Argentina Flashcards
Argentina, main large regions
North Region, Cuyo IG, Patagonia IG, Center Region
Winemaking provinces of Argentina North Region
Jujuy IG, Salta IG, Catamarca IG, Tucuman IG
- Valles Calchaquíes IG**
- *The Valles Calchaquíes are not a province; however, the IG includes the following departments in Salta, Catamarca, and Tucumán: La Viña, San Carlos, Cafayate, Molinos, Santa María, and Tafí.
Winemaking provinces of Cuyo
La Rioja Argentina IG, San Juan IG, Mendoza IG
*San Luis (106 ha of vines in 2019. Source: INV)
Winemaking provinces of Patagonia
La Palma, Neuquen IG, Rio Negro IG, Trevelin IG
Important subregions of Salta
Subregions (Department IGs): Cachi, Cafayate - Valle de Cafayate, Molinos, San Carlos
Main Subregion: Cafayate
Important subregions of La Rioja Argentina
Valles de Famatina IG
Important subregions of San Juan
Valle de Tulum IG, Jachal IG, Valle Fertil IG, Zonda IG, Valle Pedernal IG, Calingasta IG
Major subregions of Mendoza
Mendoza Norte, Mendoza Este, Mendoza Central (aka Upper), Valle de Uco IG, Mendoza Sur
Subregions of Mendoza Notre
Las Heras IG, Lavalle IG, Guaymallen IG
Subregions of Mendoza Este
San Martin IG, Junin IG, Rivadavia IG, Santa Rosa IG, La Paz IG
Subregions of Mendoza Central
Godoy Cruz IG, Lujan de Cuyo IG/DOC, Maipu IG
Argentina climate
Continental, cold winters, hot summers. In a rainshadow of the Andes, very dry, exascerbated by the Zonda, irrigation required. Low humidity means low fungal/mold risks, hail is a risk in the summer. Many vineyards planted a higher elevations in the foothills of the Andes, avg elevation ~900m
Zonda
In Argentina, a fierce, dusty, hot afternoon wind blows down from the mountains in the late spring and early summer, sometimes adversely affecting flowering. It brings dry conditions.
Argentina grapes
Red grapes, in order of importance: Malbec, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Tempranillo.
Whites in order of importance: Torrontes, Chard, Chenin, Pedro Gimenez (Most planted grape, mostly bulk wine).
Pink-skinned varieties, including Cereza, Criolla Chica, and Criolla Grande, occupy nearly 30% of the nation’s vineyard acreage.
Argentina’s 2nd most planted grape
Bonarda, Corbeau in the Savoie and Charbono in the US
Mendoza Chardonnay clone
Developed at the University of California at Davis, has become popular throughout Argentina; despite being prone to millerandage the resulting grapes have a greater skin-to-juice ratio
Argentina Reserva and Gran Reserva labeling
Introduced in 2008. Premium grapes only (no criolla chica or cereza).
-Reserva
white - 6 mos
red - 1 yr
-Gran Reserva
white - 1 yr
red - 2 yrs
Subregions of Valle de Uco IG
Tupungato IG, Tunuyan IG, San Carlos IG
Subregions of Mendoza Sur
San Rafeal IG/DOC, General Alvear IG
Important subregions of Rio Negro
Alto Valle de Rio Negro IG
Argentina’s DOCs
- Lujan de Cuyo - authorized for Malbec
- San Rafael - currently only used by Valentín Bianchi for base quality wines
Subregions of Lujan de Cuyo
Agrelo IG
Perdriel IG
Las Compuertas IG
Subregions of Maipu
Las Barrancas IG
Cruz de Piedra IG
Lunlunta IG
El Paraíso IG
Russel IG
Subregions of Tunuyan (Uco Valley)
San Pablo GI
Los Chacayes GI
Vista Flores GI
Subregions of San Carlos (Uco Valley)
La Consulta GI
Paraje Altamira GI
El Cepillo IG
Mendoza Climate, geo, soils, grapes
In a Rain shadow from the Andes, Warm, high elevation, avg vineyard at 900mt, dry, irrigation from Mendoza river, flood irrigation and now drip irrigation. Frost and Hail are major threats. Soils vary but mainly alluvial called “franco”. Soils plus Zonda keeps phylloxera away, most vines own-rooted.
R: Malbec ,CS
W: Chard and Semillon especially in high altitude Tupungato in the Uco Valley, Chenin Blanc in south Mendoza
Argentina’s 1st official appellation
Lujan de Cuyo DOC, 1993
Lujan de Cuyo producers
Achaval Ferrer, Altos Las Hormigas, Bodega Norton, Bressia, Catena Zapata, Chakana, Cheval des Andes, Durigutti, Ernetsto Catena, Fabre Montmayou, Luca, Mendel, Dominio del Plata (Susana Balbo),
Mendoza Rivers
Mountain rivers (Desaguadero) Mendoza Tunuyán Diamante Atuel Rivers,
Maipu producers
Familia Zuccardi, Trapiche
Valle de Uco
Argentina IG, major subregion of Mendoza IG, SW of Mendoza city. Along the Tunuyan river, elevations as high as 1500 mt.
