Argentina Flashcards

1
Q

Argentina history

A

1550 Spanish settlers

1816 independence from Spain - Attracting European immigrants, bringing winemaking traditions

1851 - Viticulture research centre and school established

New wave of immigrants from Europe after Phylloxera early 1900

20th isolation from the rest of world. High domestic consumption sustained the industry.
- planting high yielding varieties - Cereza, Criolla Grande, Criolla Chica, Pedro Gimenez

Nicolas Catena - started to export and raise quality with help of foreign investment

Wine consultants - Michel Rolland, Alberto Antonini, Paul Hobbs

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2
Q

Climate in Argentina

A

24-38’S

Influence of altitude and latitude

  • most vineyards in foothills of Andes (lowest at 500m)
  • most vineyards are planted on flat or gently sloping sites

Wide diurnal range (sometimes 20°)

  • cooler nights extend growing season
  • allow retain acidity
  • intense sunlight at low latitude (higher tannins and colour)

Continental climate mainly

Rain shadow of Andes

  • irrigation is essential
  • low disease pressure

Often strong wind

  • such as Zonda - hot, dry, powerful
  • increased water stress and lower disease pressure
  • trees planted as wind break

Hail is constant threat
- vineyards in different areas to spread the risk

Frost is significant in Mendoza

El Nino influence
- brings hailstorms

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3
Q

Soils

A

Mostly alluvial soils, larger stones with calcareous deposits (higher altitudes)

Middle slopes - gravel sand silt

Lower areas - richer loamy-clay

Poor soils in higher altitudes

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4
Q

Vineyard management

A

Vine pull scheme was introduced in 1980s

30% of vineyards are 40years old or more

Irrigation is essential

Rivers deliver melt water from Andes - collected by dams and irrigation channels

Flood irrigation is common (cheap to operate, local growers believe it to be optimal for free-draining soils)
- drip irrigation is incresing on slopes
(as water shortages can be problem)
- leveling irrigation - larger amounts of water in winter, smaller in summer (roots grow deep, vine focuses on fruit)

Training in high pergola traditionally (localy Parral)

  • providing shade and raising from hot soil
  • still widely used (VSP is becoming common)

Phylloxera is present but not causing significant problems - vines are usually ungrafted
- choice of rootstock is becoming common for its benefits

Little need for spraying against fungus (ideal for organic)

Mechanical harvest is becoming more common now

Modernization

  • canopy management
  • clonal selection
  • picking at different ripeness
  • soil types
  • single vineyard wines
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5
Q

Type of irrigation

A

Flood irrigation is common (cheap to operate, local growers believe it to be optimal for free-draining soils)

  • drip irrigation is incresing on slopes
    (as water shortages can be problem)
  • leveling irrigation - larger amounts of water in winter, smaller in summer (roots grow deep, vine focuses on fruit)
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6
Q

Traditional training method

A

Training in high pergola traditionally (localy Parral)

  • providing shade and raising from hot soil
  • still widely used (VSP is becoming common)
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7
Q

Modernization in vineyards

A

By Nicolas Catena and Aldo Biondolillo

  • canopy management
  • clonal selection
  • picking at different ripeness
  • soil types
  • single vineyard wines
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8
Q

Traditional local grape varieties (pink skinned)

A

Cereza

Criolla Grande

Criolla Chica (Pais in Chile)

now about 25% of production

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9
Q

Key black grape varieties

A
Malbec
Bonarda
Cabernet Sauvgnon
Syrah
Tempranillo
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Cabernet Franc
Petit Verdot
Tannat
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10
Q

Key white grape varieties

A
Pedro Gimenez (not the same as Ximenez)
Torrontes
Chardonnay
Semillon
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Viognier
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11
Q

Malbec

A

20% of all plantings

vigorous, mid-ripening grape

Deep coloured, full-body, high levels of soft tannins, high alcohol, ripe flavours of blackberry and black plum

Can produce wide range of wine styles

Also used in blends - Bordeaux varieties, Bonarda, Syrah

Incrasing understanding of microclimates

Rose also produced

Cuttings of Malbec from France (further developed by clonal and massale selection)

  • Argentinian malbec has smaller berries and bunches
  • softer tannins
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12
Q

Bonarda

A

late-ripening

Mainly planted in San Juan and warmer areas of Mendoza

High-yielding, inexpensive wines for domestic market

Deep colour, red and black fruit, med+ acidity, med tannin and alcohol
Oak can overwhelm it

blending partner for fruit and colour

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13
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon

