Argentina Flashcards
When was the first recorded vineyard in Argentina?
The first recorded vineyard in Argentina was planted in the 1550s by Spanish settlers
Name the traditional and the first varieties planted in Argentina.
criolla pink varieties such as Cereza, Criolla Grande and Criolla Chica, and the white Pedro
Giménez occupy nearly 30% of the nation’s vineyard acreage
Name the wind of Argentina and how it affects vines
Zonda, a fierce, dusty, hot afternoon wind that blows down from the mountains in the late spring and early summer, sometimes adversely affecting flowering
Name the main red grapes of Argentina
Malbec, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Tempranillo, Tannat, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
Synonim of Bonarda
Savoie’s Corbeau—a variety known as Charbono in the United States
Name the main white grapes of Argentina
Torrontés is second among white grapes, followed by Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, Semillon
State the ageing requirements of Argentina
both red and white wines as Reserva or Gran Reserva. Reserva implies a minimum 6 months of aging for white wines and one year for reds; Gran Reserva indicates at least one year for whites and two for reds. These two new designations, introduced in 2008, also limit maximum yields
Argentina sits between?
approximately 24 and 38°S
Soils of Argentina?
Most of Argentina’s vineyards are planted on alluvial soils deposited by the rivers flowing
down from the Andes. The texture of these soils varies. Because of the alluvial origin, larger
stones with calcareous deposits tend to dominate the higher altitudes closer to the Andes.
The middle areas are dominated by gravel, sands and silts. Deeper loamy-clay soils, which
are richer in nutrients can be found in the lower areas. Because of the dry, continental climate,
there is little organic matter from decomposed flora and fauna. This results in particularly poor
soils in the higher altitude areas. Poor soils are optimal for naturally low yielding vines and
high-quality viticulture.
Who are responsible for the clonal selection program mainly in Malbec but also Torrontes and Tempranillo?
led by the work of Dr Nicolás Catena and Aldo Biondolillo
Which are the three-tier system of geographical indicators of Argentina?
IP, IG and DOC
Which are the 2 DOC’s?
Luján de Cuyo and San Rafael, both in Mendoza
Name the divisions of Argentina
Region
Province
Sub-region
Department
District
GI inside district
If a vintage and varietal is mentioned on the label?
at least 85 per cent of
the wine must come from that vintage. Similarly, if a single varietal is named, the wine must
contain at least 85 per cent of that variety. Where two or three varieties are mentioned on the
label, they must together make up at least 85 per cent of the blend
Argentinta is in which place in terms of production worldwide?
5th place
Name the 4 regions of Argentina
North Region, Cuyo, Patagonia and Atlantic Region
North region includes which provinces?
Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca and Tucuman
Cuyo regions includes which provinces?
La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza and San Luis
Patagonia region includes which provinces?
Nequen, Rio Negro and La Pampa
Atlantic region includes which province?
Buenos Aires
Where is Calchaquí Valleys and its altitudes?
spanning over 270 km and three of Argentina’s provinces: Salta, Tucumán and Catamarca with altitudes from 1530 to 3111m
Which are the sub-regions of the Calchaquí Valleys?
Cafayate, Molinos, Cachi, San Carlos
Which are the sub-regions of Salta?
Cafayate
Which are the sub-regions of Tucuman?
Amaicha del Valle, Colalao del Valle
Name the sub-region of Catamarca
Santa María
Name some of the top producers in North Region
Amalaya (owned by Hess), Agustin Lanus, El Esteco, El Porvenir de Cafayate, San Pedro de Yocochuya (One of the first premium wineries in Cafayate, this is a joint venture between the Etchart family and Bordeaux winemaker Michel Rolland), Colome (owned by Hess Its most sky-scraping vineyard is at 3,111 in Molinos)
Which is Argentina’s highest and most northerly wine region and its main grape variety?
Jujuy and Torrontes main grape
Which is the second highest vineyard in the world?
Colome’s Altura Maxima vineyard at 3300m in Salta
La Rioja takes its name from who and how it was called initially?
Juan Ramírez de Velasco and was called Todos los Santos de la Nueva Rioja
Which is Argentina’a largest wine co-op?
La Riojana
Name the sub-regions of La Rioja
Chilecito, Coronel Felipe Varela, Famatina, Castro Barros, San Blas de los Sauces, General Lamadrid, Vinchina, Sanagasta, Capital La Rioja
Name the most planted grape varieties of La Rioja
Torrontes Riojano followed by Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Syrah and Cereza
Which are the most important sub-regions of La Rioja?
