South America Flashcards
Argentina land under vine & Export size?
At twice the size of Spain, Italy & France it has 197,965ha under vine (5th largest) and is the largest exporter of wine in the world
What type of wind is the ‘Zonda’? How does this affect viticulture
Technically a type of Foehn/Föhn wind; a dry, down slope wind that occurs on the downside of a mountain range. The wind is a result of warm air rising off the Pacific Ocean. In Spring and Summer however, it raises up dust clouds and can descend at speeds from 40-240km/hr and can raise temperatures by 30 degrees. The wake of the wind can also be followed by a freezing cold front.
This inadvertently can affect flowering, fruit set and leaf damage with wind burn and the risk of severe frost damage with the cold front. The effects are at their height in the Cuyo IG. A hot Zonda can scorch and dehydrate grapes or burn flowers.
Argentinean synonym for
*Pergola/ Tendone trellising? (Italy/S.Italy)
*VSP
(The 2 main trellising systems)
‘Parral’ - especially Criollas
‘Espaldera’
What is traditionally the the best-selling brand of wine in Argentina?
Toro was a brand under La Colina de Oro winery (est. 1896) – once the largest winery in the world. Eventually changed hands multiple times and fell into ruin however Toro brand remains produced by Fecovita.
Where were Argentina’s first vines planted? what varieties?
Priest Juan Cedron in 1556 in Santiago del Estero (Central Argentina). Moscatel del Alejandria and Criolla Chica (Listan Prieto).
What significant historical event helped establish Mendoza as a wine region?
In 1885 the railway linking Buenos Aires to Mendoza opened reducing the journey from a fortnight to a day facilitating its propulsion to Argentina’s leading wine region.
Also the same year French botanist Pierre- Marie-Alexis Millardet invents Bordeaux mixture: a copper sulfate-lime concoction.
3 famous international winemakers that helped modernize Argentina’s wine industry?
In the late 80’s famous consultants came onboard and helped shift the industry into the modern era and notably more quality examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Jacques Lurton w/ Bodega Piedra Negra, Los Chacayes, Tunuyan, Uco.
Paul Hobbs w/ Cantena’s Chardonnay
Michel Rolland w/ Bodegas Etchart
Torrontés Parentage?
3 technically different varieties of Torrontes?
Muscat of Alexandria x Criolla Chica/Listán Prieto/ Pais/ Mission (making them white skinned Criollas)
Torrontés Riojano
Torrontés Sanjuanino
Torrontés Mendocino
Torrontés is prone to high alcohol levels at lower, hotter elevations.
Parentage of Malbec? (45,657ha)
Variety viticultural characteristics? (3)
Prunelard x Magdeleine Noirs des Charentes (Mother of Merlot).
Vigorous and mid ripening. Susceptible to coulure.
Bunches are smaller and tighter than when grown in Cahros, Southwest France as Cot. Original stock were French cuttings from pre-phylloxera vines. Modern Cot clone is Cot 598. Cot also tends to be more productive, with rougher tannins and more herbaceous.
Colour is deeply concentrated (ultraviolet light and polymerization).
Historically in Argentina the planting of new vines has always been taking a massal selection - several cuttings from old vines and thus there are hundreds of different clones of Malbec in Argentina. Buying clones from nurseries is only a relatively new concept in Argentina.
3 synonyms of Argentina’s 2nd most important red variety?
Viticultural and Vinification characteristics?
Which region has Argentina’s most plantings?
Bonarda 18,153ha. (Not to be confused with Bonarda Piemontese from Northern Italy).
Douce Noire (Savoie)
Corbeau/Corbeau Noir (‘crow’ Jura)
Charbano (US)
Late ripening – better suited to warmer climates/intense sunshine. Medium bodied, low in acid and tannins. Deep in colour.
Table wines, juicy Beaujolais styles, blends through to delicate sparkling wines.
Often used to soften blends and lower alcohol without losing colour – common in entry-mid range Malbec’s.
San Martin IG, Eastern Mendoza where a portion of its 40,000ha is Bonarda..
Argentinean Synonym for its 4th most important red variety?
Syrah at 11,797ha is also known as ‘Balsamina’ after a local flower.
