Argentina Flashcards
brief history of Argentina
- 15th century spanish settlers, then indipendence, europeans (italy, spain, france) bring viticolture and varietals with them before philoxxera
- political crisis 20th century, high domestic market of inexpensive wines
- fall of domestic market in the 70s, Nicolas Catena looks for export market focusing on quality (also economic push from Rolland, Paul Hobbs, Alberto Antonini), malbec becomes popular
latitude and altitude
latitude LOW (so you need altitude)
altitude HIGH (500mt lowest up 3300mt)
even at highest altitudes where are vineyards planted?
on flat or gently slopes sites
main influences of high altitude
- wide diurnal range (extend growing season = retain aroma and acidity)
- high proportion of ultraviolets radiation (high levels of tannins anto anthocyanins)
5 viticultural problems in argentina
- lack of rain
- strong winds
- hail
- frost
- el nino
lack or rain in argentina; why, how much and remedy
- rain shadow effect of the andes
- less than 200ml a year
- irrigation
also hot dry air reduce fungal
zonda wind: what it is, when, what it does, remedy
- strong hot dry wind, from the mountains gets into the valleys
- late spring, early summer
- reduce fungal; lowers humitidy (water stress); affects flowering, fruit set and damage grapes (reduce yields)
- trees (poplas) as windbreaks
hail: remedies and main problem
- netting (netting is too expensive for larger areas (only best sites are protected)
- multiple sites to minimise risk
where is frost a problem in argentina?
flat areas, bottom slopes both in high and low altitude
what is el nino? when occurs? problems?
- is a phenomenon/current
- every 2 to 10 years
- brings high rainfall and hailstorms - damage crops, increase diseases risk (can reduce up to 50% of the crop)
general soils of argentina
alluvial soils from rivers running down from the andes
specific soils of argentina by altitude
all of alluvial origin, all poor (low yielding) 1. high altitude - stones with calcareous deposits 2. mid altitude - gravel, sand, silt 3. low altitude - loam, clay
terroir studies on soils in argentina
recently studies are starting to emerge to check texture and soil composition especially of deposits of calcareous soils in top areas such as Gualtallary, Paraje Altamira (Uco Valley) and Pedernal Valley (San Juan)
plantings and vines age
200k ha (before it was more, fall of domestic demand) 30% is over 40 years old vines
lack of rain: three main remedies
- natural remedies
- flood irrigation
- drip irrigation
rain natural remedies to improve irrigation
- rivers (like river Mendoza)
- snow from the andes
- dams and irrigation channel (16th century)
- reservoirs
flood irrigation: what is it, why it works, how much water is used?
- water is released into a vineyard
- free draining soils absorbs into the soil, cheap (70% most used system)
- equivalent of a heavy summer rainfall
why drip irrigation is an option in argentina?
- is cheaper on new vineyards on slopes (they will have to lever the terrain instead for flood)
- areas with not sufficient sources of above ground water for flood (canals, river)
- better use of water and maximum control
used in Mendoza, La Rioja and San Juan
timing of irrigation
- high amounts in winter - replicate winter rainfall
- low amounts during growing seasons (from every 2 days to 2 weeks) for root growth
vine training in argentina
- parral (pergola) - traditional, to avoid ground heat and augment shading, used in warmer areas especially for torrontez (aromatics) or high yield (criolla chica/grande, pedro gimenez)
- VPS - better for modern canopy management/drip irrigation
grafting: is it used in argentina?
yes, mainly to avoid nematodes risks and to increase drought tolerance sandy soils/arid climate kills philloxera
is organic/biodynamic used and why?
yes, because of little threats of fungal diseases number is low but growing
harvesting in argentina
traditional is hand harvest (low pay labour) now machine: faster, cheaper, few labourers for low paid jobs
main modernisation in argentina viticolture
- drip irrigation
- canopy management
- clonal selection (nicolas catena on malbec)
- picking dates = wine styles
- different soil types study
- new areas are considered (higher on the mountains, closer to th atlantic ocean, and south areas)
bulk production of argentina: grapes and market change
- cereza, criolla grande/chica (pink skinned varieties), currently at 20% of total plantings
- drop down during the 90s, originally these white/pink were most planted now market knows about reds (internationally) 53% planting is red
malbec ripening and vigour
mid ripening high vigour
malbec styles
- export market expectations (high soft tannins and alcohol, black plum)
- quality level: from inexpensive to ultra premium
- blends: bordeaux inspired blends (with also bonarda and syrah)
- terroir: cooler sites (lower alcohol, higher acidity), warmer sites (full body, ripe) and blends of the two [single vineyards are growing in fine wine markets]
planting material
high arrays of selection
- cuttings from france during philloxera periods (high quality)
- clonal research/selection massale studies
- generally smaller berries with softer tannins
bonarda plantings
2nd most planted 85% consumed domestically (not strong on exports)
is bonarda in argentina the same as Italy?
