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WSET® Level 4 Wine > WSET® Level 4 D3 Wines of the World > D3 - Argentina > Flashcards

D3 - Argentina Flashcards

Examines the regions, grapes, methods of production, and styles of Argentina.

1
Q

What is the latitude range for wine-producing regions in Argentina?

A

~24 – 38°S

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2
Q

At such low latitudes, how does Argentina find the right grape growing conditions?

A

Altitude – vineyards are found in the foothills of the Andes in the west of Argentina.

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3
Q

What are two key effects of elevation on vineyards?

A
  1. Diurnal range;
  2. Higher UV radiation.
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4
Q

What do cooler nighttime temperatures do for a vineyard?

A
  • Extend the growing season;
  • Allow the grapes to retain acidity and aromas.
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5
Q

What factors lead to Argentina’s red grapes developing high levels of tannins and anthocyanins?

A

The combined effect of Low latitude + high altitude (intense sunlight, large diurnal range) + high proportion of ultraviolet radiation (due to the high altitude).

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6
Q

The majority of Argentina’s regions have this climate.

A

Continental.

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7
Q

What is the zonda?

What are its effects?

A

A strong hot, dry wind that blows in spring and early summer

Effects:

  • Lowers humidity (can cause water stress in the vine);
  • Can affect flowering and fruit set or damage grapes (reduce yields).
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8
Q

What are the weather threats to Argentina’s vineyards?

A
  • Hail;
  • Frost;
  • El Niño (brings hail).
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9
Q

The texture of Argentina’s alluvial soils changes depending on elevation.

What are the soils like at the higher, middle, and lower elevations?

A
  • Higher – larger stones with calcareous deposits;
  • Middle – gravel, sands and silts;
  • Lower – deeper loamy-clay soils high in nutrients.
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10
Q

Make the causal links between Argentina’s dry continental climate and high-quality viticulture at higher elevations.

A

Dry continental climate → little organic matter → poor soils, especially at higher elevations → poor soils are optimal for naturally low-yielding vines and high quality viticulture.

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11
Q

What do the areas of Gualtallary and Paraje Altamira (in the Uco Valley) and the Pedernal Valley (in San Juan) have in common?

A

Both have calcareous soils.

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12
Q

Many vineyards in Argentina are irrigated using flood irrigation.

What is flood irrigation?

A

Water stored in reservoirs that’s released into vineyards through a network of dams and irrigation channels to flood the vineyard with the equivalent amount of water to a heavy rainstorm.

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13
Q

Why were vines traditionally trained on the parral (high pergola) system?

A
  • To raise the grapes away from the ground’s heat;
  • Provide shade for the fruit.
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14
Q

Why is Argentina an ideal place for organic/biodynamic viticulture?

A

Because it’s so dry there is little to no threat of fungal disease, which means there is no spraying of fungicides.

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15
Q

What are the key red grape varieties in Argentina?

A
  1. Malbec;
  2. Bonarda;
  3. Cabernet Sauvignon;
  4. Syrah;
  5. Tempranillo.
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16
Q

Malbec is:

  • Vigorous or not vigorous?
  • An early, mid-, or late ripener?
A

Malbec is a vigorous, mid-ripener.

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17
Q

Describe Malbec when it comes from a cooler site.

A
  • Medium alcohol;
  • Medium+ acidity;
  • Firm, medium+ tannins;
  • Fresh red + black fruit flavors;
  • Floral or herbal aromas.
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18
Q

Describe Malbec when it comes from a warmer site.

A
  • Fuller bodied;
  • Riper fruit characteristics;
  • Lower acidity;
  • Softer tannins.
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19
Q

Select the correct answer.

Bonarda is:

a. A low-yielding grape used to make premium wines meant for cellaring and export
b. A high-yielding grape used to make inexpensive wines meant for domestic consumption

A

b. A high-yielding grape used to make inexpensive wines meant for domestic consumption

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20
Q

Which of the following is correct?

Bonarda typically adds:

a. Fruitiness and deep color
b. High tannins and intense floral notes
c. Spicy notes

A

a. Fruitiness and deep color

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21
Q

Why is careful site selection so important for Cabernet Sauvignon in Argentina?

A

It is more susceptible to extremes of temperature and fungal disease than Malbec.