Cabernet Sauvignon is 3rd at 14,129ha.
5 Pink Skinned Criolla (Other than the 3 Torrontes)
Cereza 26,196ha (MdA x Criolla Chica)
Criolla Grande 13,348ha
Criolla Chica (Pais etc)
Pedro Giménez (unrelated to PX)
Moscato Rosado
4 Synonyms for Criolla Chica (Argentina)
Listán Prieto (Castilla-La Mancha)
Pais (Chile)
Mission (US)
Hariri (Morrocco)
Argentinean Viticulture
Disease (1) & Pest threats (1)
Natural Hazards (4)
Esca is the #1 viticultural threat;
nematodes can be rife as well.
Hail & the Zonda are significant risks, as is frost. But perhaps the greatest risk to viticulture in Argentina is the lack of water, which is likely to worsen with climate change.
Argentinean Natural defense’s against phylloxera?
While phylloxera is present it isn’t a problem – thought to be of the sandy soils and/or flood irrigation
New plantings are both grafted and ungrafted.
Argentinean 2008 Domestic Market bottling terms (US aswell?)
Reserva & Gran Reserva
Reserva implies a minimum 6 months of aging for white wines and one year for reds; Gran Reserva indicates at least one year for whites and two for reds.
EU Regulations forbid these terms.
Argentinean Varietal Laws
1 Variety
2/3 Variety’s
Vintage
Must contain 85% of varietal stated on label.
2 or 3: Blend must be composed of a minimum of 85% of any grapes stated on label.
85% of stated vintage.
Percentage of fruit from the stated IP/IPO region?
(Indicacion de Procedencia/ Indication of Province)
Table wines which contain at least 80% of grapes from the IP region.
Argentina
Percentage of fruit from the stated IG/GI region?
IG (Indicacion Geografica)/ GI (English
Higher quality wines grown, vinified and bottled in a designated area, and DOC – top quality wines. 100% of fruit must come from the stated IG/DOC region.
Argentinean synonym for demijohn?
‘damajuana’ - demijohn table wine
Valles Calchaquíes IG 4,468ha
7/8 sub IG over 3 Department IG?
270km
Salta IG: Cachi, Molinos, San Carlos, Cafayate #1 prod.
Tucuman IG: Amaicha del Valle & Colalao del Valle (both within Tafi Valle GI) - [Tucu is tuff < Empanadas]
Catamarca IG: Santa Maria (river - marks end of Valles Calchaquíes) #2 prod.
Which area in Argentina is most famous for Empanadas?
1 Greater GI, 2 sub GI
Tafi Valle GI in Tucuman. Within Tafi (and thus Calchaquíes IG is Amaicha del Valle & Colalao del Valle).
[Tucu is tuff < Empenadas]
Regional styles = Tucuman: add potatoes, Salta add olives, Mendoza add onions (lots).
Sub GI of Juyjuy GI?
Notable Producer?
elevation?
Wine & vineyard of note?
Quebrada de Humahuaca GI - ravine (ntbc: Quebrada Seca, Valle del Limarí DO, Chile)
Vino Uquia (‘ew-key-a’)
Owned by Claudio Zuccino. Winemaker Marcos Etchart (Salta Pioneer). Natural wines without wood, avoiding the addition of chemicals.
Uraqui Minero Corte A: Syrah, Malbec, Merlot made exclusively from the Finca Moya vineyard at 3,329 meters elevation making it the highest vineyard in South America (2nd in the world). Quebrada de Humahuaca, Juyjuy.
Cava Mina Moya (cellar) is, however, the highest altitude wine cellar in the world at 3,700m in an old mine his farther used to work.
Salta GI
Terroir?
Land Under Vine?
Highest elevation GI?
Producer and range of note?
‘Beautiful One’.
Sub-tropical highland ranging from 1,290-3,100m Biggest and most renowned region in Northern Argentina.
3,570ha
Torrontés Riojano 1,100ha+, Malbec, CS etc
Cachi smallest @ 91ha but highest @ 3,111m (Finca Altura Maxima)
Bodegas Colomé, 1831 - claim oldest working winery in Argentina (Molinos) revamped in 2001.
