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South America > Argentina > Flashcards

Argentina Flashcards

1
Q

What sector of Argentina are the majority of vineyards confined to?

A

Western sector of the country near the Andes. Mostly situtated on the slopes of the Andean foothills and plains.

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2
Q

What kind of climate does Argentina have? (5 facts)

A

Continental/Sub Tropical

  • very dry, due to the rain shadow effect from the Andes.
  • lack of humidity keeps vineyards free of fungal disease.
  • snow-melt provides plentiful water for irrigation—in years that the Andes receive heavy winter snowfall.
  • Precipitation in the form of dangerous spring and early summer hail (known as “piedra”.)
  • summer temperatures can reach 100° F and above, although the country’s higher elevation vineyards—some of the world’s highest vines (3,000 meters above sea level) mitigate temps and prolong the growing season.
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3
Q

What is the Zonda? What affect does it have and when?

A

a fierce, dusty, hot afternoon wind that blows down from the mountains in the late spring and early summer, sometimes adversely affecting flowering.

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4
Q

What is the average national elevation for vineyards in Argentina?

A

900 meters above sea level.

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5
Q

Descending order of Argentine red grapes?

A

Malbec, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Tempranillo

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6
Q

Two Synonyms for Argentina’s Bonarda?

A

Savoie’s Corbeau—a variety known as Charbono in the United States. It is NOT the same grape as the Northern Italian grape of the same name. It is the second most planted grape in Argentina.

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7
Q

What is the most planted white grape in Argentina?

A

Pedro Giménez, a variety unrelated to Spain’s Pedro Ximénez, a blending grape often mainly suitable for bulk wines or grape concentrate.

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8
Q

What clone of Chardonnay is popularly used in Argentina? Where was it developed? What are the pros and cons?

A

The Mendoza Chardonnay clone, developed at the University of California at Davis, despite being prone to millerandage the resulting grapes have a greater skin-to-juice ratio.

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9
Q

What are the requirements for Reserva and Gran Reserva for premium wine grapes in Argentina?

A

With premium wine grapes (such as Malbec or Gewürztraminer), winemakers have the option of labeling both red and white wines as Reserva or Gran Reserva.
Reserva: min 6 months of for white and 1 yr for reds
Gran Reserva: at least 1 year for whites and 2 for reds.
–Introduced in 2008, regulations also limit max yields.

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10
Q

What are the winemaking areas of Argentina?

A

—North Region (Northwestern provinces)
—Cuyo (Coo-shjo) in the Central provinces. (Approximately 3/4 of the country’s entire wine production occurs in the province of Mendoza in Cuyo.)
—Patagonia in the southern provinces.

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11
Q

What are the provinces of the North region of Argentina?

Locations?

A

—Salta IG: northernmost
—Jujuy “ho-HOY” IG: northwestern corner, west of Salta and east of Chile
*both above south of Bolivia, Salta touches small part of Paraguay on the east.
—Catamarca IG: south of Salta on the western side of the region.
—Tucumán “TOO-coo-MON”IG: small section south of Salta on the eastern side of the the region.

—Valles Calchaquíes “cal-cha-KEY-es”IG**
**The Valles Calchaquíes are not a province; however, the IG includes the following departments in Salta, Catamarca, and Tucumán: La Viña, San Carlos, Cafayate, Molinos, Santa María, and Tafí.

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12
Q

Where is Torrontes found at its best?

A

The province of Salta, despite fewer than 2,500 total hectares under vine, is gaining a reputation for high-altitude Torrontés—a variety prone to high alcohol levels at lower, hotter elevations.

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13
Q

What are the sub regions of Salta?

A

—Cachi “CA-chee”
—Cafayate - Valle de Cafayate “Cof-ah-sha-tay” (main sub region)
—Molinos
—San Carlos

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14
Q

Key producers in Salta (5)

A
  • Susana Balbo- “Crios” bottling
  • Colomé “Co-lum-MAY”- Donald Hess’ estate (3,000 meters above sea level; some of the world’s highest)
  • El Porvenir “po-vah-near”
  • Bodegas Etchart “eh-CHAR”- Michel Roland consultant
  • Yacochuya- Arnaldo Etchart’s new project
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15
Q

What are the two major natural features in Salta?

A

Calchaquí “CAL-cha-keys” Valleys and Andes Mountains

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16
Q

What three provinces comprise Cuyo? (N-S)

A

La Rioja
San Juan
Mendoza

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17
Q

What is the northernmost province in Cuyo?

happens to historically be the oldest of Argentina’s wine producing regions.

A

La Rioja

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18
Q

What is the northernmost most province in Cuyo?
What is the best known region within the province?
What style?
Most famous producer?

A

—La Rioja (happens to historically be the oldest of Argentina’s wine producing regions.)
—Famatina Valley.
—Torrontes Riojana (logically), typically trained on pergolas
—Chilecito (local co-op)

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19
Q

What is the second largest wine-producing province in Argentina?