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22
Q

What are the 7 key white grapes grown in Argentina?

A
  1. Pedro Giménez;
  2. Torrontés;
  3. Chardonnay;
  4. Sémillon;
  5. Chenin Blanc;
  6. Sauvignon Blanc;
  7. Viognier.
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23
Q

What style of wine does Pedro Giménez typically make?

A

Simple, neutral, inexpensive wines.

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24
Q

What are the three varieties of Torrontés in Argentina?

Which one is considered the best and most distinctive?

A
  1. Torrontés Riojano;
  2. Torrontés Sanjuanino;
  3. Torrontés Mendocino.
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25
Q

What is the crossing of Torrontés Riojano?

A

Muscat of Alexandria
x
Criolla Chica

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26
Q
  • Is Torrontés Riojano an early, mid-, or late ripening grape?
  • Is it vigorous/high-yielding, or is it non-vigorous/low-yielding?
A
  • Early ripening;
  • Vigorous/high-yielding.
27
Q

Because Torrontés Riojano is an early-ripening grape, what does this put it at risk of?

A

Becoming overripe in the heat → high alcohol, lacking acidity and structure, bitter finish.

28
Q

What is Argentina’s three-tier system of geographical indicators?

A
  • IP (Indicación de Procedencia): covers large geographical areas but not the country as a whole;
  • IG (or GI, Indicación Geográfica): wines of a certain quality made from a specific geographical area (most correspond to political divisions);
  • DOC: wines from a specific geographical area with legislated winemaking criteria – thus far only two: Luján de Cuyo and San Rafael, both in Mendoza.
29
Q

Argentina follows the 75% or 85% rule for stated vintage/variety?

A

85%

30
Q

In Argentina, a white or rosé Reserva wine must have aged a minimum of ___ months and a red Reserva for a minimum of ___ months.

Gran Reserva wines must be aged for a minimum of ___ months.

A
  • Reserva white/rosé – 6 months
  • Reserva red – 12 months
  • Gran Reserva – 24 months
31
Q

Which Argentinian provinces make up the large GI Cuyo?

A
  • Mendoza;
  • San Juan;
  • La Rioja.
32
Q

Mendoza accounts for ~___% of the total vineyard area in Argentina and ___ of total production.

A
  • 70% of total vineyard area;
  • ⅔ of total production.
33
Q

What are the five divisions of Mendoza’s growing area?

A
  1. Northern
  2. Eastern;
  3. Central;
  4. Uco Valley GI;
  5. Southern.
34
Q

Northern and Eastern Mendoza produce what style of wine? Why?

Which rivers irrigate each area?

A
  • Style: large volumes of inexpensive wine due to lower elevation;
  • Northern irrigated by Mendoza River;
  • Eastern irrigated by Tunuyán River.
35
Q

Central Mendoza

  1. What is the elevation range?
  2. What are the two prestigious wine departments?
A
  1. 600 – 1100m asl;
  2. Luján de Cuyo + Maipú.
36
Q
  • What is the elevation range for Maipú?
  • What is the elevation range for Luján de Cuyo?
A
  • Maipú: 600 – 900m asl;
  • Luján de Cuyo: 900 – 1100m asl.
37
Q

What is the aging regulation in DOC Luján de Cuyo?

A

Wines must be aged for a minimum of 24 months with at least 12 months in oak.

38
Q

Why are Luján de Cuyo wines considered to have more aging potential than Maipú wines?

A

High tannins (due to elevation, poorer soil, higher solar interception, higher diurnal range).

39
Q

What is the elevation range for Uco Valley?

A

850 – 1500m asl (highest vineyards in Mendoza).

40
Q

Why has there been such enormous investment in Uco Valley?

A

The potential to make great wines:

  • High altitude (cooler temps, greater diurnal range);
  • Grapes will accumulate sugar less quickly, retain acidity and fresh fruit flavors;
  • Intense sun will give grapes deep color + ripe tannins.
41
Q

The GI Valle de Uco crosses which three departments?

Name them from north to south.

A
  1. Tupungato;
  2. Tunuyán;
  3. San Carlos.
42
Q

What is the most recognized district of Tupungato?

Describe it and its soils.