Finca Altura Maxima @ 3,111m is in Cachi.
‘Altura Máxima Malbec’ (Valles Calchaquíes IG): 100% Malbec, Aged 24 months in barrel.
Salta GI
Most famous GI?
Terroir?
1 producer and wine of note?
Notably Cafayate @ 1,700-2,000m w/ 2,638ha (75% Salta prod.) on alluvial, sandy loams.
El Esteco, 1892. (Penaflor/Bemberg). Known for their ‘El Esteco Old Vines’ range notably
‘1945 Old Vine Torrontes from Finca Las Mercedes’ in Cafayate.
Catamarca GI
Variety’s of note?
4 GI’s of note?
2,500ha. pred. Torrontés Riojano, however 42% of production is the Rosado Grape Cereza for distillation into Brandy or table wine.
[ST. FPB]
Santa María (river): 774ha (25% Catamarca). The river ends here marking the end of Calchaqui Mountain range.
Tinogasta IG Encompasses a series of North to South Fiambalá valleys within the Fiambalá Mountain range (peak of 4,920m) @ 1,480ha is around half of prod.
Belén: 196ha, generally warmer
Pomán: 39ha.
Argentinean name for the traditional irrigation system?
Spanish synonym?
Furrow - Inca technique, channels and rivers flooded by snow melt.
‘Acequias’ is the Spanish name.
Irrigation whether traditional or drip fed is more less essential through out the entire country.
Traditional name for the common Argentinean soil?
Franco: Alluvial gravels, stones and sand (with clay?) - alluvial fans form the mountains is most common?
La Rioja Argentina IG
2 sub IG of note?
Varieties of note?
1 Producer of note?
6,539ha. Addition of ‘Argentina’ for export.
Many of the sub-IG fall within the Famatina Valleys, however Famatina IG is specific to the area northly adjacent to Chilecito IG. Chilecito IG #1 @ 5,219ha (incl. 250ha of head trained mazuelo [carignan] and cerveza) & 85% prod.
Torrontes Riojano #1 @ 1,619ha
Argentina’s largest Co-op La Riojana consists of more than 500 members. Founded in 1940. All certified organic & fair trade.
San Juan IG
Size & Varieties?
4 GI of note?
1 producer of note?
2nd largest region @ 31,960ha.Mountainous valleys and riverbeds. Desert climate. Generally warmer than Mendoza. #1 area for table grapes in ARG. Usual grape suspects but reputation for Syrah.
Ullum: 543ha
Zonda Valley IG: 818ha. wind dehydrates grapes for higher abv & concentration.
Tulum Valley IG: Named after the river. Production area. 40,000ha (incl.table grape). City of San Juan Here.
Valle del Pedernal IG: SW of Tulum GI. Mountain chain rich in calcareous marine deposits. 1,150-1,500m. 800ha. Fruit from here is twice the price of anywhere else in San Juan. Bold vibrant reds.
Finca Las Moras (Farm of Mulberry’s)
1993. Daniel Pi pioneer of the region (now Bemberg). 1,100ha over various valleys in San Juan (notably Zonda, Tulum & Pedernal).
Gran Syrah: Blend of Tulum, Zonda & Pedernal. French and American Oak.
Pedrito: Fino sherry style from Pedro Ximenez.
What are the 4 main Andes glacial rivers that provide irrigation to Mendoza?
The departments and/or districts they traverse?
The Mendoza traverses in somewhat of a wide ‘U’ shape coming down form the Andes passing Lujan de Cuyo, Maip’U’ and then turning northeast before Eastern Mendoza.
The Tunuyan roughly take a wide upside down ‘V’ southeast through Eastern Mendoza and South West through Tunuyan & San Carlos, Uco Valley.
Diamante and Atuel are the main source of irrigation for San Rafael IG & DOC and General Alvear.
Why does Malbec thrive in Mendoza?
- Low annual rainfall (12 inches compared to Bordeaux’s 30), and the rain falls mainly in the summer and not the winter. High altitude also brings lower humidity.
- Mendoza’s thermal amplitude promotes aromatic development (signature violet) & softened polymerized tannins.
