Argentina Flashcards
How long is Argentina’s growing region for grapes?
Over 1,500km/870 miles
What are the two most important factors for growing grapes in Argentina?
The combined factors of Altitude and Latitude
How large is the diurnal shift in some regions of Argentina?
20°C/36°F
What is the climate of Argentina?
Continental
What mountain range causes the rain shadow that covers most of Argentina?
The Andes
What is one of the benefits of the rain shadow?
Disease pressure drops
What is one of the necessities for viticulture in Argentina due to the rain shadow?
Irrigation
Describe what the Zonda is
The Zonda is a fierce wind that comes down the Andes. It usually occurs during the late spring and early summer
Is the Zonda always a good thing?
No, it can cause water stress in the vine, and if it is strong enough, the Zonda can even affect flowering and fruit set.
What is a major concern for growers in Argentina during the summer months?
Hail, which has significantly affected yields in some years
What are some of the ways growers and producers can mitigate the threat of Hail?
- By using netting on their vineyards, with some only using the nets on their most prized sites
- Owning different parcels of land through out the region
What is another concern for growers/producers in Mendoza?
Frost, usually at the flatter areas or the bottom of the slopes
How can the El Niño phenomenon affect Argentina?
It can bring higher than average rainfall to the region, and with it more hail.
In 2016 there was a 25% drop across the country, and 40% in Mendoza due to El Niño
How often can the El Niño phenomenon occur?
Every two to ten years
What are the main soil type in Argentina
- Alluvial soils; however the textures of the soils will vary
What are some of the different textures/compositions of the alluvial soils found in Argentina
- Larger stones with calcareous deposits dominate the higher altitudes
- The middle areas are usually dominated by sand, gravel and silt
- The lower areas generally are loamy clay soils that are rich in nutrients
What regions have been identified with having deposits of calcareous soils, that some believe will become sources of high quality wines?
- Gualtallary and Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley
- Pedernal Valley in San Juan
What triggered the vine pull scheme that was carried out in Argentina, and what was an unintended consequence of that vine pull scheme?
- It was triggered by the rapid fall in demand for domestic wines
- The unintended consequence was that thousands of acres of Malbec vines were ripped out before its potential was recognized
30% of the vineyards in Argentina have a vine age of____ years old
40+ years old
What kind of water does the Mendoza River, and its tributaries, deliver to the country? How is it delivered to the country?
Pure snowmelt and glacier water from the Andes, which is collected by a series of dams and irrigation channels that date back to the 16th century
What is the most commonly used method of irrigation in Argentina?
Flood Irrigation, with over 70% of the vineyards using it
- Furrow being the local flood irrigation
Are new vineyard plantings in Argentina being set up for flood irrigation or drip Irrigation? Why?
- Drip Irrigation, this is due to it being cheaper to install (not needing to level the whole vineyard), and it being more sustainable to get the water from bur-holes if there is not a nearby source of water
- Drip irrigation also has the benefits of being more efficient and can be used with greater control
When is it more important to give the vines a lot of water versus giving the vines small amounts of water?
- Most producers and growers will give a lot of water during the winter to replicate winter rains, and then low amounts during the summer.
What was the traditional way that grapes were trained to grow in Argentina
- Grapes in Argentina used to be trained using the pergola (locally called Parral) system to train the vines away from the heat of the ground and offer some shade
Is the Pergola system still used to day? If so, what varieties use it?
It is still used today for some of the warmer areas, and some of the more high vigor and high yielding grapes varieties.
- Torrontes
- Criolla Chica
- Criolla Grande
- Cereza
- Pedro Giménez
Did phylloxera devastate Argentina like it has most of the wine world?
Actually, no. There are many theories as to why this is (sandy soils, arid climate), but it has not.
Since phylloxera didn’t destroy most of the vines in Argentina, they are still predominately own rooted. Why are some producers choosing to graft vines?
Some producers are changing to grafted vines because they offer better drought protection, and there is an increasing nematode threat
How are the grapes harvested?
Traditionally they were harvested by hand, but now due to an increase in the cost of living in Argentina not many workers are willing to take on such low paying work. Which means that many producers are switching to mechanical harvesting
Was Argentina always known for producing Malbec?
No. Prior to the late 1980’s, Argentina was primarily producing wines from Cereza, Criolla Chica and Criolla Grande.
What is the second most planted grape in Argentina?
Bonarda
How does Argentina’s wine law work?
It is split into 3 main categories:
- IP (Indicación de Procedencia): These can cover large geographical areas, though not the country as a whole
- IG (or GI, Indicación Geográfica) for wines that meet a certain quality made from a specific geographical area
- DOC for wines from a specific geographical area with legislated winemaking criteria – so far, only two have been created: Luján de Cuyo and San Rafael
What percentage of plantings are located in Mendoza, and how much of Argentina’s total production comes from Mendoza?
- 75% of the plantings
- 2/3s of the total production
What is the range of elevation for plantings in Mendoza
500-1500 meters above sea level
Name the 5 different divisions of Mendoza
- Northern
- Southern
- Eastern
- Central
- Valley de Uco
Name the river that runs through northern Mendoza
Mendoza River
Name the river that runs through eastern Mendoza
Tunuyán River
Do Northern and Eastern Mendoza sit on the foothills of the Alps or the plains?
The plains
What is the other name for central Mendoza?
Primera Zona because it has the longest history of high quality winemaking in Mendoza
What are the main Black grape varieties grown in Mendoza?
- Malbec
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Tempranillo
What are the two highest quality departments found in Central Mendoza
- Lujan de Cuyo
- Maipu
What was the first DOC created in Argentina
DOC Lujan de Cuyo
What are the three departments that make up the Uco Valley GI?
- Tupungato
- Tunuyan
- San Carlos
What is the second most planted region in Argentina?
San Juan
Where does Argentina rank in terms of production world wide?
5th
What are the main export countries for Argentinian wines?
- USA
- UK
- Spain
- Canada
- Brazil
