Argentina

Question 1

What defines Argentina’s wine regions?

Answer 1

Altitude

Question 2

What was the traditional trellising system used?

Answer 2

Pergola, due to the heat. Known locally as parral. Lifted grapes away from the soaring heat close to the ground and provided shade from the intense sun. Still used for Torrentes. Vertical trellises used for black grapes.

Question 3

Argentina is in the rain shadow of what mountain range?

Answer 3

Andes. Have used flood irrigation but now using more drip.

Question 4

What are 3 weather issues Argentina deals with?

Answer 4

Drought, spring frosts and summer hail. The dry climate means few problems with rot or mildew. Organically grown grapes.

Question 5

How do growers deal with hail?

Answer 5

Own vineyards in several different areas. And netting, but it’s expensive. Vineyards in different areas also adds to blending.

Question 6

What are Argentina’s flagship black and white varieties?

Answer 6

Malbec and Torrentes. It has the largest planting of Malbec worldwide.

Question 7

Describe an Argentenian Malbec.

Answer 7

Deeply colored, full bodied, high levels of smooth tannins. Matured in new oak lending subtle, spicy flavors. Lower altitude wines are fuller bodied with richer black fruit. Higher altitudes are fresher, more elegant with more floral aromas.

Question 8

What is the second most planted variety?

Answer 8

Bonarda. Late ripening, deeply colored, high acidity and tannin. At high yields it’s easy drinking, medium to deep color fruity blackberry and raspberry aromas. Mainly grown in Mendoza and San Juan.

Question 9

What international varieties are grown?

Answer 9

Cab, Merlot, Tempranillo, