina vs in France?

A

smaller berries in Argentina

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42
Q

Argentina’s second most planted black grape?

A

Bonarda (aka Bonarda Argentina)

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43
Q

Why is Bonarda called “Bonarda Argentina”?

A

to distinguish it from Bonarda in Italy

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44
Q

Where is Bonarda planted in Argentina?

A

Mainly in San Juan and warmer parts of Mendoza

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45
Q

What is Bonarda used for in Argentina?

A

large volumes of inexpensive wine, domestic consumption

can also be high quality, intense and structured when yields are limited

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46
Q

Argentina: Bonarda style

A 
deep colour
red and black fruit
medium (+) acid
medium tannin
medium alcohol
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47
Q

Comment on oak and Bonarda

A

Oak can overwhelm it

If oak used, usually it’s large and/or old oak

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48
Q

Oak can overwhelm Bonarda. So what?

A

If it’s used, it’s usually alrge or old vessels

49
Q

What makes Bonarda a popular blending component?

A

High yields
Fruity nature
Intense colour

50
Q

When Bonarda is made in a high quality style (controlled yields, old vines etc), what’s it like?

A

More complex
Riper black fruit
Spicy characteristics

51
Q

Argentina: site selection is important for Cabernet Sauvignon why?

A

More susceptible to extremes of temperature and to fungald disease than Malbec

52
Q

Argentina: Cabernet Sauvignon style?

A

Ripe high tannin
Blackcurrant, blackberry, spicy
Herbaceous

53
Q

Syrah is particularly successful in what parts of Argentina?

A

Hotter parts of Mendoza

San Juan

54
Q

Argentina: Pinot Noir successful where?

A

Patagonia and high-elevation vineyards in Uco Valley

=> concentrated, fruit wines

55
Q

How has red winemaking in Argentina shifted with foreign investment and foreign winemakers?

A

Traditionally: ferment and mature in large oak, some oxidation

Foreign investment and winemakers: later harvest, temperature control, new French oak => full body, ripe, fruity, oaky

56
Q

Argentina: producers of super-premium wines with ageign potential

A

Catena Zapata
Vina Cobos
Achaval Ferrer

57
Q

Most planted white grape in Argentina?

A

Pedro Gimenez (NOT same in Jerez PX)

58
Q

Pedro Gimenez style

A

neutral

simple, inexpensive, domestic consumption

59
Q

Three Torrontés varieties

A

Torrontés Riojano
Torrontés Sanjuanino
Torrontés Mendocino

RIOJANO is best and most popular

60
Q

Torrontes is a cross of what

A

Muscat of Alexandria a nd Criolla Chica

61
Q

Comment on Torronteses’ yield and vigour

A

High yields, vigorous

62
Q

Torrontes is early-ripening. So what?

A

In ARgentina heat, it sometimes overripens and becomes overly alcoholic, lacking in acidity and with a bitter finish

63
Q

What are producers doing to make better Torrontes today?

A

Reducing yields
Earlier harvesting
Termperature control

=> fruitier wines (lemon, grapefruit, peach) rather than too floral
fresh wines, lower alcohol

64
Q

Torrontes particularly succesful from what parts of Argentina?

A

Cafayate (Salta)

Also from other cooler, higher vineayrds in Uco Valley

65
Q

Argentina’s three-tier system of geographical indications

A

IP (Indicacion de Procedencia): large geographical areas but not the country s a whole

IG (or GI, Indicacion Geografica): more specific geographical area capable of producing quality wines

DOC: specific geographical area, legislated winemaking criteria. THERE ARE ONLY TWO (Lujan de Cuyo and San Rafael)

66
Q

How widely used is Argentina’s DOC designation

A

NOT!

There are only two DOCs: Lujan de Cuyo and San Rafael (both in Mendoza) and producers don’t widely use it

67
Q

Argentina: what does Reserva indicate?

A

Reds: 12 months’ ageing
White and rose: 6 months ageing

(Gran Reserva is twice as long)

68
Q

Argentina’s largest wine-producing province is ____

A

Mendoza

69
Q

Mendoza accounts for what % of total Argentinian vineyard area?

A

75% !

and 2/3s of total production

70
Q

Altitude in Mendoza

A

500m (eastern plains) to 1,500m (upper parts of Uco Valley)

71
Q

Dominant grape in Mendoza

A

Malbec (25% of plantings)

72
Q

Mendoza vineyard split into what 5 divisions?

A
  1. Northern
  2. Eastern
  3. Central
  4. Uco Valley
  5. Southern

only Uco Valley is a registered GI

73
Q

Acronym for remembering Mendoza’s five divisons?

A

NECUS

Northern
Eastern
Central
Uco Valley
Southern
74
Q

Northern and Eastern Mendoza can produce large volumes of inexpensive wine. Why?

A

Warm conditions and availability of water

Irrigation from Mendoza River and Tunuyan River

75
Q

Argentina: what/where is the Primera Zona?

A

Central Mendoza

Called that because longest history of making quality wine in Argentina

76
Q

Two most prestigious wine-producing departments in Central Mendoza?

A

Lujan de Cuyo

Maipu

77
Q

First DOC in Argentina?

A

DOC Lujan de Cuyo

78
Q

What are the rules for DOC Lujan de Cuyo?

A

min 24 months, 12 months in oak

only a small # of producers use it

79
Q

Where is Lujan de Cuyo?

