WSET D3 - Argentina Flashcards
Summarise the history of Argentinian wine industry.
1816 - independence from Spain soon began attracting European immigrants, particularly Spain, Italy and France, bringing winemaking traditions and vines with them.
1851 - A viticultural research centre and school established. Many important European varieties, including Malbec, arrived before phylloxera epidemic struck. encouraged further significant wave of European immigrants who lost livelihoods to phylloxera in late 1800s and early 1900s.
20th century - Argentina isolated from rest of the world, affected by series of political and economic crises. However, very high domestic wine consumption sustained industry (European immigrants brought wine drinking culture), which focused on large amounts inexpensive wine, mainly from high-yielding criolla pink varieties such as Cereza, Criolla Grande and Criolla Chica, and white Pedro Giménez. Planted by earliest settlers, dominated plantings until recently and remain important on domestic market.
1970s - Domestic consumption began to fall dramatically and aided by return to democracy and an open economy in 1980s and early 1990s, producers, most notably Nicolás Catena, started to look to export markets and shift focus from quantity to quality. With help of foreign investment (aided by parity between dollar and peso) and arrival of famous consultants such as Michel Rolland, Alberto Antonini and Paul Hobbs, industry began modernization.
Early 2000s - Argentina burst on to world wine scene when a weak peso made their goods relatively cheap on export markets. Despite currency fluctuations and further economic and political upheaval years since, now among top wine countries. This success been driven by huge popularity of Malbec. However increasingly recognised able to produce high quality CS, red blends and Chardonnay amongst others.
What is the climate like?
over 1,500km from Salta in north to Rio Negro in south (24-38°S).
Combined influence of altitude and latitude is essential. At low latitudes, influence of altitude is essential to ensure not too hot for viticulture. Therefore, with exception of Patagonia in south, vineyards are in foothills of Andes in west of country. Lowest around 500 metres and many above 1,000 metres (highest around 3,300 metres). Even at highest altitudes, most planted on flat or gently sloping sites. One key effects of altitude is wide diurnal range, over 20°C in many places, extend growing season (retain acidity and aromas). Combined effect of low latitude and high altitude also results in intense sunlight, and high ultraviolet radiation. Leads to higher tannins and anthocyanins.
Majority regions continental climate (tiny plantings in coastal areas). They lie in rain shadow of Andes, rainfall very low, some places less than 200mm. In such desert-like conditions, irrigation essential. However, dry air reduces risk of disease, as strong winds blow down from mountains along valleys.
One such wind is zonda, a hot, dry powerful wind occurs mainly in late spring and early summer. Lower humidity and can induce water stress in vine, affect flowering and fruit set or damage grapes (depending on time of year) therefore reduce yields. Trees, particularly poplars, may grown as windbreaks.
What are the main hazards here?
Hail is constant threat, significantly reducing yields in some years. Many use netting but covering large area is very expensive, so only most prized sites may be netted. Many own vineyards in different parts of province to minimize risk damage entire crop.
Frost is significant problem in some areas of Mendoza, usually in flat areas or bottom of slopes. This is problem throughout region, both in higher and lower altitudes.
Despite the protection from Andes, Argentina is affected by which nature phenomenon?
El Niño. Occurs every 2-10 years. Brings much higher than average rainfall – and more hailstorms – can damage crops, significantly increase risk of disease and reduce harvests. 2016, it resulted in reduction of over 25% across country and 40% in Mendoza.
What are the soil types found here?
Most on alluvial soils deposited by rivers flowing down Andes. Texture varies. Because of alluvial origin, larger stones with calcareous deposits tend to dominate higher altitudes closer to Andes. Middle areas dominated by gravel, sands and silts. Deeper loamy-clay soils, richer in nutrients can be found in lower areas. Because dry, continental climate, little organic matter from decomposed flora and fauna, results in particularly poor soils in higher altitude. Poor soils are optimal for naturally low yielding vines and high-quality viticulture.
As investment increased, so has interest in how subtle differences in texture and composition of soil affect characteristics and flavours in wine. Deposits of calcareous soils have been identified in areas such as Gualtallary and Paraje Altamira in Uco Valley and Pedernal Valley in San Juan, increasingly seen as sources of high-quality wines.
Summrise vineyard management.
Faced with rapidly falling domestic demand, a vine-pull scheme introduced, included thousands hectares of Malbec. Despite this, almost 30% vineyards over 40 years old or more and wines from old vines, particularly Malbec, Bonarda and Sémillon, increasingly prized for concentration and complexity.
Rainfall so low in most areas that irrigation is essential. Rivers, such as Mendoza and its tributaries, deliver pure meltwater from winter snow and glaciers in Andes, collected and distributed by network of dams and irrigation channels. Water is distributed regularly and can be stored in reservoirs until producer chooses to use it.
Many irrigated by flood irrigation. When required, water is released on to vineyard: amount is roughly equivalent to heavy summer rainstorm. Some owners consider this most suitable form for Argentina’s free-draining soils as it allows water to drain deep into soil. Also relatively cheap to operate, remains most widely used irrigation system.
Recent years, increase in drip irrigation. When planting new vineyards on sloped land, installing drip irrigation often cheaper and easier than levelling vineyard to make it suitable for flood irrigation. In other cases, there may not be sufficient above-ground water (e.g. canals and rivers) for flood irrigation(water for drip irrigation is pumped from boreholes). Increased efficiency of water usage and enhanced control of water application also benefits of using drip irrigation. Water shortages can be an issue some years in Mendoza, La Rioja and San Juan, so drip irrigation is also most sustainable option.
