Argentinian wines Flashcards
Describe the geography of Argentina’s wine regions.
Most vineyards in Argentina lie close to the Andes and are 600m or more above sea level in a series of irrigated oases. .
Describe the Parral system.
Vineyards used to be planted in the pergola system known as parral. This lifted the grapes away from the heat close to the ground and provided them with some shade.
Parral system is still used for the Torrontes grape.
Many vineyards are now using VSP but the canopies are arranged to provide shade.
What are two weather problems for grape growers?
Spring frosts and summer hail are both problems. Many producers use nets to protect their vines from hail storms.
What is Argentinas most famous and most widely planted variety?
Malbec
Describe the wine style of an Argentinian Malbec.
Style: deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with notes of black fruit and often high levels of smooth tannins.
Now more gentle winemaking styles are being used to create more elegant wines that are matured in new oak and have subtle spicy flavours.
Lower altitudes: fuller-bodied with richer black fruit
Higher altitudes: more elegant, displaying fresher more floral aromas.
Can be blended with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and/ore Petit Verdot
What is Argentina’s second most widely planted variety?
Bonarda - Late ripening variety that produces deeply coloured grapes with high acidity and tannin levels.
High yields - produces easy drinking wines with medium to deep colour and fruity raspberry and blackberry aromas.
Controlled yields - fully ripened fruit produces wines of greater concentration and structure.
Mainly grown in Mendoza and San Juan
What is Argentina’s signature white variety?
Torrontes- Planted in Salta, La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza. Best examples come from high altitude vineyards in the Cafayate region of the Salta Province.
Style: intense fruity, floral perfume with medium body and acidity and flavours of stone fruits and melon.
Stored in inert vessels to preserve aromas.
Released in year of harvest
Describe the Salta Province and its wines.
It’s close to Bolivian border and is the most northerly vineyard area. Home to the highest vineyards in the world (some over 3000m above sea level). Wines are very pure with great concentration.
Torrontes is the dominant grape variety, especially in the Cafayate region
Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon are dominant black varieties.
Describe the La Rioja Province and its wines.
La Rioja Province - third largest vineyard production area with Famatina Valley being the main vineyard area.
Torrontes is a speciality of this province.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Bonarda are also grown here
To avoid confusion, wines are labelled Famatina
Describe the San Juan Province and its most famous wine.
Argentina’s second most important wine region. Known for its high quality Syrah. High altitude of 450-1400metres above sea level
Describe the Mendoza Province.
This province dominates winemaking in Argentina. Vineyards are planted in desert-like conditions protected by the Andes Mountains in the west and the Argentine Pampas in the east.
Five divisions: Northern, Eastern, Central, Uco Valley and Southern. Wines are often blended to take advantage of different fruit from other climates.
What are Northern and Eastern Mendoza wines like?
Northern and Eastern Mendoza - Inexpensive, high-volume wines are made here. The Mendoza river flows through which provides irrigation water, making high yields possible.
What are the wines like from Central Mendoza?
Central Mendoza - longest history of high-quality wines and many of the most famous producers are here.
Lujan de Cuyo department has a reputation for producing very fine Malbec. Located at 900-1100 metres in altitude in the Andes foothills SW of Mendoza. Known for its old Malbec vines, which provide the soft, round and sweet spice in Malbec blends
What are the wines like from the Maipu department?
Maipu department - east of Lujan de Cuyo and has lower altitude vineyards. Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon perform well here.
What are the wines like from the Uco Valley?
SW of Mendoza and is a source of high-quality fruit. Vineyards are 900 to 1500 metres making them the highest in Mendoza. Cool nights help retain acidity and fresh fruit flavours. The wines often display floral notes.
Chardonnay, Torrontes, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Termpranillo all flourish here. Some sites can grow Pinot Noir.