A

South-west of Mendoza city

It’s the higher half of Central Mendoza/Primera Zona

80
Q

Two prestigious sub-GIs within the GI Lujan de Cuyo?

A

Las Compuertas

Agrelo

81
Q

What is Las Compuertas

A

a district-level GI within Lujan de Cuyo GI
Fruity, full-bodied reds (Malbec, Bordeaux varieties) that can age
Elegant Chard and Sauv Blanc

82
Q

Altitude in Lujan de Cuyo?

A

900-1,100m

83
Q

Maipu is slightly lower than Lujan de Cuyo. So what?

A

Warmer sites

Along with old vines => intense fruit, full body, high alcohol, soft tannin

84
Q

Mendoza’s highest vineayrds are where?

A

Uco Valley

850-1,500m

85
Q

Uco Valley has high latitude and high altitude. So what?

A

Cooler than many other areas
Slow ripening, sugar accumulation is slow etc
=> high acid, fresh fruit flavours, deep colour, ripe tannin
=> HIGH quality!

86
Q

Three departments within GI Valle de Uco?

A

Tupungato
Tunuyan
San Carlos

Each has its own GI

87
Q

What is grown in Tupungato?

A

Malbec, Cab Sauv, Cab Farnc, Pinot Noir, Chard, Sauv Blanc

It’s a department of Uco Valley

88
Q

What is Gualtallary?

A

A sub-region (“district”) within Tupungato, which is part of Uco Valley (Mendoza)

High quality here. In process of becoming a GI

89
Q

What is the reptuation of Southern Mendoza?

A

Not as prestigious as other aprts of province
Grapes often sent away to use for blends
Some high quality wines

90
Q

Southern Mendoza contains what DOC?

A

San Rafael DOC (one of only two DOCs in Argentina, not widely used)

91
Q

San Juan Province traditionally known for what kind of wines? So what?

A

High volume from high-yielding pink varieties

These wines falling out of favour => land under vine is decreasing here

92
Q

Example of a high quality GI within San Juan Province?

A

Pedernal Valley

1,250-1,500m

93
Q

Argentina’s La Rioja Province produces what kind of wines?

A

High volume, inexpensive grown in Famatina Valley

eg Torrontes, Malbec, Cab Sauv, Syrah

94
Q

What is La Riojana?

A

Large co-op in La Rioja, Argentina

World’s largest producer of Fairtrade certified wines

95
Q

Argentinian wines from La Rioja must have what label for export?

A

“La Rioja Argentina”

96
Q

Salta Province located where?

A

Far north of Argentina

97
Q

Most Salta Province vineyards in the valley of what river? So what?

A

Calchaqui River

Provides irrigation water (desert-like conditions)

98
Q

Latitude in Salta Province?

A

24-26S

Some of closest vineyards to the equator in the world

99
Q

Altitude in Salta Province?

A

HIGH!
1,500-3,000m
offset the low latitude

100
Q

Low latitude and high altitude means what for Salta Province?

A

Intense sunlight => high tannin, anthocyanin

101
Q

Mountains around Salta Province do what?

A

Provide shade from intense sun

Strong zonda wind blows down

102
Q

Strong zonda winds in Salta Province. So what?

A

Vines protect themselves => thicker skins, lower yields

high concentration, full body, fragrant, fresh

103
Q

Dominant black grape in Salta Province?

A

Malbec

104
Q

Malbec style in Salta Province

A 
Full body
Medium (+) acid
High alcohol
Ripe black fruit
Herbal, floral lift
105
Q

Dominant white grape in Salta Province?

A

Torrontes

particularly in Cafayate GI

106
Q

Altitude in Patagonia?

A

Way lower than elsewhere in Argentina

400m

107
Q

Patagonia developing a reputation for what grapes

A

Pinot Noir, Cab Franc, Merlot, Semillon, Chardonnay, Riesling

BUT

Malbec is #1 planted grape

108
Q

Most production in Patagonia comes from what province?

A

Rio Negro provicne

109
Q

Where are Rio Negro and Neuquen provinces located?

A

Patagonia, Argentina

110
Q

What impacts the quantity of wine produced in Argentina in some years?

A

El Nino

111
Q

Argentina’s main export market

A

USA

22% of Argentina export by volume (31% by value)

112
Q

Account for Argentin’a export boom in 2000s?

A

Weak peso => boom in sales to US

good quality, inexpensive wines

113
Q

Events in 2010s that led to Argentinian exports to slow?

A

Inflation (rising costs of production, more difficult to make inexpensive wines)

Low yields 2016 (El Nino)

Low yields 2017 (spring frost)

114
Q

Foreign investment in Argentina has slowed why?

A

Govt. restrictions on foreign ownership of land

This restriction was lifted (new govt.) in 2016

115
Q

Malbec accounts for what % of Argentinian exports?

A

60%

116
Q

What is COVIAR?

A

Argentina national and local govt., growers, producers and professional bodies => promote Argentina wine domestic and xport

117
Q

Argentina’s exports account for what % of its production

A

Just 20%

Domestic market remains crucial!

118
Q

What is FeCoViTa?

A

Collective of 29 co-ops in Argentina

119
Q

What is Grupo Penaflor?

A

One of biggest wine producers in the world

Owns Trapiche, Finca Las Moras

D3 KID (35 decks)

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