For both flood and drip irrigation typical and traditional timing of application is to give larger amounts in winter (replicate winter rainfall) and low in growing season (every couple of days to every couple of weeks, depending on whether drip or flood) to ensure roots grow at depth to find water and so that vine focuses on fruit development rather than shoots and leaves.
Phylloxera has not caused significant problems (hypotheses including sandy nature of many soils and arid climate) vast majority ungrafted. However, grafting increasingly common because risk from nematodes in soil and because some rootstocks provide increased tolerance to drought.
Viticulture undergone considerable modernisation since arrival of foreign investment. As well as shift to drip irrigation, considerable improvements in canopy management. Also better understanding clonal selection, led by work of Dr Nicolás Catena and Aldo Biondolillo on Malbec, and how picking at different ripeness can achieve particular styles. Considerable research conducted into how different soils affect style with single vineyard wines increasingly common. New areas being planted higher up inmountains, further south and closer to Atlantic.
What training system is used here?
Traditionally high pergola system (parral) to raise grapes away from heat of ground and provide shade, still widely used, particularly in warmer areas for varieties such as Torrontés that need shade to retain acidity and aromas. Also common for high vigour and high yielding varieties such as Criolla Grande and Chica, Cereza and Pedro Giménez.
However, VSP increasingly common as enables modern canopy management and drip irrigation.
Summarise the history of Argentinian grape varieties.
Historically dominated by high-yielding pink criolla varieties, notably Cereza, Criolla Grande and Criolla Chica (País in Chile). Pink skins when fully ripe, produce lightly coloured wine. Long used to make inexpensive wines for domestic market. With shift to quality, plantings falling, still 20% total vineyard and Cereza remains 2nd most planted variety.
Until late 1980s, Argentina had more white grapes than black, as whites much more popular in domestic market. From 1990s, with shift in focus to
quality wine, proportion black grapes rose rapidly now represent 53% plantings.
What are the most planted varieties here?
Malbec
Pink criolla varieties
Bonarda
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
Pedro Giménez
Torrontés
Chardonnay
Describe Malbec.
20% total vineyard area. Increased almost 350% between 1995–2018, initially reflecting focus to high-quality black varieties then by its huge success on export market.
Vigorous, mid-ripening. In warm, sunny conditions produces deepc oloured, full-bodied wines with high soft tannins, high alcohol and ripe blackberry and black plum. This style became hugely successful on export markets and has been key factor in rise popularity of Argentinian wine.
Wide range of styles, from inexpensive or mid-priced, lighter, fruity wines to be drunk young to structured, age-worthy wines can command premium and super-premium prices. Malbec still used in blends, usually with Bordeaux varieties, Bonarda also Syrah. Again, range from inexpensive to some most expensive wines. Also used for fresh, fruity rosés.
Increasing understanding of how different microclimates affect style: Cooler sites (e.g. high altitude) lower alcohol, M (+) acidity, firm, M (+) tannins and fresh fruit often with mixture of red and black fruit, floral or herbal aromas. Warmer sites (e.g. relatively low altitudes and latitudes) usually fuller-bodied with riper fruit, lower acidity, softer tannins. Producers with vineyards in more than one area often blend to take advantage of different characteristics. However single vineyards increasingly common as producers want to highlight style and quality from certain sites.
Cuttings of Malbec taken in France arrived in Argentina before phylloxera in France contributing to diversity of high quality planting material, which further been honed by clonal research and massale selection. Malbec clones in Argentina have smaller berries and bunches, softer tannins than France.
Describe Bonarda.
Second most planted black variety. Often called Bonarda Argentina to distinguish from various unrelated Bonardas of Italy. Late-ripening and mainly planted in San Juan and warmer areas in Mendoza. High-yielding, used to produce large volumes inexpensive wines, mainly for domestic consumption. When yields limited, can produce wines with more intensity and structure.
Deep colour, red and black fruit, M (+) acidity, and M tannins and alcohol. Oak can overwhelm so if oak used, tends to be large and/or old vessels. Bonarda’s fruity nature and colour intensity make it a popular blending partner, usually with Malbec or CS. Recently, some started making more complex wines with riper, black fruit and spicy characteristics, particularly from lower-yielding vineyards and old vines, such as in Maipú, Luján de Cuyo and east of Mendoza. Many still mid-priced with only few premium-priced. Bonarda is yet out of Malbec’s shadow on export market; over 85% still consumed domestically.
Describe Cabernet Sauvignon.
More susceptible to extreme temperature and fungal disease than Malbec so careful site selection important. Typically blended with Malbec in some top wines, increasingly used to make premium-priced single varietal wines. Considerable competition with CS from other countries, Argentinian examples tend to show ripe high tannins, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit and spicy notes without marked herbaceous character.
Describe Syrah.
Successful in hotter sites of Mendoza and San Juan (more widely planted than Malbec), full-bodied with high alcohol and ripe, black fruit. In cooler areas, more elegant with fresher fruit and firmer tannins.
Summarise other red varieties.
Tempranillo tends produce wines with M tannins, M-full body with red fruit and spice from oak maturation.
Merlot traditionally used for Bordeaux- style blends but vineyard area decreasing.
PN plantings increasing and particularly successful in Patagonia and high-elevation vineyards of Uco Valley, producing concentrated, fruity wines.
CF also thought has potential, producing distinctive, concentrated wine whether single variety or blend with Malbec.
Petit Verdot and Tannat plantings also increasing.
Is organic practices widely practised here?
Because of limited threat of fungal disease, little need for spraying, ideal location for organic and biodynamic viticulture. Although vineyards adopting these practices increasing, number of certified organic remains relatively low.
