Argentina Flashcards
What traditional vine training system has been used in Argentina to combat the heat? What is it called here?
Pergola
Here known as Parral
What two features of Parral allow for the mitigation of heat affecting grapes?
Further from the ground
Shad from canopy
What is an absolute necessity in Argentinian vineyards?
Irrigation
What two types of irrigation are found in Argentina?
Flood irrigation
Drip irrigation
What are two climatic problems in Argentinian vineyards? Which one is most regular? Where is it particularly common?
Spring Frost
Summer Hail - particularly common in Mendoza
Other than the expensive technique of netting the vineyard, how is the risk of summer hail combatted? What other benefits does this bring?
Owning vineyards in various locations
More options come blending time
Many vineyards growing black varieties have steered away from parral training and now use vertical trellises. What technique is employed to combat intense sunlight?
Arranging of the canopy to shade the grapes
Dry climate results in Argentina being an important source of grapes grown how?
Organically
What are the three main black grape varieties of Argentina?
Malbec - most planted
Bonarda - 2nd most planted
Cabernet Sauvignon - and other internationals
Malbec has been extensively grown in every wine region in Argentina. Generally Malbec grown at lower altitudes show richer black fruit and grown at higher altitudes are more elegant displaying more of which cluster?
Floral
Bonarda ripens late. What levels of colour, tannin and acidity is typical? When grown at high-yields however it is lighter and easy-drinking displaying aromas of raspberry and blackberry
Deep
High
High
In which two provinces is Bonarda mostly found?
San Juan province
Mendoza province
International black varieties will often show concentrated ripe fruit flavours and … notes from what?
Toasty notes from oak
What grape is seen as Argentina’s signature white varietal?
Torrontes
In which provinces is Torrontes widely planted?
Salta
La Rioja
San Juan
Mendoza
In which high-altitude province and more specific department are the best examples of Torrontes found?
Cafayete, Salta
Why would Torrontes typically be fermented in inert, temperature controlled vessels and released the year of harvest?
It’s an aromatic varietal
What are a couple of flavour characteristics of Torrontes? (one cluster, one tropical note). What are levels of body and acid?
Stone fruit
Melon
Medium and medium
Pedro Gimanez is a white varietal which is not the same as PX. It is the most widely planted white varietal and produces cheap wines for the local market. What international grape makes premium wines that are often aged in oak?
Chardonnay
In which province are some of the highest vineyards in the world found? How high
Salta
3000m+
What is the dominant grape in Salta? What is the most relevant department for this grape?
Torrontes
Cafayate
What are the two dominant black grape varieties in Cafayate?
Malbec and Cab Sauv
Which province has the third largest area of production?
La Rioja
Why might wines from La Rioja be labelled Famatina?
To avoid confusion with Rioja, Spain
Which region is the second most important wine area behind Mendoza? What grape is particularly noted here?
San Juan
Syrah
In San Juan the vineyards are located at about 450 to 1400m asl. Which other region has a similar altitude range?
Mendoza
Where is the vast majority of Argentina’s wine produced?
Mendoza
The Andes Mountains and the Argentine Pampas protect Mendoza from?
Rain
What are the 5 divisions that Medoza can be split into?
Northern Eastern Southern Uco Valley Central
Why is fruit from the 5 Mendoza divisions often blended?
Take advantage of differing climates
How can Northern and Eastern divisions of Mendoza produce high-volume, inexpensive wines?
The Mendoza River runs through here, providing irrigation water
Which Mendoza division hosts many of the famous producers?
Central Mendoza
Which two departments of Central Mendoza are most important?
Lujan de Cuyo
Maipu
In the Andes foothills at about 1100m altitude, you might find old vine ….? in which District?
Malbec
Lujan de Cuyo
What grape has a high reputation in Lujan de Cuyo? (luging de koi yo!)
Malbec
What grapes perform well in the lower altitude district of Maipu?
Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon
The lower parts of Maipu provides much of the high-volume, inexpensive wine for domestic and export markets, it is however a valuable source of what?
Old vine Bonarda and Tempranillo
Which area of Mendoza Province has the highest altitude (900-1500m)?
Uco Valley
What is a feature of the Uco Valley that allows for the retention of acid and fresh fruit flavours?
Cool nights
Chardonnay, Torrontes, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo all flourish in the Uco Valley. What other grape can grow here?
Pinot Noir
The department of Tupungato is a high altitude area increasingly recognised for the quality of its wines, which area of Mendoza Province is this included in?
the Uco Valley
Despite having a much lower altitude than much of Mendoza, the San Rafael department in southern Mendoza is one of the coolest areas in the province due to it’s southerly location. What white grape is significantly planted here?
Chenin Blanc
Which region is home to the Rio Negro Province and relatively new Neuquen Province?
Patagonia
What is the cooling influence in Patagonia if not altitude?
Latitude
The high diurnal range, long sunlight hours and cool night allow for grapes such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Malbec and Merlot to make premium wines in Rio Negro, which is a Province in which region?
Patagonia