A

Gualtallary

  • It’s a long narrow strip of vineyards between 1,100 – 1,600m asl producing wines of freshness/acidity due to diurnal shift;
  • Limestone soils.
43
Q

Which is correct?

Tunuyán

  • Covers a wider range of altitudes
  • Is at one very high altitude
A

Covers a wider range of altitudes, so styles vary from full bodied made in the lower, warmer areas to premium whites and Pinot Noirs at the high elevations.

44
Q
  • What is the GI within San Carlos?
  • What are its soils?
A
  • Paraje Altamira;
  • Calcium carbonate and a stony topsoil over an alluvial fan.
45
Q
  • What is the elevation of Paraje Altamira?
  • How does this compare with Gualtallaray’s elevation, and how do the Malbecs from each compare?
A
  • 1000 – 1200m asl, so it’s LOWER in elevation than Gualtallary;
  • Malbec from Paraje Altamira will be fuller bodied and more intense than Malbec from Gualtallary.
46
Q
  • Southern Mendoza’s vineyards are primarily found in the department of _____.
  • What is its elevation?
A
  • San Rafael;
  • 450 – 850m asl.
47
Q

Which white grape variety is San Rafael known for?

A

Chenin Blanc.

48
Q

With San Rafael at a lower elevation, one would think its Malbecs would be full throttle and heavily extracted – but they’re not.

What factors make their Malbecs medium bodied and red-fruited?

A
  • San Rafael is more south, or further away from the Equator, which means its summers are cooler and longer than in regions more north;
  • It also does not have the same solar intensity as regions further north.
49
Q
  • Why has San Juan province been known for inexpensive, high-yielding pink varieties?
  • How is that changing?
A
  • Its sites are lower than Mendoza’s → less diurnal range;
  • Replanting with Syrah at higher elevations to make fresher, higher acid wines.
50
Q

What is the GI in San Juan province that’s making a mark with its Syrah?

What is its elevation?

A

Pedernal Valley (1250 – 1500m asl).

51
Q

What style of wine is La Rioja Argentina province known for?

What is the name of the Valley where most of these grapes are grown?

A

Inexpensive, high-volume red and white wines from Famatina Valley.

52
Q

What is the river that provides irrigation for Salta province?

A

Calchaquí River.

53
Q

What is the elevation range for Salta’s vineyards?

A

1500 – 3000m asl (this extreme elevation offsets the proximity to the Equator).

54
Q

How do the zonda, high elevation and low latitude lead to higher tannins and deeper color in red wines from Salta?

A

The zonda dries out the environment while the low latitude and high elevation mean intense sunlight leading to grapes with higher levels of tannins and anthocyanins. The grapes also protect themselves from the strong zonda resulting in thicker skins and lower yields – plus, the large diurnal shift is large, so grapes produce very concentrated, intense, and full-bodied wines.

55
Q

Which GI in Salta is known for its Torrontés?

A

Cafayate.

56
Q

Patagonia Region

  • What is its altitude?
  • What is its latitude?
A
  • ~400m asl;
  • 38° - 39°S.
57
Q

Patagonia Region:

  • What are its temperature and sunlight like?
  • What is its rainfall like, and do they have to irrigate?
A
  • Lower temps, sunlight less intense;
  • Low rainfall (<200mm/year), so irrigation is essential.
58
Q

Winds in Patagonia keep fungal disease at bay but can be damaging and disrupt flowering.

How do grape growers protect their vineyards from these winds?

A

They grow poplar trees as barriers.

59
Q

What are the two provinces in Patagonia?

A
  1. Río Negro;
  2. Neuquén.
60
Q

What is FeCoViTa?

A

A collective of 29 co-operatives in Argentina.

61
Q

Select the correct answer.

FeCoViTa and Grupo Peñaflor are amongst the world’s _____ producers.

a. lowest-volume
b. highest-volume

A

b. Highest-volume

62
Q

Around ___% of exported wines by volume from Argentina are single-varietal Malbecs.

A

60%

63
Q

In Argentina, rises in inflation have resulted in a decrease in purchasing power.

How has this affected domestic consumers’ buying patterns?

A

They are choosing to drink less but buy higher quality products.

WSET® Level 4 D3 Wines of the World (47 decks)

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