- Thicker grape skins contain higher quantities of pigment, tannins, and flavour compounds.
5 main territories of Mendoza?
5 primary vareities?
Northern Oasis, Primera Zone, East, Valle de Uco & South. Everything North and East of Mendoza is at lower altitudes and flatter and thus produce table wine and apricots which the region is well known for.
- Malbec (36,000 ha)
- Cereza
- Criolla Grande
- Bonarda
- Cabernet Sauvignon
Northern Mendoza Territory
3 sub GI?
Lavalle IG: Desert of Lavalle. 12,560ha covers North and east of Mendoza. Bonarda and Criolla varieties for table wine. Rarely see ‘Lavalle’ on a label.
Las Heras IG: 1,391ha Covers North and West of Mendoza. Parral trained Criolla varieties for table wines. Most famous vineyard here is the one next to the airport when you land in Mendoza. There are some new emerging higher elevation (1,200m+) projects.
Guaymallen IG:
Argentina’s 2nd largest region?
San Juan
Eastern Mendoza GI
Most common variety?
6 GI of note?
62,455ha
Flat alluvial plains with some terraces. Hail can be as large as golf balls.
Criolla Grande is the most planted variety, although plantings are decreasing. Although the area still remains a mass-produced easy drinking style.
San Martin IG: 27,000ha – 40% of region. Argentina’s Lion share of Bonarda.
Rivadavia IG: 14,680ha. Also includes the sub-IG of Medrano
Junin IG: 11,266ha. Argentina’s first canned wine was produced here…
Santa Rosa IG: 9,021ha
La Paz IG: 180ha.
Maipú IG 11,120ha
(Primera Zona, SE of Mendoza city)
Lay of the land?
2 GI & 1 sub region of note?
Battle of Maipu 1818.
Flat river plains, with some terraces in the south. Combination of sand, pebbles, and loam. Reds are typically less powerful than its Lujan de Cuyo counterpart.
Malbec predominant followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (some being prized ungrafted) and Bonarda etc.
12 districts, some of them are GIs:
Lunlunta IG: 600ha, 880-930m. Cantena Zapata’s Angelica Vineyard is here at 920m. Light gravel, loam and clay. Circa 1930’s Malbec.
Las Barrancas (Hills) IG: 2,923ha. Slightly lesser-known, sandier in comparison.
Cruz de Piedra: Histroic sub zone (not a GI). Bodego Argento here.
Famous collaboration between an Argentinean producer & Bordeaux Estate?
Location?
Top wine?
Bodega Caro
Est 1999. First vintage 2000.
Godoy Cruz IG in the Primera Zone Region
CARO is the first two letters from the surnames of CAtena & ROthschild.
Top Wine CARO: pred. Malbec around 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Luján de Cuyo IG/DOC 15,560ha
Has 12 Sub GI’s, name 6 of note?
2 trade marks and the estates?
Carrodilla IG: most northern IG in Lujan? low elevation. Spiritual home of ‘Virgen de la Carrodilla’ the patron saint of the vineyards.
Mayor Drummond IG Luigi Bosca (from Basque Spain) here.
Las Compuertas IG: Amongst the oldest. ‘floodgates’ in English. 426ha, 950-1080m. located in the foothills of the Andes in the western edge of Lujan. Location and elevation mean cooler nights and warmer days. Vineyards are planted often planted on inclined river terraces. Among the cooler sites in Lujan.
Vistalba IG: 1000+m. Currently trade marked by Bodega Pulenta. Among the cooler sites in Lujan. [Alba & Agrelo]
Perdriel IG; named trademarked by Bodega Norton. 900ha. 910-980m. Alluvial soils with river gravels, clay and sandy silt. Lots of old vine Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Agrelo District IG: 5,300ha. 930-1,100m, Lots of elevation variation. Among the best terroirs for Cabernet Sauvignon as well, some vines as old as 50. Malbec here tends to be supple and balanced with sweet red and dark fruits, soft tannins and gentle long finishes.
Terrazas dos los Andes
Location & owner?
2 regions where they own vineyards?
3 wines of note?
Perdriel (winery). Founded by LMVH in 1992.
