Argentina Flashcards
What natural factors make Argentina suitable for grape growing?
Combination of high altitude and low latitude with good supply of irrigation water
Why was Argentina focused on large volumes of inexpensive wines for much of the 20th century?
Isolation from political and economic crisis coupled with high domestic wine consumption
Argentine historical high yielders
Cereza, Criolla Grande, Criolla Chica
Pedro Gimenez
What helped Argentina break into wine exports
Weak peso vs dollar made goods relatively cheap
Latitude for Argentinas vineyards
24-38* S
Altitude for northerly vineyards in Argentina?
500-3300m
Key effects of altitude on viticulture
Cooling effects 1*F lost per 100m gained
Diurnal range extends growing season and retains acid
High proportion of UV light means more tannin and anthocyanins
Argentina climate
Continental w/low rainfall from rain shadow of Andes
What is zonda and what is its influence and how is it mitigated
Hot, dry, powerful wind in late spring/early summer
Lowers humidity-reducing disease pressure
Can induce water stress
Can affect flowering/fruit set depending on timing
Can damage grapes reducing yields
Poplar trees planted as wind breaks
When does rain fall in Argentina
Summer w/constant threat of hail
Why was a vine pull scheme introduced in Argentina in the ‘70s and ‘80s?
Falling domestic demand
What is the irrigation system used in 70% if Argentine vineyards and why?
Flood
Free draining soils flood irrigated allow water to penetrate deep into soil
And bc it’s relatively cheap to operate
Why is drip irrigation better for sloped land than flat?
It costs more to flatten and grade land for flood than to install drip
Traditional timing of irrigation in Argentina?
Heavy in winter to replicate winter rains
As needed in low amounts during growing season to encourage root growth and fruit vs shoot/leaf production
Traditional training system in Argentina and why
Pergola to raise fruit from ground heat and shade from sun
Still common to offer shade to Tortontes and for high vigor/yield varieties like Criolla Chica/Grande, Cereza, and Pedro Gimenez
Why can vines in Argentina go ungrafted and why are vines becoming more commonly grafted?
Sandy soil/dry climate limit phylloxeras life cycle
Nematodes and drought tolerance
Key grape varieties in Argentina
Malbec
Pink Criolla - Chica/Grande
Bonarda
Cab
Syrah
Pedro Gimenez
Tortontes
Chardonnay
Malbec characteristics
Vigorous
Mid ripening
Cooler sites show lower alc, med+ acid, med + firm tannin, fresh red and black fruit
Warmer sites are fuller bodied lower acid softer tannin
Bonarda Argentina is planted where and produces what style?
Late ripening so San Juan and warmer areas in Mendoza
High yielding so inexpensive for domestic consumption
Why is site selection more important for Cab than Malbec in Argentina
It is more susceptible to extremes of temperature and fungal disease
Pedro Gimenez is
A relatively neutral white grape that is used to produce simple, inexpensive wines for domestic consumption
Tortontes is a natural cross of
Muscat of Alexandria and Criolla Chica
Tortontes characteristics
Vigorous
High yielding
Early ripening
Strong floral aromas
Torrontes is successful in what areas
Cafayate in Salta and high elevation cool vineyards in Uco
Argentina geographical indicators tiers:
IP- large geographical areas but not entire country
IG- certain quality wines from specific, quality wine producing area
DOC- legislated winemaking criteria for specific area - Lujan de Cuyo and San Rafael
GIs are created by what?
Political divisions
Specific characteristics- climate/soil
What % if GI or DOC mentioned on label
100%
What % if vintage on label
85%
What % if varietal named?
85%
Argentina Reserva aging requirements
12 mos in oak for red
6 mos in oak for white/rose
Argentina gran Reserva aging requirements
24 mos in oak for red
12 mos in oak for white and rose
Cuyo is comprised of what GIs?
Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja
70% of vineyards and 2/3 production come from what Province?
Mendoza
Northern and Eastern Mendoza make what style of wine and why?
Large volumes of inexpensive wine
Relatively low altitudes = warm sites with irrigation water coming from Mendoza and Tunuyan rivers
Central Mendoza is home to the most prestigious wine producing departments of
Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu
Lujan de Cuyo aging requirements
24 mos with 12 in oak
Las Compuertas and Agrelo are
District level GIs in Lujan de Cuyo that produce fruity, full bodied reds with high acid and tannins
Maipu has warmer vineyards than Lujan de Cuyo due to
Lower altitude
Which region in Argentina is home to the highest vineyards in Mendoza?
Uco Valley
Departments in Uco Valley GI
Tupungato, Tunuyan, San Carlos
Tupungato’s most recognized district with distinctive limestone soils that offer high acid wines from high altitudes.
Gualtallary
How is Tunuyan able to produce full bodied, structured yet fruity red wines and premium white wines and Pinot Noir?
The GI covers a wide range of altitudes- lower and warmer sites for full bodied reds, higher and cooler fur white and PN
Which of the three departments of Uco Valley is most recognized for its old vine plantings?
San Carlos
GI Paraje Altamira is in what department and known for what soil?
San Carlos, Uco Valley
An alluvial fan with a high presence of calcium carbonate and stony topsoil
Affect of latitude on Southern Mendoza
Vineyards are lower 450-800m because climate is cooler due to southerly locations allowing for slower sugar accumulation and good acid retention
Major water hazard of southern Mendoza
Hail in summer
Grapes from southern Mendoza are used for
Lesser quality sent for use in blends
Higher quality vinified there - med body, red fruit
San Rafael is in what region in Argentina
Southern Mendoza but is not used on labels as often as Southern Mendoza
San Juan’s lower sites produce what style of wine and why?
High yielding pink varieties due to lower altitude = less cooling influence and lower diurnal swing
GI Pedernal Valley is in what Province and known for what?
San Juan
High altitude, higher acid
La Rioja province focuses on what style of wine
High volume, inexpensive
La Riojana co-op
Which province in Argentina has the closest vineyards to the equator?
Salta
24-26* S
How is viticulture possible in the low southerly latitudes of Salta
High altitude vineyards offer cooling influence
1500-3000
High sun exposure from low latitude and high altitude coupled with strong zonda winds have what affect on grapes in Salta?
High levels of anthocyanins and tannins and thick skins and lower yields - concentrated wines
Cafayate is in what province and known for what grape?
Salta
Torrontes
Latitude of Patagonia
38-39*S
Higher southerly latitude in Patagonia means…
Lower temperatures
Less intense sunlight
Longer growing season
Wind in Patagonia advantages/disadvantages and mitigation
Reduces disease pressure by dehumidifying, thickens skins for concentration in wine
Can disrupt flowering or damage vines
Wind breaks, poplar trees
Main growing areas of Patagonia
Neuquen and Rio Negro
Rio Negro varietals
Pinot noir, Malbec, Merlot, SB, Riesling
Limiting factor of Neuquen viticulture
Available water for irrigation
El Niño in Argentina limits production volume in what way?
More rain = more hail in Argentina, more damage to vines/grapes
Main export market of Argentina
US - 21% vol
UK, Canada, Brazil
MERCOSUR allows for what?
Free trade in South American countries
Argentinas export boom of the early 2000s was due to
Weak peso vs dollar
Malbec accounts for what % of exports
60%
What % of production are exports in Argentina?
20%
Fecovita and grupo penaflor are
Among the worlds highest volume producers and account for a significant proportion of Argentine wine
