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
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2
Q

Top six grapes for sparkling grown in Argentina

A
  1. Pedro Giménez (no relation, a Criolla variety) largest
  2. Chardonnay (up 30% since 2000)
  3. Chenin Blanc
  4. Pinot Noir (up 80% from low base)
  5. Ugni Blanc
  6. Semillon
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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)
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4
Q

Harvest in Argentina for Sparkling

A
  • one or even 2 months before grapes for still wines to avoid high alcohol/ preserve acidity
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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