Chilecito and Famatina
Name a top winery from La Rioja
Chanarmuyo one of La Rioja’s highest vineyards at 1720m famous for full bodied reds
Name the sub-regions of San Juan
Tulum, Ullum, Zonda, Pedernal and Calingasta
Which is the third largest wine region in Argentina?
La Rioja
Which is the second largest wine region in Argentina?
San Juan
Which is the fourth largest wine region in Argentina?
Salta
Which are the most planted grapes in San Juan?
Malbec, Syrah, Torrontes, Bonarda, PX and Cabernet Sauvignon
Which are the biggest hazards in San Juan?
Zonda, hail and high soil PH which means that acidification is often practised
San Juan produces mainly?
reds (Malbec and Syrah mostly)
La Rioja produces mainly?
whites (Torrontes, Viognier, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc)
Pedernal valley’s soils, altitudes and grape varieties?
complex limestone-rich soils with pockets of slate, gravel and sand with cooler temperatures due to altitude of 1,250 to 1,500 m is often referred as the San Juan equivalent of Gualtallary. Top territory for bold and vibrant reds mainly from Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Syrah and textural whites mainly from Sauvignon Blanc
Calingasta GI is famous for?
century old Criolla and Bonarda vines from high altitudes over 1,700m
Name some top producers of San Juan
Cara Sur
Finca Las Moras
Fuego Blanco
Xumek
Mendoza is divided into?
North, Central (Primera Zona), South, and East sectors, and the Uco Valley
Which are the 3 major regions of Mendoza?
Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley
Which is Mendoza’s highest vineyard?
Estancia Uspullata in Las Heras
Name the sub-regions of Eastern Mendoza
San Martin, Junin, Rivadavia, Santa Rosa, La Paz
Eastern Mendoza produces mainly?
Bonarda and Tempranillo, accounts for half the production of Mendoza and mainly everyday table wines
Name the sub-regions of Maipu
Lunlunta, Las Barrancas, Coquimbito, Cruz de Piedra, General Ortega, Fray Luis Beltran, Gutierrez, Luzuriaga, Rodeo de Medio, Maipu City, Russel, San Roque
Maipu is famous for?
old ungrafted vines of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon
Maipu altitudes?
615-940m
Name some top producers from Maipu
Bodega Argento, Mascota Vineyards, Casa Vigil, Krontiras, Trapiche, Lopez, Trivento (Conca y Toro), Catena Zapata, Norton
Name the sub-regions of Lujan de Cuyo
Agrelo, Las Compuertas, Pedriel, Lujan de Cuyo, Vistalba, Carodilla, Chacras de Coria, El Carrizal, Mayor Dummond, Ugarteche
Lujan de Cuyo altitudes?
690-1300m
Which region was the first to achieve DOC status and when?
Lujan de Cuyo in 1989
Lujan de Cuyo is famous for?
old vine Malbec followed by Bordeaux varieties and some excellent old vine Semillon and Chenin Blanc in terms of whites
Name some high altitude GI’s of Lujan de Cuyo
Agrelo, Las Compuertas and Pedriel
Agrelo is famous for?
Malbec (called the cradle of Malbec) , intense concentration with fresh acidity and ripe tannins and black fruit like plum aromas and flavours. Some say that the old vine Cabernet Sauvignon (50y old vines) is the star of the region
Pedriel is famous for?
old vine Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Bordeaux blends
Name some top producers of Agrelo
Susana Balbo Wines, Casarena (especially their single vineyard Cab), Pulenta Estate (particularly their Cab Franc)
Name some top producers of Pedriel
Vina Cobos, Marchiori and Barraud and Pedriel (Norton)
Name some top producers of Las Compuertas
Cheval des Andes, Terrazas de los Andes and Durigutti
Name some top producers from Lujan de Cuyo in general
Vina Cobos, Lagarde, Durigutti, Achaval Ferrer, Altos Las Hormigas, Casarena, Catena Zapata, Cruzat (excellent sparkling), Cheval des Andes and Susana Balbo Wines
Vina Cobos founded in?
1988 by Paul Hobbs
Vina Cobos first vintage?
1999
Name the three editions of Cobos
Cobos is the iconic wine of the winery and has three editions: Cobos Malbec Chañares Estate, Cobos Malbec Marchiori Estate, and Cobos Volturno Marchiori Estate. The Cobos Malbecs show the maximum expression of Malbec in each different site, ranging from the bright and floral notes of Chañares in the Uco Valley to the rich, bramble notes of the old-vine Malbec in Marchiori, while Volturno is a complex and structured wine made predominantly from old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon from Perdriel
Name the regions of Uco Valley
Tupungato (northern part and is a volcano), Tunuyan (central part and is also a river) and San Carlos (southern sector)
Altitudes of Uco Valley?
