Argentina Grape Varieties and Winemaking Flashcards
Historically, what grapes dominated Argentinian Wine?
High yielding pink criollo varieties:
Cereza, Criolla Grande and Criolla Chica (Pais in Chile)
What wines did they produce?
Light coloured wines
Why are plantings falling?
What % is now grown?
Shift to quality wine production
Still make up 20% of production
What is the 2nd most planted grape variety after Malbec?
Cereza
What % of black grapes now make up plantings?
53%
What % of plantings are Malbec?
20%
What % did plantings increase from 1995-2018?
Almost 350%
What drove the increased Malbec plantings?
initially from a domestic change in focus to high-quality black grape varieties and then driven on by its huge success on the export market
Describe the Malbec grape
mid-ripening
in warm sunny conditions it produces deep coloured full-bodied wines
high levels of SOFT tannins
high alcohol
flavours of ripe blackberry and black plum
What style of wine(s) can Malbec produce?
From inexpensive to mid-priced, lighter, fruity wines to be drunk young to
structured, age-worthy wines which can command premium and super-premium priced.
What is Malbec sometimes blended with?
Bordeaux Varieties (Cab Sav, Merlot, Cab Franc and/or Petit Verdot) and Bonarda and also with Syrah.
What type of wines does a cooler site Malbec make?
high altitude or relatively high latitude
lower alcohol, med+ acidity, med+ tannin and fresh fruit flavours, mix of red and black fruit characteristics and floral or herbal aromas
what type of wines does a warmer site Malbec make?
low altitude and latitude
fuller-bodied with riper fruit characteristics, lower acidity and softer tannins
why would producers use both styles in one blend?
to take advantage of those difference characters
When did the cuttings from France arrive in Malbec
Before Phylloxera devastated the vineyards in the France which has contributed to the high quality of plant material.
