Argentina

Question 1

Argentina

History and general info

Answer 1

• Since 1959 from Moet & Chandon’s decision to base in Mendoza
• Production limited untile recent years
• Volume grown in recent years
• Mostly Tank method + carbonation and traditional method
• Around 160 wineries / Majority in Mendoza + Neuquen, Rio Negro, San Juan
• Fruity and off-dry to medium-dry
• acceptable to good quality

Traditional method: Chard and PN / ripe apple and lemon flavours + light autolytic notes / brut style / good to very good quality / mostly inexpensive + some mid- to premium priced

Question 2

Argentina

Growing enviroment and grape growing

Answer 2

• Grapes for inexpensive carbonated or tank method wines = warm parts of Mendoza
• Grapes for higher quality = Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley
• Extremely high altitude = cool enough to preserve delicate falvours and acidity
• New vineyards in Nequen and Rion Negro in Patagonia = southerly latitude helps keep temp down / high diurnal range due to continentality
• Grapes harvested 1-2 months before grapes for still wines
• Blends between sites usually necessary to achieve suitable base wine
• Pedro Gimenez = most planted grape / part of Criollas
• Chardonnay second most planted for sparkling
• Natural hazard = hail , spring frost, nematodes / relatively little spraying needed against fungal diseases due to dry climate

Criollas = varieties grown in South America, thought to be descended from European varieties

Question 3

Argentina

Winemaking

Answer 3

Inexpensive Argentinian sparkling:
- typically made by Carbonation
- Pedro Gimenez, Chanin Blanc, Semillon
- Additional fruit flavourings added: typically strawberry

Tank method:
- mid-priced products
- wide range of varieties including Chard and PN

Traditional method:
- mid-priced to premium wines
- from grapes grown on the best sites
- Typicsally Chard and PN
- Vintange or NV
- majority spend at least 12 months on Lees (extended lees ageing in many cases)
- ripe apple and lemon fruit / autolytic aromas / med to med+ acidity / med to med+ body / med alcohol

Super premium:
- e.g. Baron B Unique
- selection of best fruit
- longer lees ageing (e.g. 18 months)

Question 4

Argentina

Wine law and Wine business

Answer 4

• since 2005 = domestic tax of 12% on sales in retiurn for investment removed (aimed at promoting Argentinian wine)
• Virtually all domestic market
• Seco (less than 11g/L) = most popular style (64%)
• Leading companies = Moet Hennessy, Llorente, Mumm, Norton