Argentina

Question 1

Where does Argentina fall in world rankings of wine production?

Answer 1

5th

Question 2

What is the mountain range providing rainshadow for Argentina? What is the climate?

Answer 2

• Andes

- Continental Climate

Question 3

What is the first dusty dry wind that blows in Argentina? When?

Answer 3

Zonda!

-late spring, early summer

Question 4

Where are some of the highest vines in Argentina?

Answer 4

Donald Hess’ Colomé estate in Salta

over 3000 m above sea level

Question 5

Avg elevation of vineyars

Answer 5

900m

Question 6

Is there pollution in Argentina? Chile?

Answer 6

Argentina - no - no nearby major urban center

Chile - yes - Maipo covered in smog from Santiago

Question 7

Argentina:
Most planted red grape and 2nd most
Most planted white grape and 2nd most

Answer 7

Red: Malbec, Bonarda

White: Pedro Giménez, Torrontés

Question 8

What is Argentina’s Bonarda known as elsewhere?

Answer 8

• NOT same as Italian Bonarda

- same as Corbeau in Savoie = Charbono in US

Question 9

Three pink skinned varieties in Argentina? How much of nations vineyard acreage?

Answer 9

-Cereza
-Criolla Chica (mission)
-Criolla Grande
30% nations vineyard acreage

Question 10

Conditions for Reserva/Gran Reserva labeling in Argentina

Answer 10

-must be with “premium wine grape” like Malbec or Gewurz

Reserva - max yields
---White - 6 months aging
---Red - 1 year aging
Gran Reserva - max yields
---White - 1 year
---Red - 2 year aging

Question 11

Three broad regions of Argentina

Answer 11

• Northwestern Provinces
• Cuyo
• Patagonia

Question 12

Subregions of NW Provinces in Argentina

Answer 12

• Salta (N)
• Tucuán (SW)
• Catamarca (E)

Question 13

Subregions of Cuyo in Argentina

Answer 13

• La Rioja
• San Juan
• Mendoza

(N-S)

Question 14

Subregions of Patagonia in Argentina

Answer 14

• La Pampa (NE)
• Rio Negro (SE)
• Neuquén (W)

Question 15

Where does 3/4 of Argentina’s wine production occur?

Answer 15

Mendoza, Cuyo

Question 16

What is getting good rep in Salta? Where is Salta?

Answer 16

• Northernmost subregion of NW provinces in Argentina

- high-altitude Torrontés doing well

Question 17

What region within Salta is promising for Torrontés?

Producer/bottling?

Answer 17

• Cafayate

- Susana Balbo - Crios

Question 18

Three producers based in Cafayate, Salta

Answer 18

• Susana Balbo - Crios
• Etchart - Michel Rolland (BDX)
• Yacochuya - new Etchart project

Question 19

What is Catamarca known for? Where is it?

Answer 19

• More area under vine than Salta

- Torrontes, Syrah, Malbec, Cab Sauv

Question 20

What is the most famous sub-region in La Rioja, Cuyo?

Most cultivated grapes?

Answer 20

• Famatina Valley

- Torrontes, then Malbec

Question 21

What is Argentina’s 2nd largest producing province?

Answer 21

-San Juan, in Cuyo

Question 22

Subs of San Juan in Cuyo?

Answer 22

Tulum, Zonda, Ullum, Jáchal, Calingasta, Pedernal, Fertil

Question 23

What is Argentina’s Bonarda sometimes confusingly called?

Answer 23

Barbera Bonarda

Question 24

What do a lot of grapes from San Juan end up as?

Answer 24

• brandy and vermouth bc of hot summer climate

- sherry style wines good

Question 25

What subregion might you find sherry style wine in Cuyo?

Answer 25

San Juan

Question 26

Subregions of Mendoza:

Answer 26

- Northern - Central (Upper) - Southern - Eastern - Uco Valley- in the West

Question 27

Where are the highest vineyards in Mendoza? What grapes thrive here

Answer 27

Uco Valley | -Chard, Semillon

Question 28

Soils of Mendoza

Answer 28

loose alluvial sand over clay

Question 29

Wind that affects Mendoza

Answer 29

Zonda

Question 30

Are many vines planted on their own rootstock in Argentina? Chile?

Answer 30

Yes, both - sandy soil and Zonda keeps phylloxera at bay in Argentina - Chile never had it

Question 31

Climate in Mendoza? Irrigation?

Answer 31

Desert-like | irrigation essential

Question 32

Two types of irrigation in Mendoza

Answer 32

- furrow irrigation - traditional (Incas) - direct river water by channels - drip irrigation - modern

Question 33

How much of Mendozas vines are red?

Answer 33

about half | malbec main grape

Question 34

What producer makes single vineyard wines that see over a year in 100% new barrels?

Answer 34

Achával Ferrer

Question 35

What style is Cheval des Andes?

Answer 35

- Blend - Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot - Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes Collab (LVMH)

Question 36

Two DOCs of Argentina: | Grapes?

Answer 36

- Luján de Cuyo - Malbec only | - San Raphael - Chenin blanc

Question 37

Two best traditional sites for Malbec in Mendoza?

Answer 37

- Luján de Cuyo DOC - Malbec only | - Maipú

Question 38

Top producers for Malbec

Answer 38

- Catena - Susana Balbo's Dominio del Plata - Bressia - Achával Ferrer

Question 39

Where is Tupungato

Answer 39

- In Uco Valley in west Mendoza | - Chard and Semillon

Question 40

What is the principle grape of Southern Mendoza's San Rafael and General Alvear

Answer 40

Chenin Blanc!

Question 41

Who makes wine in San Rafael DOC? What quality? What grape?

Answer 41

- Valentin - Base quality - Chenin Blanc

Question 42

Where is Patagonia in relation to Mendoza? Climate?

Answer 42

-South | =Cooler climate

Question 43

Soils and grapes of Patagonia

Answer 43

- chalky soil - White grapes - Torrontes and Semillon - Also, cool climate elegant Malbec, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Pinot Noir

Question 44

Who spearheaded Bodegas Chacra? Where is it? What grape?

Answer 44

- Sassicaia family - Río Negro subregion of Patagonia - Pinot Noir

Question 45

Most famous state in Patagonia

Answer 45

Bodegas Chacra (Sassicaia family)

Question 46

What percentage of grapes required to label varietally in Argentina?

Answer 46

80%