Argentina - Grape Varieties and Winemaking

Question 1

What are historically the grapes used in Argentinian wine?

Answer 1

Historically dominated by high yielding pink Criolla Varieties.
1. Cereza
2. Criolla Grande
3. Criolla Chia (Pais in Chile)

Question 2

How do these grapes appear now?

Answer 2

Long used for inexpensive wines for domestic market, no improvement in quality
But still make up 20% of plantins
Cereza next most planted grape after Malbec

Question 3

White vs Black grape?

Answer 3

until 1980s white grapes dominated, but from 1990s shift to quality wine production - black grapes increased, now represent 53% of plantings

Question 4

What are the 5 key black varieties in Argentina?

Answer 4

1) Malbec
2) Bonarda
3) Cab Sav
4) Syrah
5) Tempranillo

Question 5

Other black grapes - declining/increasing?

Answer 5

6. Merlot - decreasing
7. Pinot Noir - increasing Uco Valley + Patagonia
8. Cabernet Franc - considerable potential, distinctive concentrated wine or blended with Malbec
9. Petit Verdot increasing
10. Tannat increasing

Question 6

Describe Malbec in Argentina
% of vineyard planting?
tasting note?

Answer 6

Signature variety
makes up 20% of total vineyard area
increased 350% between 1995-2018
Vigorous, mid-ripening grape
Deep-coloured, FB wine
hi level of soft tannins
hi alcohol
ripe blackberry, black plum

Question 7

Describe the range of styles of Malbec wine?

Answer 7

From inexpensive mid-priced lighter, fruitier wines to be drunk when young, to structured age-worthy wines which command premium and super-premium prices
Still used in blends with Bdx varieties, Bonarda and with Syrah = some of Argentina’s most expensive wines
Also Rosé - fresh and fruity

Question 8

Microclimate effect on style?

Answer 8

Malbec from cooler sites + lower alcohol, med+ acidity, med+ tannins and fresh fruit red and black, plus floral/herbal aromas
Warmer sites = more FB, riper fruit, lower acidity and softer tannins.

Question 9

Blended or Single Vineyards?

Answer 9

Both!
Producers with more than one area blend to take advantage of different characteristics
Single Vineyard increasingly common, highlighting style and quality of wines

Question 10

Where did Malbec come from?
Argentinian clones differ how?

Answer 10

Taken from France before Phylloxera = high quality planting material
smaller berries and bunches
softer tannins vs France

Question 11

Describe Bonarda
tasting note

Answer 11

2nd most planted grape
Late ripening
mainly planted in San Juan and warmer parts of Mendoza
High yielding, produces large volume, inexpensive wines
If yields limited, can produce quality wines
Deep colour, red/black fruit
med+ acidity
med tannin/alcohol

Question 12

Does bonarda have oak?
used in blends?

Answer 12

oak can overwhelm flavours so mostly old oak used
Good blending partner with Malbec/Cab Sav

Question 13

Are quality Bonarda’s made?
where?
vs Malbec?
export?

Answer 13

Low yield vineyards, old vines = more complex wines with riper, black fruit and spicy characteristics
Maipú
Luyan de Cuyo
East of Mendoza
still mostly mid-priced, some premium
yet to come out of Malbec’s shadow for export
85% still consumed domestically

Question 14

Describe Cabernet Sauvignon in Argentina
Tasting note?

Answer 14

Site selection important due to extreme temperatures.
Typically blended with Malbec in some of Argentina’s top wines
Increasingly used to make premium-priced single varietal wines
Ripe high tannins
blackcurrant and blackberry fruit
spicy notes without herbaceous flavours

Question 15

Describe Syrah in Argentina

Answer 15

Successful in hotter sites of Mendoza and San Juan (more planted here vs Malbec
FB wine
hi alcohol
ripe black fruit flavour.
Cooler areas = fresher fruit, firmer tannins

Question 16

What has influenced Argentinian wine making in the past?

Answer 16

Spanish, French and Italian immigrants, traditionally fermented and matured in large oak barrels, with hint of oxidation

Question 17

What is the more modern way of making wine in Argentina?

Answer 17

Foreign investment and foreign winemakers helped shift to more modern international style
Later harvesting, temp controlled ferment, + maturation in new oak (French)
=FB ripe, fruity wines with oak flavours

Question 18

What are producers doing now?

Answer 18

harvesting for earlier fruit, fresher, lower alcohol
experimenting with whole bunch fermentation, gentle extraction, natural fermentation, old/new barrels, concrete tanks/eggs, blending parcels of wine.

Question 19

Who is producing the super-premium wines?

Answer 19

Catena Zapata
Viña Cobos
Archival Ferrer
blends and single varietals with ageing potential

Question 20

Describe the Rosés coming from Argentina

Answer 20

Good quality dry Rosés, mainly from Malbec
previously rosé was a by-product of red production
NOW grown, harvested and. processed exclusively for rosé wine production

Question 21

Plantings of white grapes?
What are the key white grape varieties in Argentina?

Answer 21

plantings significantly fallen as switched to red wine
1. Pedro Giminez is most planted white grape, domestic consumption, inexpensive
2) Torrontés
3) Chardonnay
plus Sémillon, Chenin Blanc, Viognier

Question 22

Does Argentina produce quality white wines?

Answer 22

starting to be recognised, esp in cooler areas, highest altitude sites, picking grapes early, fermenting at cooler temps, fruitier wines, higher acidity, lower alcohol

Question 23

Describe Torrontés
Vigour?
Plantings?
If overripe?
Best when?

Answer 23

Torrentés (Riojano) is 2nd most planted grape in Argentina
White Signature grape
Native, natural cross of
Muscat of Alexandria and Criolla Chica.
Strong floral aroma = muscat
Vigorous, high yielding
Most plantings in Mendoza, San Juan and La Rioja
Proved v successful in Cafayate in Salta
Poor wines made if overripe
Best when reducing yields, earlier harvesting, temp control = fruitier (lemon, grapefruit, peach) (less floral), fresher and lower level of alcohol

Question 24

Describe Chardonnay in Argentina
premium wine made where?

Answer 24

Widely planted and made in a range of styles
Premium wines mature in oak, some new
cool sites in Uco Valley - ripe stone/tropical fruit, med to high acidity
spice from oak, small proportion of new - to not overpower the fruit.