850-1990m
Most planted grape varieties of Uco?
Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Tempranillo, Merlot, Bonarda, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc
Describe the style of Uco Malbec
Fresh and vibrant with bright acidity and chalkier tannins and leaner texture
Name the highest sub-regions of Tupungato
Gualtallary (1080-1600m) and Carrera
Who planted the first vines in Gualtallary and when?
Chandon in 1992 for sparkling wines
Name the winemaker that championed Gualtallary
Matias Michelini (also known as green Michelini for harvesting earlier)
Gualtallary is mostly famous for?
Chardonnay (still and sparkling), followed by Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc
Soils of Gualtallary?
pockets of calcareous deposits and limestone
The highest part of Gualtallary is known as?
Alto and Monasterio
Alto Gualtallary is known for?
red wines from Malbec and Cabernet Franc with firm, chalky tannins and refreshing acidity and elegant chiselled whites underpinned by racy acidity and a mineral texture particularly Chadonnay
Name some top producers from Alto Gualtallary and some of their top wines
Catena Zapata (Adrianna vineyards white bones Chardonnay and Fortuna Terrae Malbec)
Bodega Aleanna (Gran Enemigo)
Altos las Hormigas (Malbec)
Dona Paula (Alluvia parcel bush vines Malbec)
Superuco (Matias Michelini, Calcareo Granito Cab Franc)
Susana Balbo (Ben Marco Expresivo 85% Malbec and the rest Cab Franc)
Name some top wines from Tupungato
Vina Cobos (Bramare Zingaretti Malbec/Chardonnay)
Cruzat (Millesime NV from Pinot Noir 90 months lees)
Nieto Senetiner (Semillon from 90 year old bush vines)
Ricciteli Wines (Sauvignon Blanc from Carrera at 1700m)
Name a rare and ancient French grape variety in Uco
Bequignol
Tunuyan altitudes?
1000-1700m
Name the GI’s of Tunuyan
Los Chacayes, San Pablo, Los Arboles, Los Sauces, Villa Seca, Las Pintadas, Vista Flores, Colonia las Rosas, Campo los Andes
Name the biggest vineyard estate in Tunuyan
Clos de los Siete (850ha)
Who pioneered Los Chacayes and it’s altitudes?
Francois and Jacques Lurton in 1996 and sits in 1000-1700m
Los Chacayes is famous for?
Malbec with bright red fruit and vibrant acidity followed by Mediterranean varieties (Garnacha, Syrah, Mourvedre), Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon as well as whites Sauvignon Blanc and white Rhone blends.
Name some top producers from Los Chacayes
Piedra Negra, Susana Balbo, Ver Sacrum and Terrazas de los Andes
San Pablo’s altitudes and climate
It is one of the coolest sub-regions and highest at 1175-1700m
San Pablo GI is famous for?
Malbec with freshness and bright fruit and some excellent white wines also
Name the top and biggest producers of San Pablo
Zuccardi, Tapiz, Salentein (these 3 account for over a half the planted area) and Passionate Wines
Name some top wines from Tunuyan
Vina Cobos
Cruzat (Finca la Dama Extra Brut NV blanc de blanc)
Trapiche (Iscay Syrah Viognier top Syrah in Argentina)
Diamandes (Argentina’s best Viognier)
Michelini i Mufatto (Propositos Chenin Blanc one of the best from old vines)
Name the GI’s of San Carlos
Parage Altamira, Pampa El Cepillo, La Consulta, Eugenio Bustos, Villa San Carlos, Tres Esquinas, Chilecito, Pareditas
Which are the most important GI’s of San Carlos?
Paraje Altamira (its grand cru), followed by Pampa El Cepillo and La Consulta
Paraje Altamira’s altitudes, soils and grape varieties?
800-1200m
stony soils with calcium carbonate and high limestone content
old vines of 100 years are common, mostly famous for Malbec and fragnant Cabernet Franc
excellent region for whites as well particularly Semillon, Chardonnay and Torrontes
Pampa El Cepillo’s altitudes, soils, climate and grape varieties?