no, infact they called it bonarda argentina to differentiate
where is bonarda grown?
san juan and warmer areas of mendoza
bonarda main features
- late-ripening 2. high yielding
styles of bonarda
mostly inexpensive wines for domestic consumption, some fine wines
- deep colour, red/blanc friuts, medium (+) acidity and medium tannins and alcohol, oak is usually big formats (small takes over too much), usually in blends with malbec or cab sauv
- more complex, mid prices to premium fine wines, riper fruit, lower yields, old vines (Maipu, Luyan de Cuyo, east Mendoza)
cabernet sauvignon in argentina
- more susceptible to temperatures - site selection important
- malbec blends, now more single varietals
- less plantings because of competition with other markets
where is syrah planted in argentina?
hotter sites of mendoza and san juan
less important black varieties planted in argentina
- tempranllo
- merlot (for blends)
- pinot noir (patagonia, uco high altitude)
- cabernet franc
- petit verdot
- tannat
how winemaking changed in argentina?
- traditionally influence from france, spain, italy: large oak, oxidation
- foreigna investors: modern winemaking for big oaky wines
- now is fresher wines, whole bunch, natural, new vessels (egg, concred, new barrique or old big botti) and more superpremium wines and single vineyards (Catena Zapate, Vina Cobos, Achaval Ferrer) and increase or rose production (and vineyards made for rose’)
most planted white and specs
pedro gimenez (it is not px) simple inexpensive bulk
best place for growing white grapes in argentina
cool areas high altitude e.g. Uco Valley
3 varietis of torrontes and highest quality one
- torrontes riojano (best quality, 2nd most planted white varietal)
- torrontes sanjuanino
- torrontes mendocino
torrontes is a cross between:
muscat of alexandria X criolla chica
keys to make a good torrontes:
- reduce yields (high vigour)
- early harvesting (early ripening, can go over-ripe easily)
- temperature control (maintains floral and fruity character)
can be single varietal or blend, can be unoaked or oaked
places for torrontez
high altitude: salta - cafayate and uco valley widely planted in mendoza, san juan and la rioja for high plantings
other white varieties in argentina
chardonnay semillon chenin blanc sauvignon blanc viognier
3 tier system of GI
IP - large geographical area
IG/GI - quality wine made from a specific area
DOC - specific area with delimited laws
DOC of Argentina
- Lujan de Cujo
- San Rafael
both in Mendoza
only a few producers are using this law
GI levels
- region: cujo
- province: mendoza
- sub region: uco valley
- department: san carlos
- district: la consulta
- sub discritc paraje altamira
how GI are formed
- generally by political borders
- some by terroir, climate and soil (e.g. Paraje Altamira)
general argentinian laws
- if GI or DOC, 85% is only from grapes from the area
- if vintage is signed 85% comes from the vintage
- single varietal signed 85% from stated varietal
- if 2/3 varieties are mentioned 85% needs to come from those grapes
reserva vs gran reserva
- reserva: 12mos red, 6 for white/rose
- gran reseva: twice as long
The region of Cuyo is formed by the provinces of:
Mendoza San Juan La Rioja
Mendoza accounts for how much of Argentina production?
75% largest wine producing province
Where the vineyards are located in Mendoza?
