Who was the first to plant vineyards in Mendoza, and when?
Catena, 1902
What IG is considered the first in Argetnina to be based on technical criteria, rather than politcal boundaries?
Paraje Altamira IG, first announced in 2017
Bodega Colome location/note:
Salta: recognized for owning the highest vineyard on earth, Malbec and Torrontez producer, owned by Donald Hess/Hess Collection.
Major white grapes of Argentina?
Pedro Giménez (bulk), Torrontés, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
What is Cafayete?
increasingly popular and promising department within Salta for Torrontés wines
What is the confusing synonym for Bonarda in San Juan?
Barbera Bonarda
What region sits between Salta and La Rioja? What are its subregions?
Catamarca: subregions are Belén, Pomán, Santa María, TINOGASTA
What vintages in the past decade have been unusual for Argentina, and why?
2014-2017, all were unsually wet and cooler years in most regions. (2016 was the smallest and coldest vintage in Uco Valley in decades).
Cachi, Cafayete, Molinos, and San Carlos are subregions of what IG?
Salta IG
How are Argentinian vine rows oriented, and why?
North-South orientation almost entirely because irrigation was via snowmelt so north-south was how the water ran.
What is Cheval des Andes?
Cheval des Andes is a high-end wine collaboration between Terrazas de los Andes and Pierre Lurton of Cheval Blanc. The joint venture was proposed by Lurton in 1999 when he realized Mendoza’s potential, and was eager to connect again with the grape of Saint Emilion’s past (Malbec). Often described as a ‘New World Grand Cru’.
What is the more “traditional” method of irrigation used in Argentina?
furrow irrigation, developed by the Incas. The rivers swell from the Andes’ snowmelt, and water is directed through the vineyards in channels. This is still used, alongside modern drip irrigation.
Where does Mendoza’s irrigation water come from?
Irrigation water comes from the Mendoza River, which in turn comes from the melting snow of the Andes.
Describe the most classic and identifiable varietal expression of Mendoza Malbec.
Brambly black and red mountain fruit tones, rich and robust texture, sweet floral tones. The wines usually undergo some degree of French or American oak treatment.
Where was the Mendoza Chardonnay clone developed? It has gained popularity despite what issue?
UC Davis, it is prone to millerandage and the resulting grapes have a higher skin-to-juice ratio
What is significant about San Juan? What is its major product?
San Juan is the 2nd largest province in Argentina by acreage (2nd to Mendoza). Climate is hot and much acreage is given to the pink skins; most production is brandy, vermouth, and sherry-styled wines, but some Syrah and Bonarda are getting attention.
What and where is Gualtallary?
An unofficial subregion of Tupungato, 1500M high, stony, limestone soils. Star district. On its way to IG status.
What is Luján de Cuyo?
one of only 2 Argentina DOCs, authorized for Malbec wines only
What is the primary difference between the Western and Eastern regions of Mendoza?
Eastern side is flatter, located farther from the cooling effects of the mountains. Western side increases in elevation and thermal amplitude moving westward towards the Andes, and has cooler temperatures overall.
Describe the various meso-climates of Argentina from north to south
Jujuy is humid subtropical
Salta is subtropical highland
Tucuman/Catamarca/La Rioja are hot semi-arid, moving down into Mendoza which is arid continental.
San Juan is a desert
All winegrowing regions in Patagonia are semi-arid continental.
What are the climatic influences on Argentinean viticulture?
The rain shadow of the Andes creates a very dry climate, which is exacerbated by the Zonda, a fierce, hot, afternoon wind that sweeps down from the mountains in late spring and early summer.
Vineyards are largely irrigated by snowmelt, and the region is prone to hail in the spring and summer.
What are the five large sub-regions of Mendoza?
Uco Valley, Primera Zona/Central Mendoza, Northern Mendoza, Eastern Mendoza, and Southern Mendoza
Where is Salta? What is it known for?
The North Region of Argentina; known for high altitude Torrontés. Some red grapes are also grown.
Who was the first to plant vineyards in Mendoza, and when?
Catena, 1902
Cheval des Andes location/notes:
Mendoza, one wine: BDX blend of predominantly Malbec, fruit from Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley
What is the parentage of Torrontes?
Criolla Chica (Pais) x Muscat of Alexandria
What happened in 1885 that resulted in a boom of Argentinian wine production?
a railway line was completed between Mendoza and the country’s capital, Buenos Aires, providing a cheaper, easier way of sending wines out of the region.
What is the most planted white grape in Argentina?
Pedro Giménez (unrelated to Spain’s Pedro Ximénez)
Bodega y Cavas de Weinert location/style:
Mendoza, winemaking very traditional in context of Argentina
How are Argentinian vine rows oriented, and why?
North-South, almost universally - because irrigation was via snowmelt, north-south was how the water ran.
Bodega Noemía location/notes:
Rio Negro, Patagonia: organic/biodynamic Malbec
What moderates Mendoza’s hot, dry, arid climate?
high altitude, extreme diurnal temperature variation
Why would Argentinian growers switch from flood or furrow irrigation to drip irrigation systems?
Water rights are essential, and future drought years will no doubt bring water shortages. Drip irrigation, while expensive to install, is more precise, uses less water, and provides more control to make better, concentrated wines.
What pink-skinned varieties occupy 30% of Argentina’s vineyards?
Cereza, Criolla Chica, Criolla Grande
Where is Famatina Valley?
