26. Argentina

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

• 1,500 km -> from Salta to Rio Negro (24-38°S)
• With the exception of Patagonia -> vineyards are in foothills of Andes (W)
• From 500 m - 3,300 m (Salta)
• Low latitude, high altitude -> intense sunlight, more UV
• Warm continental -> irrigation is essential for viticulture
• Larger stones with calcareous deposits -> dominate higher altitudes
• Gravel, sands and silts -> dominate middle areas
• Deeper loamy-clay soils (more fertile) -> lower areas
• Black grapes -> 53%
  o Malbec 1ste
  o Bonarda 2nd
  o CS, Syrah, Tempranillo, Merlot, PN, CF
• Pink criolla grapes ->falling
  o Lightly coloured + inexp wines for domestic market
• Whites -> Pedro Giménez, Torrontés, Chard, Sémillon, CB
• High-volume (inexp) -> small (premium)

Question 2

Mendoza

Answer 2

o largest wine province
o Malbec -> dominant

Northern + Eastern Mendoza
§ On plains in Mendoza River valley
§ High-volume (inexp) -> small (prem)
§ Tempranillo + Bonarda

Central Mendoza
§ Longest history of producing HQ -> small batches
§ Vines at 600-1,100 m
§ Malbec dominates
§ CS, Syrah + Tempranillo do well

1) Luján de Cuyo
* old Malbec vines
a) Las Compuertas
o Highest vines within area
o Malbec, Bordeaux grapes, SB, Chard
b)Agrelo
o Lower clay-soil
o Riper reds -> Malbec, Bordeaux grapes
o Some fruity, full-bodied whites -> Sémillon

2) Maipú
* Warmer -> vines at 600-900 m
* Large volumes of inexp
* HQ C.S, Tempranillo, Syrah, old vine Bonarda

Uco Valley
§ foothills of Andes
§ Highest vines in Mendoza
§ Malbec
§ Coolest high-altitude sites -> prem whites

1) Tupungato
* Most N + highest
* Fresh, full-bodied Malbec, CS, CF, P.N
* Crisp, elegant Chard + SB

2) Tunuyán
* Fuller-bodied, structured yet fruity red wines
* Higher sites -> some of coolest areas
o Prem whites + PN

3) San Carlos
* Increasingly recognised, old vine plantings, Q Malbec + CS
* Paraje Altamira GI
o Calcium carbonate and stony topsoil
o Malbec -> small batches

Southern Mendoza
§ San Rafael -> vines lower at 450-850 m
§ Malbec, CS, Syrah, Bonarda
§ Chenin Blanc
§ San Rafael à only other DOC in Argentina
§ High-volume (inexp) -> small (prem)

Question 3

San Juan

Answer 3

o To the N of Mendoza -> 2nd largest area under vine
o Vineyards à at 600-1,500 m
o Produce inexpensive wines from the high-yielding pink grapes
o Syrah (most planted), Malbec and Bonarda
o Highest-quality wines -> from high altitude sites in Andes foothills
§ Pedernal Valley GI -> high diurnal range

Question 4

La Rioja

Answer 4

o Focus is mainly on high-volume, inexpensive wines
o Torrontés, CS, Malbec, Syrah

Question 5

Salta

Answer 5

o 24°-26°S -> vines are some of the closest to Equator
o Low latitudes are offset by altitude -> 1,500-3,000 m
o Sunlight is intense (UV) -> high levels of anthocyanins + tannins
o Malbec, CS, Bonarda, Syrah and Tannat
o Principal white grape -> Torrontés (GI Cafayate)
o High-volume (inexp) -> small,prem

Question 6

Patagonia

Answer 6

o 38° to 39°S
o Altitude is much lower at 400 m
o Higher latitudes -> temp are relatively low
o Reputation -> HQ
o PN, CF, Merlot, Sémillon, Chard, Germanic whites

Rio Negro
§ old vines à Sémillon, PN and Malbec
§ elegant PN, Malbec, Merlot, SB, Riesling

Neuquén
§ small
§ Slightly warmer, more arid area than Río Negro
§ Malbec, PN, Merlot, SB