A

Careful site selection is important

susceptible to fungal diseases

Typically blended with Malbec

Usually does not have herbaceous character
High ripe tannins

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14
Q

Syrah

A

successful in hotter areas of Mendoza and San Juan

Full bodied, high alcohol, ripe black fruit

elegant fresher wines in cooler areas

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15
Q

Red winemaking

A

Influenced by Spanish, French and Italian immigrants

Traditionally fermented and aged in large oak barrels sometimes with hint of oxidation

Modernization

  • later harvesting
  • temperature control
  • maturation in new oak (typically French)

New wave

  • less oak
  • earlier harvest
  • experimenting with natural ferment
  • whole berry ferment
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16
Q

Producers:

A

Catena Zapata

Vina Cobos

Achaval Ferrer

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17
Q

Pedro Gimenez

A

neutral variety

mainly for domestic consumption

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18
Q

Torrontes

A

Torrontes Riojano

Cross of Muscat of Alexandria and Criolla Chica

Strong floral aroma reminiscent of Muscat

Vigorous high-yielding, early ripening
(if over-ripes lacks acidity and has high alcohol with bitter finish)

Successful in Cafayate (Salta) and Uco Valley

Intended to be drunk young

Some producers use some oak, usually single varietal

Late harvest also produced

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19
Q

Chardonnay

A

full range of styles

Premium from Uco Valley - med+ (high) acidity, ripe stone fruit and tropical. Spice from oak ageing

20
Q

Wine law

Geographical indications

A

three-tier system

IP (indicacion de Procedecia) - large areas

IG (or GI - Indicacion Geografica) - meet certain quality from specific areas (mostly political divisions)

DOC - from specific areas with legislated winemaking criteria
- only two - Lujan de Cuyo and San Rafael (both Mendoza)

Region - Province - Sub-region - Department - District - GI inside district

21
Q

Wine regulations - labelling terms

A

Label with GI or DOC must be exclusively from grapes from that area

If vintage is mentioned min 85% comes from that vintage

Single variety - min 85% of that variety

2 or more varieties - together min 85%

Reserva

  • min 12 months of ageing for reds
  • min 6 months of agein for white and rose

Gran Reserva twice as much

22
Q

Reserva and Gran Reserva

A

Reserva

  • min 12 months of ageing for reds
  • min 6 months of agein for white and rose

Gran Reserva twice as much

23
Q

Divisions in Mendoza Province

A

Northern Mendoza

Eastern Mendoza

Central Mendoza ‘Primera Zona’

  • Luyan de Cuyo (department)
  • Maipu (department)

Uco Valley

  • Tupungato
    • – district Gualtallary
  • Tunuyan
  • San Carlos
    - – GI Paraje Altamira

Southern Mendoza
- San Rafael (department)

24
Q

Mendoza province general

A

Largest producing province of Argentina - 75%

in the valley of river Mendoza at the base of Andes (and extenting up)
500-1500m

Dominated by Malbec (1/3 of plantings)

Both of Argentina’s DOC are here

25
Q

Northern and Eastern Mendoza

A

on plains of Mendoza river valley

Relatively low 500-700m

Water from Mendoza and Tunuyan River
- large volumes of inexpensive win

Some quality wines from old Bonarda and Tempranillo

26
Q

Central Mendoza

A

‘Prima Zona’ - high quality wine - leading producers

Between 600 and 1.100m

Possibility to ripen large variety of grapes.

Malbec dominant, then Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tempranillo

most prestigious departments: Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu

27
Q

Lujan de Cuyo

A

Department of Central Mendoza

between 900-1100m

famous for old Malbec wines

DOC Lujan de Cuyo

  • must be aged for 24 months with at least 12 months in oak
  • typically only for Malbec

District level GI within GI Lujan de Cuyo

  • Las Compuertas - highest vineyards, fruity full bodied Malbec or Bordeaux varieties, med+ acidity, firm tannins, great potential for ageing (also premium Chardonnay and SB)
  • Agrelo - lower clay soils - riper reds, structural for ageing (fruity full bodied whites - Semillon)
28
Q

Prestigious districts in Lujan de Cuyo

A

Las Compuertas
- highest vineyards, fruity full bodied Malbec or Bordeaux varieties, med+ acidity, firm tannins, great potential for ageing (also premium Chardonnay and SB)

Agrelo
- lower clay soils - riper reds, structural for ageing (fruity full bodied whites - Semillon)

