Week 2 - Argentina Flashcards
What is Argentina most known for?
Malbec
How much Malbec does Argentina produce?
75% of the world’s total production
Does Argentina have extreme landscapes?
Yes. Altitude plays a huge role.
What countries does Argentina emulate in regards to wine production?
Spain and Italy
When did Argentina start exporting wine?
Little to no exports before 1990’s
When did investment start? What did this do?
Rapid investment in the early 2000’s
Shift from bulk to quality
Describe the geography of Argentina.
Rain shadow – dry and hot, desert conditions
Intense sunlight tempered by altitude
High diurnal temperature range (10˚C/40˚C)
Wide diurnal swings result in very
balanced wines
Irrigation is fully necessary
Is there a lot of disease pressure in Argentina?
Few problems with disease and pests
Biodynamic and organic no issues
What is the major climatic risk in Argentina?
Hail
Describe the soil of Argentina.
High proportion of sand
Maipú & Rio Negro: more gravel
What is the appellation system in Argentina?
DOC
GI
IPO
What does DOC mean in Argentina?
Part of the appellation system.
DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin)
Specifies geographical limits and production methods (similar to an Italian appellation)
Describe a GI in Argentina.
Part of the appellation system.
GI (Geographical Indication, Indicacion Geografico IG in Spanish)
Can be a province, municipality (departamento), district (distrito), or non-political zone
Verifies the origin of the grapes from a delimited region
Single varietal wines must contain 85% or more of the listed
variety.
What does “Reserva” mean on a bottle in Argentina?
Red wines: 1 year ageing in oak
White wines: 6 months ageing oak
Describe an IPO in Argentina.
Part of the appellation system.
IPO (Indication of Provenance)
Wider regional designation for table wines
80% min. from the stated origin
What are red varietals in Argentina?
Malbec– 26%
Bonarda – 21%
Cab Sauv– 20%
Syrah – 13%
Merlot – 9%
Tempranillo – 7%
Pinot Noir – 1%
What are white varietals in Argentina?
Torrontes – 39%
Chardonnay – 23%
Chenin Blanc – 15%
Ugni Blanc – 13%
Sauvignon Blanc – 6%
Semillon – 5%
Check out this map of Argentina.
What are the 3 core regions of Argentinian wine production?
North
Central
South