A

San Juan–more than 47,000 hectares under vine. Almost 1/4 of all Argentine wine.

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20
Q

What is the climate in San Juan and what is grown there?

A

San Juan has a hot continental summer climate; ideal for grapes destined for brandy and vermouth production, and the region’s sherry-style wines are reasonably good in quality.
Grapes are historically devoted to Argentina’s pink-skinned varieties, although Syrah and Bonarda—sometimes confusingly called Barbera Bonarda—are capturing critical attention. Syrah has become the province’s emblematic red variety.

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21
Q

How is Mendoza broadly divided in sub regions and list their various elevations?

A

—Uco Valley 900 - 1400 meters-a western sub region and home to the province’s highest vineyards.
—Northern Mendoza 580-700 meters
—Eastern Mendoza 640-730 meters (known more for quantity than quality)
—Central Mendoza (Upper) 640-1070 meters
—Southern Mendoza 450-800 meters

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22
Q

What is the soil in Mendoza?

A

Soils in the region are generally comprised of loose, alluvial sand over clay, a structure that, when coupled with the gale-force Zonda wind, helps to keep phylloxera and other diseases at bay.

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23
Q

What is the climate in Mendoza?

A

Arid Continental-“desert-like”, and irrigation is absolutely necessary, whether in the traditional form of furrow irrigation or by more modern methods of drip irrigation.

24
Q

What is Furrow irrigation?

A

A traditional form of irrigation—a technique developed centuries ago by the Incas, in which the rivers’ water, swelled by Andes snowmelt, is directed through the vineyards in channels.

25
Q

What is the most planted red gape in Mendoza?

A

Malbec, the most planted grape, covers around 16,000 hectares of vineyard. Despite being planted in Cahors, Bordeaux, and the Loire Valley, the grape achieves its most classic and identifiable varietal expression in Mendoza, offering brambly black and red mountain fruit tones, rich and robust texture, and sweet floral tones. The wines usually undergo some degree of French and/or American oak treatment.

26
Q

Who introduced Malbec to Argentina?

A

Introduced to Argentina in 1868 at the request of the then president by the French agronomist Michel Pouget.

27
Q

What are the only two DOC’s in Argentina?

A

—Luján de Cuyo “Lew-han de Coo-zhjo” in Central Mendoza authorized for Malbec
—San Rafael DOC in Southern Mendoza authorized for Chenin Blanc (currently used only by Valentín Bianchi for base quality wines; would make finer wines if not so prone to hail.)

28
Q

Key producers/estates in Central Mendoza

A 
—Catena Zapata
—Susana Balbo’s Dominio del Plata
—Bressia
—Achával Ferrer "ah-CHA-vel fur-RARE"
--Bodegas Weinert
29
Q

Where would you find successful Chardonnay and Sémillon cultivated in Mendoza?

A

Uco Valley and its Tupungato department due to the high elevations.

30
Q

What is the principal grape in Southern Mendoza departments San Rafael IG and General Alvear IG?

A

Chenin Blanc, although the region is not known for fine wines. Also known for Sauvignonasse (called Tocai Friulano)
**would make finer wines if not so prone to hail.

31
Q

Which two pink skinned grapes account for a quarter of all plantings in Mendoza?

A

Criolla Grande and Cereza “Seh-RAY-za”, but they are relegated to bulk wine and grape concentrate production, and are losing acreage to a plethora of international and Italian varietals.

32
Q

What are the two major winemaking provinces of Patagonia?

A
  • -Río Negro
  • -Neuquén “Nay-oh-KIN”

**Maipú Small regions of production, and markedly cooler than those to the north. White grapes, such as Torrontés and Sémillon, perform well in the provinces’ chalky soils and longer growing seasons, although cool-climate, elegant versions of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir are promising.

33
Q

Key producers/estates in Patagonia. (2)

A
  • Bodegas Chacra, by Piero Incisa della Rocchetta of Sassicaia, Patagonia’s most famous, selling super-premium Río Negro Pinot Noir.
  • Bodega Noemía de Patagonia, premier producer for Malbec. Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano established their Noemía (with Hans Vinding-Diers)

**both wineries are farmed biodynamically to great results

34
Q

What is the third emerging province in Patagonia for wine

A

La Pampa, an adjacent province to the north of Río Negro, is an emerging area for wine. Bodega del Desierto, under the supervision of Paul Hobbs of California is sowing the way.

35
Q

What are the three Torrontés varieties found in Argentina and which is the highest quality variety?

A

Torrontés Riojano (highest quality, named after La Rioja where it was long thought to have originated
Torrontés Mendocino
Torrontés Sanjuanino.
Mendocino and Sanjuanino, tend to produce lower quality wines.

36
Q

What two grapes make up Torrontés Riojano?

A

Criolla Chica x Muscat of Alexandria

37
Q

What was Criolla Chica originally known as?

A

Uva Negra; the most important grape variety in Argentina in the 16th century and would become the backbone of South American wine production for the next 300 years. It is better known elsewhere as Listan Prieto or the Mission grape.

