Argentina Flashcards
Argentina Climate Moderation Overview
- Andes form a rain shadow offering protection from westerly winds and storms creating a dry arid climate
- Zonda wind [a fierce, dusty, hot afternoon wind that blows down from the mountains]
Argentina Red Grapes
- Malbec
- Bonarda [a.k.a Charbono in USA]
- Cabernet Sauvignon,
- Syrah,
- Merlot,
- Tempranillo
- Pinot Noir
Argentina White Grapes
- Pedro Giménez (most planted but mainly for blending)
- Torrontes
- Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc
- Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier ]
Salta province IG regions
Cafayate
Salta Climate/Grapes
- Generally warm, however vineyards at high elevation where cooler
- Torrontes dominates (especially in Cafayate department)
- Malbec, Cab Sav dominant reds
Argentina Provinces N to S
Salta Tucuman Catamarca La Rioja San Juan Mendoza La Pampa Rio Negro Neuquen
Salta Producers
Susana Balba Crios
Donald Hess Colomé
Catamarca Grapes
- Torrontes dominates
- Syrah, Malbec, Cab Sav dominant reds
La Rioja province Grapes / Sub-Rrgions
- Torrontes is specialty
- Malbec
- Famatina Sub Region [labelled for exports]
San Juan province grapes
- Syrahs. Malbec, Cab Sav, Bonarda and pink skinned grapes
- Chardonnay/Viognier most planted whites
San Juan Province production info
- 2nd most volume after Mendoza
- hot summer climate ideal for grapes for Brandy/Vermouth
Mendoza province subregions
North South East Central Uco Valley
Mendoza Grapes
- Malbec
- Cab Sav
- Criolla Grande/Cereza [for bulk wines]
Mendoza Central Region Departments
Lujan de Cuya dept
Maipu dept
Uco Valley Region Departments
-Tupungato dept in west = high quality
Uco Valley Climate/Grapes
- 900-1500 meters [highest in Mendoza]
- Chardonnay, Semillon,
- Malbec, Cab sav, Merlot, Tempranillo
- some sites cool enough for Pinot Noir
Maipu Dept Grapes/Climate
- lower altitudes than Lujan de Cuya
- Syrah/Cab Sav do well
- old vine Bonarda and Tempranillo do well here
Lujan de Cuya dept grapes/climate
- 900-1100 meters altitude (foothills of Andes)
- fine Malbec, old vines
- soft round sweet spice in malbec blends
North and Eastern Mendoza Viticulture
- high volume, inexpensive.
- mendoza river = irrigation = suitable for mass production
Southern Mendoza Grapes/Info
- low altitudes but southern location makes it coolest in region
- has Argentina’s most significant plantings of Chenin Blanc
- San Rafael dept = lowest altitudes/coolest in province. Chenin Blanc
Patagonia Region IG Provinces
La Pampa
Rio Negro
Neuquen
Patagonia Climate
-notably cool area with some of Argentina’s most southernly sites
Patagonia Grapes
White
- Torrontes
- Semillon
Reds
- Malbec
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Pinot Noir
Argentina Producers
Achával Ferrer Malbec Mendoza
Susana Balbo’s Malbec Mendoza
Catena Malbec Mendoza [Nicholas = + Cab]
Terrazas (Salta Torrontes & Mendoza Malbec)
Colomé estate Torrones [Donald Hess’] Salta
Crios Torrontes [made by Susana Balbo] Salta
Bodegas Chacra [Patagonia Pinot Noir from Sassicia family]
Cheval Los Andes (Terrazas x Cheval Blanc)
DOCs
Lujan de cuya
San Rafael
