Ch.18 – Argentina Flashcards
1
Q
One card on Argentina
A
- began 1959 when Moet & Chandon based first overseas subsidiary in Mendoza
- Overall production sparkling limited until recently
- As more producers, more volume, so more styles, varieties used and brands at diff price points
- Most wines tank method (fruity, off dry - med dry, acceptable to good), mostly cheap,
- Some carbonation
- Some trad method from Chard, Pinot N, ripe apple, lemon fruit, light autolytic, Brut style, good to v good, mid to prem price.
- Many wineries expanding range to incl sparkling
- Now 160, Mendoza, also Neuquén, Rio Negro, San Juan
2
Q
Top six grapes for sparkling grown in Argentina
A
- Pedro Giménez (no relation, a Criolla variety) largest
- Chardonnay (up 30% since 2000)
- Chenin Blanc
- Pinot Noir (up 80% from low base)
- Ugni Blanc
- Semillon
3
Q
Where grapes grown in Argentina for sparkling
A
- Cheap tank/ carbonated alongside still in warm Mendoza
- High quality at altitude Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley (diurnals, acidity, preserve delicate flavours etc)
- Also new vineyards in Neuquén and Rio Negro in southerly latitude Patagonia (warm days, cool nights etc)
4
Q
Harvest in Argentina for Sparkling
A
- one or even 2 months before grapes for still wines to avoid high alcohol/ preserve acidity
5
Q
Natural hazards in Argentinian regions
A
- hail
- spring frosts
- nematodes
- European grapevine moth
- ants
- little spraying needed v fungal diseases as dry climate
6
Q
why do they blend wines from different sites in Argentina to make sparkling?
A
- as in the US, need to get balance of fruit and acidity for suitable base wine, so often blend cool climate, high acid wine with warmer, fruitier wine
7
Q
Wine making in Argentinian sparkling
A
- Inexpensive Argentinian typically carbonation
- Pedro Giménez, Chenin Blanc & Semillon
- also for additional fruit flavours (like strawberry)
- Tank method is for more mid-priced - full range of varieties incl Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
- Traditional Method is mid to premium
- best sites, mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
- vintage or NV
- at least 12mths on lees (often much longer)
- ripe apple/lemon, autolytic, med-med(+) acidity, med-med(+) body, med alcohol.
- mainly white
- Recently Super-premiums eg Baron B Unique, best fruit and longer lees ageing (ie 18mths)
8
Q
What boost was the Argentinian sparkling wine business given in 2005?
A
- Govt agreed to remove domestic tax of 12% in exchange for national wine trade investing in sparkling wine
- Agreement part of wider policy to promote Argentinian wine. Sales & production up
- Future of tax concession still being debated
9
Q
Sparkling wine consumption in Argentina
A
- Domestic market 95% (80% of which is bought from retailers for home consumption)
- Brut 70% (in Argentina “Extra Brut” but less than 11g/L)
- Small export other S America and recently China
10
Q
Leading sparkling wine companies in Argentina
A
- Chandon Argentina (Chandon, ‘Baron B’ brands)
- Llorente
- Mumm (part of Pernod Ricard)
- Norton
- Many large Euro cos like Freixenet and Sogrape have invested in Argentina to produce still and sparkling wines for South American market