Las Compuertas Vineyard: Vines planted in 1930’s, now 80 years old. Single vineyard & blends & 1,070m.
- Terrazas dos los Andes N 10W ‘Los Cerezos’: Malbec
from a particularly rocky plot planted in Las
Compuertas 1929.
Uco Valley
- El Espinillo, Gualtallary: Malbec, younger vines at
1,650m. - Petit Manseng Single Vineyard: from Eugenio Bustos,
San Carlos, Uco Valley. Partly botrytized grapes. First to
plant Petit Manseng in Argentina in 1999.
Cheval des Andes
Location and co-lab?
top wine?
first vintage?
2 vineyards?
Winery in Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo. Cheval des Andes Collaboration between LVMH’s Terrazas de los Andes and Ch. Cheval Blanc. Founded in 1999, first vintage 2001.
1 wine from 2 Vineyards:
- Las Compuertas: ungrafted vines planted in 1929, 1,070m - forms the core
- La Consulta, San Carlos, Uco Valley: planted 1945
Always Predominantly Malbec with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. % vary vintage to vintage. There have in the past been CS pred. & vintages w/ Merlot.
Cantena Zapata
5 Vineyards & GI’s?
Angélica Vineyard, Lunlunta GI, Maipu GI
La Pirámide Vineyard, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo IG
Adrianna Vineyard, Gualtallary, Uco Valley
Alamos winery, Vista Flores GI, Tunuyan GI, Uco Valley
Nicasia Vineyard, La Consulta GI-Paraje Altamira GI, Uco Valley
3 trademarked GI’s and producers?
Vistalba IG (Luján de Cuyo) trade marked by Bodega Pulenta
Perdriel IG (Luján de Cuyo) trademarked by Bodega Norton
Achával Ferrer have ‘Altamira’ trademarked and thus Paraje Altamira GI (San Carlos, Uco Valley) was created as a legal prefix to avoid further trademark conflicts.
Cantena Zapatas
Adrianna Vineyard Terroir
5 wines?
Adrianna Vineyard, Gualtallary, Uco Valley
12 ha of Ungrafted Pre-Phylloxeric Selection Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec planted in 1992 @ 1,450m. Calcareous soil with gravels.
Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec
Fortuna Terrae Malbec
River Malbec
White Bones Chardonnay (limestone)
White Stones Chardonnay (gravel white oval stones)
Cantena Zapata
2 multi-regional iconic wines?
Argentino: best rows from here + old vine 1930’s Malbec from Angelica vineyard, Lunlunta GI, Maipu GI. The label shows a timeline of Malbec.
Nicolás Catena Zapata (1997): Always pred. Cabernet Sauvignon supported by CF & Malbec in alternating proportions based on the vintage. Since 2015 has exclusively been Adrianna & Nicasia Crus. Post 2015 La Pirámide Vineyard (Agrelo GI) & Angélica Vineyard (Lunlunta GI) among others have been used.
Who was Argentina’s first female winemaker?
Susana Balbo (aka. Queen of Torrontes), Agrelo.
Qualified in 1981. First independent female winery owner and first female president of wine of Argentina. Responsible for redefining Torrontes from Salta.
Also S.V Malbec ‘Nosotros’ & ‘Nomade’ under Paraje Altamira GI.
Bodega Cavas de Weinert
Style?
Modern?
Rarest wine?
Carrodilla (most N IG in Lujan? - Saint), 1974. Don Bernardo Weinert joined forces with renowned winemaking legend Rául de la Mota (worked with Emile Peynaud).
‘Single Cask Malbec’ and ’Single Cask Selection’ (Malbec, CS, Merlot) are made in enormous old French cask (6,000l+) and aged over a long period before release. Reminiscent of aged Rioja.
Carrascal Malbec: Modern
Malbec Estrella (1977) aged in Oak for 19 years before release. 1994 only other release.
Who is the wine maker at Mendel?
What is their old vine chenin called?
Roberto de la Mota winemaker, formerly Terrazas dos las Andes and Cheval des Andes.
La Primera Revancha: old vine Chenin Blanc from Agrelo GI.