La Rioja region of Cuyo in Argentina
What is the name for single vineyard on an Argentina wine label?
single-finca, comprise a large percentage of new bottlings in the premium market now.
What is Paul Hobbs’s Argentina project?
Viña Cobos (Lujan de Cuyo)
What is Torrontés a crossing of?
País (Criolla Chica) x Muscat of Alexandria
What is Finca Altura Máxima?
the highest vineyard on earth, sits at ~10k feet above sea level. Owned by Colome Estate (of Donald Hess/Hess Collection)
Major red grapes of Argentina?
Malbec, Bonarda, Cabernet, Syrah, Merlot, Tempranillo
Bodega Chacra location/notes:
Rio Negro, Patagonia: super-premium wines from ungrafted Pinot Noir in arid and isolated extremes of Patagonia region. Also Jean-Marc Roulot collaboration with Chardonnay.
What is Cafayate?
department within Salta for Torrontés
What is Argentina’s 2nd largest wine-producing province?
San Juan
What is franco? (Argentina)
The local term for the alluvial soils of Mendoza.
Terrazas de los Andes location/notes:
Mendoza, LVMH property, one of AR’s most recognizable producers, also partner in Cheval des Andes
What are the climatic influences on Argentinean viticulture?
The rain shadow of the Andes creates a very dry climate, which is exacerbated by the Zonda, a fierce, hot, afternoon wind that sweeps down from the mountains in late spring and early summer. Vineyards are largely irrigated by snowmelt, and the region is prone to hail in the spring and summer.
What is the second most planted red grape variety in Argentina?
Bonarda
Where is the Limay River?
The Limary River flows from the Andes and converges with the Neuquen River in the Rio Negro, which in turn flows into the Atlantic.
Where are Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo, and Uco Valley in relation to Mendoza City?
Maipu and Lujan de Cuyo are closer to Mendoza city - Maipu is SE, Lujan de Cuyo is SW. Uco Valley is further south west, situated closer to the Andes at higher elevation, some Uco Valley sites are as far as 75 miles south of Mendoza.
What does Reserva indicate on a bottle of Argentinian wine?
6 months minimum aging for whites, 1 years for reds, as well as lower yields
What is the name of California’s Hess Collection’s Argentina property?
Colomé, located in Salta, the vineyards are around 3,000m high (some of the highest in the world!)
Where is the Neuquen River?
The Neuquen River flows from the Andes and converges with the Limay River in the Rio Negro, which in turn flows into the Atlantic.
Who is Susana Balbo?
Argentina’s first graduate female winemaker, international consultant, Dominio del Plata wine label
Where is Calchaqui Valley?
Located primarily in Salta, but extends to Catamarca and Tucuman. Main wine region of Salta.
_________ irrigation is gradually replacing ________ irrigation in Argentina. Why?
Drip irrigation is gradually replacing flood irrgiation in Argentina. Some growers are looking for more control.
What is the Zonda?
a fierce, dusty, hot afternoon wind that blows down from the mountains in late spring/early summer in Argentina
Achaval-Ferrer location/notes:
Mendoza, known for high-end premium bottlings of Malbec
In Argentina, what does Gran Reserva on the label indicate?
1 year minimum aging for whites, 2 years for reds as well as lower yields
What sub-region of Mendoza has the highest elevation plantings?
Uco Valley
Catamarca: Elevation, Natural Features, Major Grapes
1000-2100M in elevation
Andes, Ambaucán River
Majority plantings of Cereza; however, quality grapes are growing in number
What was Argentina’s first official appellation, and when was it established?
Lujan de Cujo, 1993.
What are the Departmental IG’s (subregions) of Salta?
Cachi, Molinos, San Carlos, and CAFAYATE
What region lies between Mendoza and Río Negro?
La Pampa
Where is Jujuy IG? Climate, altitude, and what wines does it produce?
Far northwest Argentina, on the border with Bolivia and Chile.
Humid subtropical climate, average 1250M.
Best for Torrontes, but reds are “improving.” Rarely seen outside the region.
What is franco?
The local term for the alluvial soils of Mendoza.
Who is Nicolas Catena?
“patriarch of Argentinean wine” “Godfather of Malbec” helped make a push towards quality in Argentina, first to engage in the export market
What factors in Argentina have limited the incursion of phylloxera?
isolation, the Andes, and the sandy, alluvial soils
What year did Argentina implement “reserva” and “gran reserva” labeling? What varieties are eligible?
2008; Premium grapes (aka no pink skins).
There is a significant wind that blows down from the mountains in Argentina, what is it called and why is it important?
The Zonda, a fierce, dusty, hot afternoon wind that blows in the late spring and early summer. Sometimes it adversely affects flowering. It exacerbates Argentina’s already dry conditions.
What are the American and Swiss synonyms for Argentina’s Bonarda?
Charbono (US) Corbeau (Switzerland)
What 3 provinces are located in the North Region of Argentina?
Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca
Where is the Tunuyan river?
The Tunuyan River is in Mendoza, originating in the Andes mountains and flowing NE through the region.
What is the name of the collaboration between Bodega Chacra and Jean-Marc Roulot?
“Mainque”, Chardonnay
Who makes the Bodegas Chacra wines? What are they known for?
Tuscany’s Sassicaia family, currently Patagonia’s most famous estate, selling super-premium Río Negro Pinot Noir