500-1500mt mostly at the base of the Andes, now some in the foothills
Mendoza 5 sub-areas division
- northern
- eastern
- central (luyan de cuyo, maipu)
- uco valley (tupungato, tunuyan, san carlos)
- southern (san rafael)
northern and eastern mendoza wine style
- cheap, large volume (irrigation from mendoza and tunuyan river, low altitude)
- high quality low yield tempranillo and bonarda
how is central mendoza known for and altitude
primera zona (longest history of wine production) 600 - 1100 mt
Luyan de Cuyo location
south west of the city of Mendoza Andes foothills 900-1100mt
Luyan de Cuyo is famous for
old vines malbec
DOC Lujan de Cuyo ageing
24 months ageing (12 in oak) used for malbec only by a very small number of producers
most famous smaller GIs inside Lujan de Cuyo
- La Compuertas - highest vineyards (also some Chard and Sauv B and Bordeaux varietals)
- Agrelo - lower with more clay (also Semillon)
maipu styles and location
south east from the city of mendoza lower/warmer (600mt to 900mt)
- highest altitude old vines malbec (softest tannins, more than mendoza)
- low warm sites for bulk or high quality cab sauv, tempranillo and old vines bonarda
uco valley main feature
high altitude (850 to 1500mt) coolest area of mendoza and highest vineyards of the region huge investments from top producers mainly black and some whites all premium
uco valley 3 departments
tupungato tunuyan san carlos
tupungato location and grapes
most northern and highest of the sub-areas of uco foot of mount tupungato volcano
malbec, cab sauv/franc, pinot noir, chard, sauvignon
most important district of tupungato and specs
gualtallary - top high quality district
- highest department 1100-1600 (long strip of vineyards)
- limestone soils
- lighter body, high acidity
also blends of malbec and cab franc
tunuyan grape varieties planted and why
wide array because of different altitudes (south of tupungato) red, fruity wines in lower altitude pinot noir in high altitude
san carlos varieties
old vine plantings of malbec and cab sauv in higher elevation sites and syrah in warmer areas
most important GI of san carlos
paraje altamira
alluvial fan with variety of soils (mostly stony top soil and high calcium carbonate)
1000 -1200mt
intense full body
is gualtallary a GI?
not yet but it is in the process of becoming one
in southern mendoza wine is mainly made in which GI department?
san rafael
san rafael climate specs
southern mendoza (longer growing season - good acid retention) lower altitue (450 to 850) prone to summer hailstorms
biggest production in argentina by province
- mendoza
- san juan (is not even 1/3 of mendoza)
- la rioja
san juan climate and location
morth of mendoza
600-1500mt altitude
lower sites inexpensive wines of pink skinned varietals (production is going down for not selling much)
higher sites, andes foothill better quality malbec, bonarda, but especially syrah which is becoming main variety
most important GI in San Juan
pedernal valley 1250-1500mt, close to mendoza fresher wines
la rioja, confusion problem with spain
for export is labeled as La Rioja Argentina
la rioja production
inexpensive wines from famatina valley (torrontes, cab sauv, malbec, syrah) main producer is La Riojana co-operative
salta main climatic specs
- valley next to calchaqui river (provide water for irrigation)
- closest region to equator
- highest altitue (1500-3000mt) intense sunlight (+ antocyanins/tannins)
- mountains surrounding the area are shadowing the vineyards
- zonda presence, vines are making thicker skins and lower yields
most important GI of salta and grape produced
Cafayate - 1700mt, south of the region un-oaked Torrontes
patagonia climatic specs
- low altitude (400mt)
- south (higher latitue, longer growing season)
- low rainfall (200mt) - irrigation is needed
- winds - helps ripening, can distrupt flowering and damage vines (barriers or poplar trees)
main grapes planted in patagonia
pinot noir cabernet franc merlot semillon chardonnay riesling malbec still the most planted
two main GIs of patagonia
Rio Negro
Neuquen
rio negro and neuquen differences
- rio negro has old vines (wine produced since 100years ago and low elevation (180-270)
- neuquen recent region, warmer and arid area, small production
argentina production overall
13 million hl a year 5th largest producer in the world production fluctuates according to el nino
export argentinian wines
mostly to US, UK, Spain, Canada, Brazil
also other latin american countries because of MERCOSUR free trade agrimeent
represents 20% of production (domestic is still important)
boom at the start of 2000 because of week peso
fall because of inflation and low yields in 16 because of el nino, also foreign ownership of land was blocked till 2016 so less investment
mostly is single vineyard malbec
who owns land and wineries in argentina?
average vineyard size is minus 5 ha (60% of it) mostly family owned (also catena and zuccardi) big co-op groupes FaCoViTa (collective of 28 co-ops) and Grupo Penaflor account for high production total now investment from outside (Italy, Spain, France, Chile)