- Tupungato IG, Tunuyan IG, and San Carlos IG
Valle de Uco producers
Antucura, Clos de Los Siete, Zorzal
Cordoba
Argentina province and sole IG of the Center Region. Inland, far from the Andes
Salta producers
Amalaya, Colome (Molinos), Bodegas Etchart, San Pedro de Yacochuya, Susana Balbo’s Crios
Salta climate, grapes
High elevation, highest vineyards at 3000mt, warm, lots of sunlight. Torrontes, also Malbec, CS
San Juan climate, grapes, production
2nd largest production province of Argentina. Hot summers, irrigation essential, many productions dedicated to pink-skinned grapes for bulk production and grapes for brandy and Vermouth. It also makes decent sherry style wine.
*Quality wines: Syrah, Bonarda
Argentina wine law
The INV passed appellation of origin laws in 1999. If a province is listed, min 85%, if an apellation IG is listed, min 100%
Furrow Irrigation in Mendoza?
a technique developed centuries ago by the Incas, in which the rivers’ water, swelled by Andes snowmelt, is directed through the vineyards in channels. Traditional irrigation method in Mendoza
Rio Negro producers
- Bodega Chacra (Sassicaia) is Patagonia’s most famous producer, known for super-premium Pinot Noir.
- Bodega Noemía de Patagonia for premium Malbec
Northmost and Southmost wine regions in Argentina
- Jujuy (N)
- Rio Negro in Patagonia (S)
Malbec parentage
Prunelard x Magdeleine Noire des Charentes
Torrontes Riojano?
Riojano: Criolla Chica x Muscat of Alexandria
Cordoba sub-regions?
Subregions (Department IGs): Colón (includes the Colonia Caroya district IG), Calamuchita, San Javier, Ischilin, Tulumba and Santa María
Cordoba main grapes?
Major Grapes: Merlot, Malbec, Isabella (R) (Listed in descending order of 2017 production.)
Where is fine Chenin Blanc produced?
Southern Mendoza departments of San Rafael DOC and General Alvear IG.
Which producer uses 100% Oak in his style of wine?
The single-vineyard Achával Ferrer wines, spending over a year in 100% new barrels (Mendoza).
Main grapes varieties in the Northern region?
Cafayate (Salta): - Torrontés—Susana Balbo’s “Crios” is a widely exported hallmark of the style;
- Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon - Etchart, the winery that first brought Michel Rolland to Argentina, and Yacochuya, Arnaldo Etchart;
Catamarca: Torrontés, Syrah, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
What is Donald Hess’ estate in Salta?
How high are the vineyards?
- Colomé
- 3,000 m - some of the highest vineyards in the world
What is Bonarda confusingly called in San Juan?
Barbera Bonarda
Where are Mendoza’s highest vineyards?
Uco Valley in the west
What grapes may be labeled “Torrontés”?
-Torrontés Riojano
Lower quality:
- Torrontés Sanjuanino
- Torrontés Mendocino
White grapes, such as Chard and Semillon, are cultivated with success in high elevations of what departments in Mendoza?
Uco Valley and Tupungato Department
What are the 5 valleys of San Juan?
- Tulum
- Zonda
- Ullum
- Jáchal
- Fertil
Gualtallary
Argentina / Mendoza wine region
1400m in elevation
Tunuyan River
River that cuts across the Southern Uco Valley in Mendoza
special interest is the region of Altamira (Catena Zapata, Achaval Ferrer)
Subregions Catamarca?
Subregions (Department IGs): Belén, Pomán, Santa María, Tinogasta
Subregions Tucuman?
Subregions (Department IGs): Tafí (Tafí del Valle)
Subregion Jujuy?
Subregions (Department IGs): Quebrada de Humahuaca
*Claudio Zucchino is experimenting new growing vines
Subregion Neuquen?
Subregions (Department IGs): Añelo, Confluencia
Subregion Rio Negro?
Subregions (Department IGs): Alto Valle de Río Negro, Avellaneda, General Conesa, General Roca, Pichimahuida
Main Subregion: General Roca
Province Trevelin? Grapes?
Province: Chubut
White Grapes: Chardonnay, Semillon, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc
Red Grapes: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc
La Rioja Argentina subregion?
Subregions: Multi-Department IG: Valles del Famatina
Department IGs: Arauco, Castro Barros, Chilecito, Famatina (includes the Valle de Chañarmuyo IG), Felipe Varela, General Lamadrid (includes the Castelli district IG), San Blas de los Sauces, Sanagasta, Vinchina
Main Subregions: Chilecito, Famatina, Felipe Varela (90% of vineyards in 2010 were located in these three subregions)
San Juan subregion?
Subregions: Multi-Department IG: Valle de Tulum
Department IGs: 25 de Mayo, 9 de Julio, Albardón, Angaco, Calingasta (includes the Barreal district IG), Caucete, Chimbas, Iglesia, Jáchal, Pocito, Rawson, Rivadavia, San Martín, Santa Lucía, Sarmiento (includes the Valle del Pedernal district IG), Ullum, Valle Fértil, Zonda