38
Q

What reasons are nets used in Argentina and Mendoza specifically?

A

Mainly to prevent devastation from hail, and secondly to reduce risk of sunburn due to intense sunlight and delay ripening.

39
Q

How do the best Argentine wines receive their intensity of flavor? (3 reasons)

A
  • Intense sunlight
  • Dry air
  • 36 degree F, the diurnal temperature variation is higher than practically anywhere else in the world. This is often because of the altitude, but in Patagonia in the south is is because of the high latitude.
40
Q

What training system is traditionally used for Torrontés?

A

Pergola system

41
Q

What is the highest mountain in America?

A

Mount Aconcagua

42
Q

What are the five major rivers of Mendoza?

A 
Desaguadero River (also known as Salido)
Mendoza River
Diamante River
Tunuyán "Too-new-shaun" River
Atuel "ah-twell" River- longest river in Mendoza
43
Q

What is the climate in Salta?

A

Subtropical Highland

44
Q

Where is Catamarca IG? What is the main subregion?

A

North region, sandwiched between Salta to the north and La Rioja to the south.

Tinogasta

45
Q

Who makes “Crios”? Where is it from?

A

Susana Balbo’s Torrontes from Cafayate in Salta.

46
Q

What two departments in Mendoza provide the best sites for Malbec?
What sub-region of Mendoza are they within?
What are the districts under each?

A

—Luján de Cuyo (one of Argentina’s two DOCs, authorized only for Malbec wines) and Maipu
-Las Compuertas IG
-Agrelo IG
-Vistalba
-Perdriel; all carved out reputation for Malbec grown on particularly poor soils; some very old vines.
—Maipú (better for Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, as it is slightly lower and warmer with more gravelly soils)
-Barrancas
-Lunlunta
-Russell
**both in Central Mendoza.

47
Q

What is Cheval des Andes?

A

A blended Malbec and Cabernet, may convey a texture and style reminiscent of velvety Pomerol. It is a collaboration between (LVMH’s) Terrazas de los Andes and Pierre Lurton of Cheval Blanc

48
Q

How much of Argentine wine is exported?

A

Almost a quarter of all Argentine wine is exported.

49
Q

When was the first recorded vineyard planted in Argentina?

A

Santiago del Estero in 1557.

50
Q

Is Chaptalization allowed in Argentina?

A

No, chaptalization is not allowed.

51
Q

What is the highest mountain in Argentina?

A

Aconcagua Mountain

-located in Mendoza, it is part of the Andes mountain range, and the highest mountain (6961 metres) outside of Asia.

52
Q

Name three departments within Uco Valley.

Notable producers?

A

San Carlos IG
Tunuyán IG “Too-noo-shaun”
Tupungato IG

**LVMH owned Terrazas de los Andes and Catena specify precise altitudes on their front lables of this high altitude area of Mendoza

53
Q

What is the minimum percentage required to label a grape or region in Argentina?

A

80%

54
Q

Best and Worst vintages of Argentina in the last 10 years?

A

+++2017
Considered one of the best vintages in recent years, with generally warm and dry conditions. Cooler temperatures in the final two months lead to slightly lower alcohols and well preserved acidity.

–2016
A rain/hail-affected unusually challenging conditions. One of the coolest vintages on record had the advantage of restricting the spread of rot and resulted in atypically modest alcohol levels. Overall, though, yields are lower and quality is by no means reliable.

-2015
A tricky year warmth and humidity bringing rot, and hail affecting some areas too. Need meticulous selection, lesser wines likely to suffer from poor conditions.

+2014
Frost, and January rain made for whites with lighter concentration, but fine aromatics. Reds similarly fresh and elegant, but not expected to be hugely long-lasting.

+++2013
Healthy, dry and abundant with a cool spell late in the season prolonging the ripening period for red varieties. Very promising quality across all regions.

2012
Similar to 2011, but with lower yields leading to higher colour, fruit intensity and notable tannin that will require many years of bottle age to resolve.

-2011
A generally cool, damp year in Argentina. Frost and hail caused some damage too, careful selection required. Coolness made for aromatic intensity in white wines.

++2010
Reds have slightly lower than average alcohol, thanks to a cool ripening season. Fruit was harvested in good health, but quality was not as good as the exceptional 2009s.

+++2009
For some, one of the best vintages of the decade in Mendoza. Winter was mild, spring was dry and summer was warm, with diurnal variation of over 15 ºC (27 ºF). Weather throughout harvest was very dry too, giving fruit in great condition.

+2008
A very cold winter, a warm spring and a wetter than average autumn. Generally underpowered as a vintage, although reds were marginally better than whites.

-2007
Good for white, but difficult for reds in Mendoza, with excessive heat leading to below optimal freshness in the wines. Salta did better, with Torrontés faring especially well.

55
Q

What is “piedra” in Argentina?

A

Precipitation in the form of dangerous spring and early summer hail.

South America (4 decks)

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