Sparkling wines: Argentina

Question 1

One card on Argentina

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

Top six grapes for sparkling grown in Argentina

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Where grapes grown in Argentina for sparkling

Answer 3

• 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)

Question 4

Harvest in Argentina for Sparkling

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Natural hazards in Argentinian regions

Answer 5

• hail
• spring frosts
• nematodes
• European grapevine moth
• ants
• little spraying needed v fungal diseases as dry climate

Question 6

why do they blend wines from different sites in Argentina to make sparkling?

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

Wine making in Argentinian sparkling

Answer 7

• 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)

Question 8

What boost was the Argentinian sparkling wine business given in 2005?

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

Sparkling wine consumption in Argentina

Answer 9

• 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

Question 10

Leading sparkling wine companies in Argentina

Answer 10

• 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