29
Q

Maipu

A

Department of Central Mendoza

vineyards are lower (around 600-900m)

warmer sites, many old vines

Intense, fruity, full bodied, high alcohol, softer tannins

(lowest warmest sites produce inexpensive wine)

High quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Tempranillo, Syrah

30
Q

Uco Valley

A

Highest vineyards in Mendoza 850-1500m

Cooler temperatures and higher diurnal range
- slower sugar accumulation, retention of acidity and fresh fruit, deep colour, ripe tannins

Dominated by Malbec (also claim for high quality whites)

GI Valle de Uco has 3 deparments (all GIs)

  • Tupungato
  • Tunuyan
  • San Carlos
31
Q

Tupungato

A

Department of Uco Valley (Mendoza Province)

Highest of the 3 departments (at foot of Tupungato volcano)

Fresh full bodied Malbecs, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir

Crisp elegant Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

Gualtallary (district)

  • 1100-1600m narrow strip
  • limestone
  • High quality Malbec (ligher body, higher acidity, herbal)
  • also blends of Malbec and Cabernet Franc
32
Q

Tunuyan

A

Department of Uco Valley (Mendoza Province)

wider range of altitudes.

Higher sites for Pinot Noir and white wines
Lower for fruity, structured reds

33
Q

San Carlos

A

Department of Uco Valley (Mendoza Province)

Recognised for old vines
- Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah

Gi Paraje Altamira

  • on alluvial fan
  • intense full bodied Malbec with acidity and structure to age
34
Q

Recognised district in Tupungato for Malbec

A

Gualtallary

  • 1100-1600m narrow strip
  • limestone
  • High quality Malbec (ligher body, higher acidity, herbal)
35
Q

Southern Mendoza

A

Vineyards mainly in San Rafael GI (department)
(smaller area is also DOC)

450-850m

More south - summers are cooler and longer
- slower sugar accumulation and good acidity

Prone to summer hailstorms

Does not have the same raputation (used in blends)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Bonarda

Signature grape - Chenin Blanc

36
Q

San Juan Province

A

600-1500m

lower sites, lower diurnal range (inexpensive wines - pink varieties)

Developing better quality wines from Malbec, Bondarda and Syrah

GI Pedernal Valley (higher diurnal range - fresher)

37
Q

La Rioja Province

A

mainly high volume wine

Torrontes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah

La Riojana co-op

labelled ‘La Rioja Argentina’

38
Q

Important co-op in La Rioja

A

La Riojana

39
Q

Salta Province

A

Attracting foreign investment

along Calchaqui River (irrigation source for dessert like conditions)

24-26’S (low latitude, high altitude 1.500-3.000m)

Intense sunlight (high levels of anthocyanins and tannin)
Mountains provide some shade during the day

Strong Zonda winds blow down from mountains
- thicker skins, lower yields

wide diurnal range - highly concentrated, full-bodied wines with extreme fragrance and freshness

Dominant grape - Malbec (distinctive herbal and floral lift)

Other: Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tannat
White: Torrontes (GI Cafayate) aromatic, unoaked

40
Q

GI for Torrontes in Salta

A

Cafayate

aromatic, unoaked style

41
Q

Patagonia Region

A

38-39’S

highest only 400m

Relatively low temperatures due to higher latitude

  • less intense sunlight, longer growing season
  • low rain fall (200mm) irrigation essential

High quality wines from Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Semillon, Chardonnay, Riesling
Malbec still dominant - floral character

Constant winds from Andes (wind breakers)

2 main provinces

  • Rio Negro (old vines - Semillon, Pinot Noir, Malbec, elegant well balanced)
  • Neuquen (warmer - riper styles - Malbec, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc)
42
Q

Provinces of Patagonia region

A

Rio Negro

Neuquen

43
Q

Wine business

A

6th largest producing country

Vintage variations (El Nino)

Export markets: USA, UK, Canada, Brazil, Netherlands

MERCOSUR latin american free trade agreement

Boom in 2000 (weak peso)
- inexpensive but good quality

Rise of inflation - higher production costs

Government restrictions on foreign ownership of land - slowing down foreign investment (lifted in 2016)

60% Malbec exports

Malbec World Day (organised by Wines of Argentina)

COVIAR organisation ‘stragegy 2020’ to promote Argentinian wine

Export is only 20%, domestic consumption is very strong

Average winery size is relatively small
Bodega Catena Zapata, Familia Zuccardi

FeCoViTa, Grupo Penaflor

44
Q

Name of Latin American free trade agreement

A

MERCOSUR

45
Q

Argentinian collective of co-operatives

A

FeCoViTA