Argentina

Question 1

What are the three appellation levels in Argentina?

Answer 1

DOC (highest)
IG (PGI)
IP (Table wines/regional wines)

Question 2

What are the Zonda Winds?

Answer 2

The Zonda winds are fierce winds in Argentina that can damages leaves and fruit.

Question 3

What are Vinos Finos?

Answer 3

Vinos Finos are high quality wines in Argentina. It is about 20% of the wine production in Argentina.

Question 4

What are the three known varieties of Torrontes, and which is most widely planted?

Answer 4

Torrontes Rioja (most planted), Torrontes Mendocino, and Torrontes Sanjuanino.

Question 5

What are the main wine regions of Argentina?

Answer 5

North
Cuyo
Center
Patagonia
Atlantic
Valles Calchiquies (Multi-region, multi-province)
Valles del Famatina (Multi-region, multi-province)

Question 6

What are the northern region of Argentina’s wine producing provinces?

Answer 6

Jujuy
Salta
Tucuman
Catamarca

Question 7

What is Salta?

Answer 7

A province in the north wine region of Argentina. It is high altitude, with some vineyards over 3000 meters high. Torrotes is the dominant grape variety of the region.

Question 8

What is Jujuy?

Answer 8

Jujuy is a wine region in northwest Argentina. It has extremely high elevations in the Andes mountains and limited acreage.

Question 9

What is significant about the Moya Vineyard?

Answer 9

The Moya Vineyard, located in Jujuy in the north is the highest vineyard in Argentina (at 10,922 ft.)

Question 10

Where is Tucumán?

Answer 10

Tucumán is a small planting in Argentina (just over 280 acres of vine), mostly in the Calchaqui Valley, in a densely populated area, and at high altitude.

Question 11

Where is Cafayate and what is produced there?

Answer 11

Cafayate is in Salta in the North region of Argentina. They produce high quality Torrontes as well as some Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 12

What is Altura Maxima?

Answer 12

An ultra-high elevation vineyard in the Molinos subregion of Salta in Argentina at 10,206 feet planted to Malbec.

Question 13

Where is Catamarca and what are the dominant grape varieties?

Answer 13

Catamarca is in the North area of Argentina between Salta and La Rioja. 40% of the vines are native Criolla. The vineyards are in high elevation river valleys. Quality wine production is expanding, with Torrontes the leading export, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Syrah grown as well.

Question 14

What is the Valles Calchaquies?

Answer 14

A multi-region, multi-province GI in the North Region of Argentina. It stretches across Tucuman, Catamarca, and Salta.

Question 15

What are the main grapes grown in the Calchaqui Valley?

Answer 15

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Torrontes Riojano.

Question 16

What provinces are located in the Cuyo area of Argentina?

Answer 16

Mendoza
La Rioja
San Juan

Question 17

Which DOC is located in the Primera Zona of Mendoza in Argentina?

Answer 17

Lujan de Cuyo.

Question 18

What is the Northern Oasis?

Answer 18

The Northern Oasis is a sub-region of Mendoza in Argentina.

Question 19

Where is San Juan and what wines are produced there?

Answer 19

San Juan is between La Rioja and Mendoza in the Cuyo area of Argentina. About a third of the wines are red, a third white, and a third Criolla. Syrah, Malbec, Bonarda, and Cabernet Sauvignon are the reds and Torrontes Sanjuanino, Torrontes Rioja, Chardonnay, Torrontes Mendocino, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and viognier are the main white grapes.

Question 20

What are the main grapes grown in Mendoza?

Answer 20

Over 60% of Mendoza is red grapes. These include Malbec, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Tempranillo. White grapes are Chardonnay, Torrontes, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 21

Which DOC is located in South Mendoza in Argentina?

Answer 21

San Rafael DOC.

Question 22

What is the Primera Zona?

Answer 22

The Primera Zona is a sub-region of Mendoza in Argentina.

Question 23

What are the two DOC regions in Argentina?

Answer 23

Lujan de Cuyo and San Rafael are the only two DOC regions in Argentina.

Question 24

Where are the vineyards located in La Rioja Argentina, and what wines are made in the area?

Answer 24

Most of the vineyards are located in the Famatina Valleys, located on the sides of the Famatina mountain range. It is planted to 51% red grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Bonarda), but Torrontes is the most grown single variety (representing just over 32% of all plantings)

Question 25

What are the 5 sub-regions of Mendoza?

Answer 25

Uco Valley Primera Zona Northern Oasis East Mendoza South Mendoza

Question 26

What is Maipu?

Answer 26

A sub-region of the Primera Zona region of Mendoza. Produces high volume, inexpensive wines as well as high quality old vine Bonarda and Tempranillo.

Question 27

What wine is produced in Lujan de Cuyo?

Answer 27

Malbec

Question 28

Where is Lujan de Cuyo?

Answer 28

In the Primera Zona of Mendoza in Argentina. 900-1100 meters altitude.

Question 29

Where is the Uco Valley?

Answer 29

The Uco Valley is a sub-region of Mendoza in Argentina.

Question 30

What is significant about San Rafael?

Answer 30

San Rafael is one of the only two DOCs in Argentina. It is located in Mendoza and grows mostly Malbec, but also quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay.

Question 31

What is the Valles del Famatina area?

Answer 31

A multi-region, multi-province GI in Argentina, located on both sides of the Famatina mountain range.

Question 32

What provinces are included in the Center region of Argentina?

Answer 32

Cordoba Entre Rios San Luis

Question 33

What is the history of wine in Cordoba?

Answer 33

Jesuit missionaries began making wine in Cordoba in the 1600s, until 1767 when expelled from Argentina by Spain, and the vineyards were abandoned. In the 1870s Italian immigrants brought wine back to the area.

Question 34

Where is Cordoba, and what wines are made there?

Answer 34

Cordoba is in Argentina, in the Center wine region of the country. Merlot, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are the main grapes of the area.

Question 35

What provinces are included in the Patagonia area of Argentina?

Answer 35

Chubut La Pampa Neuquen Rio Negro

Question 36

What is Chubut?

Answer 36

Chubut is the southernmost wine area in Argentina. It is close to the Atlantic, with 60% red varieties. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec and Torrontes are the most planted varities.

Question 37

Where is Rio Negro and what grapes are planted there?

Answer 37

Rio Negro is in the Patagonia area of Argentina, and has the lowest elevations in the country. Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Torrontes are the most widely planted grapes.

Question 38

Where is La Pampa, and what wines are made there?

Answer 38

Argentina, in the northern part of the Patagonia wine region. Nearly half the plantings are Malbec. Other varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.

Question 39

Describe Neuguen.

Answer 39

Neuguen is a wine area of Argentina south of Mendoza, part of Patagonia wine region. The majority of vineyards are in the basins of the Limay and Neuquen rivers. Nearly 85% of the grapes planted are red varieties, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. The white wines, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon have an excellent reputation.

Question 40

What province is located in the Atlantic area of Argentina?

Answer 40

Buenos Aires

Question 41

What is Chapadmalal?

Answer 41

Chapadmalal is in the Buenos Aires province in the Atlantic wine region of Argentina, located about 200 miles south of Buenos Aires. They are the easternmost vineyards of Argentina.

Question 42

What are the leading grapes of the Buenos Aires wine region?

Answer 42

Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Some Pinot Noir and other red grapes are grown here as well.

Question 43

What grapes are grown in the Buenos Aires wine region?

Answer 43

The Buenos Aires wine region, with less than 400 acres, has a cooler climate with more rainfall. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir are the dominant grapes.