Who has ‘Altamira’ trademarked?
top wine?
Achával Ferrer
Perdriel. Iconic. Now owned by Stolichnaya.
The Fincas are single-vineyard expressions
Quimera: pred. Malbec + Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from a variety of vineyards around Mendoza.
When did Paul Hobbs begin consulting in Argentina?
What are his 3 tiers?
1988 – as a consultant to Cantena’s Chardonnay. Started his own label 1999. Winery in Perdriel but vineyards in the Luján de Cuyo and the Valle de Uco.
Cobos is top of the line, Bramare is a single vineyard range, Felino is an entry level range.
What is Alta Vista’s top wine?
What is Bodega Kaiken’s top wine?
‘Alzarine’ single vineyard Malbec plamntged in 1927, Las Compuertas.
Montes’ (Chile) project in ARG. ‘Mai’ is from 125 year old Malbec in Vistalba.
Name 2 Argentinean producers of Sparkling wine?
1 wine of note?
Bodega Cruzat
Perdriel, 2004. Sparkling wine specialist Pedro Rosell (pupil of Émile Peynaud). Methode Traditionelle from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in Lujan de Cuyo and Vista Flores, Uco Valley.
‘Millesime’: top cuvee, single vineyard ‘Finca La Dama Blanc de Blancs’ from Vista Flores, 10 years on les.
Chandon
1959, Moet & Chandon.
Uco Valley province
3 main regional GI’s and the 2 rivers that separate them?
*Tupungato IG – traversed by the Anchayuyo River
Tunas River
*Tunuyan IG
Tunuyan River
*San Carlos IG
Tupungato IG 10,257ha (Uco Valley, Mendoza)
Sub IG
La Carrera
El Perral GI
La Arboleda - Masi Tupungato
Gualtallary
[GET LA LA]
Where is Masi in Argentina found?
Masi Tupungato
La Arboleda, Tupungato Gi, Uco Valley, Cuyo.
Gualtallary 2,250ha
Copyright issues for GI. 1,080-1,600m. Pockets of Calcaire.
5 proposed sub regions ranging from Winkler I (Champagne) – Winkler III.
2 of note
4 Producers of note
*Alto: 1,300m, large calcium stones
*Monasterio (Monestary): Even higher
Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard: White Bones, White Stones, Mundus Bacillus, Fortuna Terrae (Both Malbec).
El Enemigo “the enemy” / Bodega Aleanna
2009 by Adrianna Catena and Alejandro Vigil (Chief wine maker at Catena Zapata):
Gran Enemigo Cabernet Franc
PerSe
Edy del Popolo – consults for Susana Balbo.
Bemberg. Originally German: Group Peñaflor (Trapiche), El Esteco, & Finca Las Moras etc
Tunuyan GI 9,801ha (Valle de Uco, Mendoza)
3 GIs + 1 unofficial?
4 winery’s/wines of note?
San Pablo GI (1,700m): Zuccardi Fosil @ 1,400m
Los Chacayes GI: Virgin land until 1996 with Bodega Piedra Negra by Francois and Jacques Lurton. Gran Lurton: Friulano/ Sauvignon Vert pred. white blend.
Vista Flores GI: Cantena Zapata’s Alamos Winery.
Campo de los Andes: Cuvelier los Andes (1999) Cuvelier family of Château Leoville Poyferré. Michel Rolland consults.
San Carlos IG 8,845ha
3 GI + 1 unoffical?
3 winerys/wines of note?
Uco Valley
Paraje Altamira IG (encompasses most of La Consulta): Piedra Infinita Winery (Zuccardi) Gravascal & Supercal.
La Consulta IG: Cantena Zapata’s Nicasia Vineyard
Pampa El Cepillo GI (within unofficial Eugenio Bustos) - Terrazas dos Los Andes Petit Manseng vineyard planted here in 1999.
Name an unofficial sub region within San Carlos GI, Uco Valley GI?
1 Producer and a significant wine of note?
Eugenio Bustos within Pampa El Cepillo GI: Traditionally important.
Terrazas de Los Andes partly botrytized Petit Manseng single vineyard here. Inaugural 1999 - first Petit Manseng in ARG.
