Argentina Flashcards
What is the main natural feature of Argentina wine country?
Andes Mountains
Andes creates rain shadow in Argentina
What is the distance between the northernmost and the southernmost vineyards of Argentina?
1,500 Km separate Salta province and Neuquén in Patagonia.
The Salta province in Argentina is located at a latitude inhospitable (read: too hot) for grape growing.
How do Argentinian wine growers produce wine in this region?
Most vineyards are at high altitude (600+ meters), some as high as 2000m above the sea level.
What is the training system in Argentina?
Why?
Pergola system, known locally as Parral.
・Situated high off the ground, lifted the grapes away from the searing heat close to the ground.
・The canopy protects clusters from the hot sun and ensures shade for the grapes.
What grape variety is still grown using the Parral trellising system?
Today most black/red grapes are trellised using ___.
Torrontés
VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning).
However the canopy still need to be arranged so that grapes are shaded from the intense sunshine.
Is the rainfall in Argentina high or low?
Are vine growers allowed to irrigate their vineyards?
・Rainfall in Argentina is low thanks to the rain shadow of the Andes.
・Yes, irrigation is a must in Argentina.
Water can be drawn from rivers flowing down from the mountains or from subterranean aquifers.
What forms of irrigation are used in Argentina?
Flood irrigation - used to be more common but is less so today;
Drip irrigation - more efficient; more common in newer vineyards.
What are the weather hazards facing Argentinian vineyards?
Spring Frost
Summer Hail - a lot of producers use netting to protect their vineyards
What is the benefit of Argentina’s lack of rain and arid climate?
Low fungal disease pressure
What are the 3 most planted red varieties in Argentina?
1 Malbec (most planted)
2 Bonarda (second most planted)
3 Cabernet Sauvignon
Tempranillo and Pinot Noir
Malbec
1,3,5,7,8,10
1 Deeply coloured
3 Full bodied (Lower altitude is richier)
5 High levels of smooth tannin
7 Black fruit (Lower altitude has richier black fruit. Higher altitude has more floral aromas).
8 Most high quality wines are matured in new oak = subtle spicy aromas
10 Mostly single but sometimes blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
Bonarda
1,4,5
When grown at high yields, Bonarda produces ___ wines with ___ colour and ___ aromas.
When yields are controlled and the fruit is allowed to ripen fully, it can produce wines of ___.
1 Medium to deeply coloured
4 High acidity
5 High tannin
early drinking
medium to deeply
fruity raspberry and black berry
greater concentration and structure
Bonarda is mainly grown in ___.
Mendoza and San Juan
What are the 4 most important wine production provinces of Argentina?
Mendoza (most important)
San Juan (2nd most important)
La Rioja Province (3rd most important)
Salta (highest elevation)
Some of the best examples of Argentinean Torrontés come from high-elevation vineyards in this department located within this Province.
3,4,7,12
Cafayate department within the Salta Province
3 Medium body
4 Medium acidity
7 Intense fruity, floral perfume
Stone fruit and melon.
12 Fermented in inert, temperature-controlled vessels.
Released from the winery in the year of harvest.
White varieties in Argentina
Pedro Gimenez (Most planted white grape variety in Argentina)
Chardonnay
Chinin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Viognier
Pedro Gimenez Quality
Low quality
Cheap wines for the domestic market.
What is the northernmost province or region of production in Argentina?
Salta province – it’s near the Bolivian border
Some of the best examples of Argentinean Torrontés come from high-elevation vineyards in this department located within this Province.
Cafayate department within the Salta Province
Torrontés from Cafayate is highly aromatic
Black grape varieties in Cafayate
Malbec
Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the third largest area of production of Argentina?
La Rioja Province, which is located just south of the Salta.
What is the principal vineyard area in La Rioja Province?
Famatina Valley
Where are vineyards in Famatina planted on?
Large volumes of grapes can be planted on Irrigated valley floors
Grape varieties in Famatina
Torrontes (Speciality of this province)
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
Bonarda
What wine province is located between Mendoza and La Rioja Province?
San Juan
The vineyards in San Juan are located at approximately ___ above the sea level.
Compare to Mendoza
450 to 1400m
Similar range to those of Mendoza to the south where the conditions are hotter and more arid.
Red grape varieties in San Juan
High quality Syrah
but also…
Malbec
Bonarda
Cabernet Sauvignon
The most planted white grapes in San Juan
Torrontes
Chardonnay
The vineyards in Mendoza are planted in desert conditions, protected from rain is the west by the ___ and from the east by the ___.
Andes mountain
Argentine Pampas
What are the subregions of Mendoza?
Northern
Eastern
Central
Uco Valley
Southern
Which subregions in Mendoza focus on high volume, inexpensive wines?
Northern and Eastern Mendoza
What is the name of the river that flows through Northern and Eastern Mendoza?
How does it affect the vineyards?
Mendoza River
It provides irrigation water for the production of high-volume, inexpensive wines.
Central Mendoza Quality
Central Mendoza has the longest history of producing high quality wines.
What are the most important GIs of the Central Mendoza region? Which is higher altitude?
Luján de Cuyo (higher altitude)
Maipú
Luján de Cuyo
Altitude
Location
Grape varieties
900 to 1100m
In the foothills of Andes, south west of Mendoza city.
Malbec
Grape varieties in Maipu
Syrah
Cabernet Sauvignon
Bonarda
Tempranillo
Which Mendoza subregion has the highest altitude vineyards?
Uco Valley
Vineyards reach between 900-1500m.
What is the department within Uco Valley that is producing higher quality wines?
Tupungato
Southern Mendoza is home to the ___ department. Compare to Mendoza it has a ___ altitude but its ___ makes it one of the ___ areas in the province.
San Rafael
low
southerly
coolest
What is the southernmost wine region of Argentina?
Patagonia
Name the two provinces of Patagonia.
Neuquén
Rio Negro
Vineyards in Patagonia are located ___ asl.
Climate in Patagonia
200-250m
・It is dry like the rest of Argentina
・Cooling influence is not the altitude, but the latitude.
・Strong desert winds are the problem.
・Low rainfall and wide diurnal range = low incidence of disease.
Why do the wines of Patagonia display concentrated but fresh fruit flavours, bright acidity (medium to high)?
Large diurnal shift (Long daylight hours and cool nights)
What grape varieties perform best in the Patagonia wine region?
Pinot Noir
Sauvignon Blanc
Malbec
Chardonnay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
What system does Argentina use to classify their wines?
Argentina uses a GI system.
Three big regions in Argentina are divided into provinces and then departments.
