Argentina

Question 1

What happened in 1959?

Answer 1

Moet & Chandon took the first initiative to sparkling wine in Argentina.

Question 2

In which regions are sparkling wine production mainly situated? And why?

Answer 2

Mendoza's warm sites = grapes of low quality for inexpensive wines.
	* 
Lujan de Cuyo (Altitude)
	* 
Uco Valley (Altitude)
	* 
Neuquén (Latitude)
	* 
Rio Negro (Latitude)

Question 3

What are the natural hazards linked with the before stated regions?

Answer 3

Hail, Frost, Nematodes, Grapevine Moths, Ants

Question 4

When are grapes for sparkling wine generally harvested, compared to grapes used for still wines?

Answer 4

1-2 months before

Question 5

Name the main-varieties for sparkling wine

Answer 5

Pedro Giminez, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc, Semillion

Question 6

What methods are mainly used?

Answer 6

Carbonation and Tank-method (a few examples of Traditional Method)

Question 7

What varieties, styles and quality-levels are linked with Carbonation-method?

Answer 7

Predo Giminez, Chenin Blanc & Semillion
*
Inexpensive quality and pricing
*
Often comes with fruit-flavorings (e.g. Strawberry addition)

Question 8

What varieties, styles and quality-levels are linked with Tank-method?

Answer 8

Pedro Giminez, Chenin Bland, Semillion, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
	* 
Typically mid-priced
	* 
acceptable to good quality
	* 
Fruity styles - off-dry to medium-dry

Question 9

What varieties, styles and quality-levels are linked with Traditional Method?

Answer 9

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
	* 
Good to Very good in Quality 
	* 
Mid to premium-priced
	* 
Mainly white styles
	* 
Most popular style is extra-brut (max 11 g/l in Argentina)

Question 10

What is the general length of ageing on Traditional Method-style wines?

Answer 10

NV-Vintage: 12 months
*
Premium bottling: Longer ageing, e.g. 18 months

Question 11

What changed in 2005 that gave the sparkling wine production a boost?

Answer 11

A sparkling-wine tax of 12% of sales was removed

Question 12

How much, in percentage, is sold domestic versus export?

Answer 12

95% domestic
*
5% export

Question 13

From where does the general Argentinian buy and enjoy their sparkling wine?

Answer 13

Bought from a retailer and enjoyed at home.

Question 14

What are the main-export-markets?

Answer 14

South-American countries and China.

Question 15

Name some of the largest producers

Answer 15

Chandon Argentina
	* 
Llorente
	* 
Mumm
	* 
Norton