1000m slight lower than other Uco regions and it has the coolest minimum temperatures in Uco
soils include sandy and silty loam with patches of rocky limestone
Pinot Noir, fragnant Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon and the Malbecs are floral with refreshing acidities, firm tannins and intense red and black fruit aromas
Describe the style of Malbec in Paraje Altamira
produces some of the silkiest and sexiest Malbecs in Argentina. The floral lift of fresh violets, fragnance of red and black fruit, finely textured tannins and long, refreshing finish make these wines truly elegant. Most winemakers respect the texture and delicacy of the region by making lower-intervention wines with little oak influence.
Name some top producers from Paraje Altamira
Zuccardi
Susana Balbo
LUI
Altos las Hormigas
Mendel (particularly for his old-vine Semillon)
Describe the style of Malbec from La Consulta
dense black fruit, meaty and herbal aromas with a firm structure and powerful tannins. It has old vines more than 100 years
Name the departments of Southern Mendoza
San Rafael and General Alvear
San Rafael’s altitudes and grape varieties?
400-950m
Red varieties dominate with some pink Criolla varieties
Malbec is king but Cabernet Sauvignon is the most exciting as well as old-vine Glera, Moscatel and Sangiovese
there are also 500ha of Chenin Blanc as well as Syrah and Bonarda
Which is the first winery in San Rafael?
Bodegas Bianci and is the biggest, family owned and founded in 1928 by Italian immigrant Valentin Bianchi produces still and sparkling wines
General Alvear produces mainly?
cheap jug wine and the vineyards are dominated by Criolla grapes (Criolla Chica/Grande and Moscatel Rosado) with PX most planted white
San Louis produces mainly?
reds from Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah and is a new emerging wine industry with just 108ha planted
Name the provinces of Patagonia
Rio Negro, Neuquen, Chubut and La Pampa
Rio Negro’s altitudes, topography, climate, hazards?
4-270m, most vineyards planted on the banks of river Negro with the majority in the Upper Valley and the rest in the Lower Valley
Frosts and winds are threats
Arid continental, higher latitude, temperatures are relatively low, sunlight is less
intense and the growing season is longer. Rainfall levels are low – at less than 200 millimetres
per year, even lower than in Mendoza – meaning irrigation is essential
Rio Negro is famous for?
old-vine Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
stellar cool-climate varieties particularly Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc as well as excellent old-vine Semillon and Trousseau
Name the sub-regions of Rio Negro
General Roca (Upper Valley)
Avellaneda (Middle)
Adolfo Alsina (Lower)
Name some top producers of Rio Negro
Chacra, Noemia, Bodega Miras, Matias Michelini, Huberto Canale, Bodega del Rio Elorza (all these producers at General Roca)
At Adolfo Alsina - Fincas Patagonicas (Wapisa)
Nequen’s altitudes, climate, topography and hazards
270-420m, arid continental similar climate with Rio Negro but with more sunlight hours and more warmth
Vineyards on alluvial terraces and plains
Hazards include fierce winds and also irrigation is essential
Name the sub-regions of Nequen
San Patricio del Chanar (the main and biggest home to major producers), Rio Limay & Confluencia
Nequen is famous for?
rich red wines: bold Malbec, full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
broader, richer and fleshier Pinot Noir than that from Rio Negro
Name the leading producer that accounts for half the acreage of Nequen
Bodega del Fin del Mundo
Chubut’s altitudes and grape varieties?
0-400m, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir most planted followed by Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Merlot
Who planted the first commercial winery in Chubut and when?
brazilina bussinessman Bernardo Weinert in 1998 with cool climate varieties in El Hoyo
Name some top producers from Chubut
Otronia (sole producer of Sarmiento that put it on the map)
Bodegas Weinert
Contra Corriente and Casa Yague from Futaleufu (Trevelin)
Giovannoni & Michelini (Bahia Bustamente)
Which is the southernmost vineyard in the world?
Otronia in the 45th parallel farmed by Juan Pablo Murgia
Chacra is owned by?
Mario Incisa della Rochetta of Sassicaia
Also consulted by Jean Marc Roulot for the Chardonnays
they own 100y old vines of Pinot Noir and they make low intervention wines
Name the top wines of Chacra
Sin Azufre, Treinta y dos(vines planted from 1932), Cincuenta y Cinco (1955), Mainque Chardonnay, Lunita and Barda
Name a top producer from Buenos Aires
Trapiche (Costa y Pampa)
Name a rare grape variety grown in Berisso of Buenos Aires
Isabella
when did Malbec came to Argentina and who brought it?
Introduced to Argentina by French agricultural engineer Michel Pouget in 1868
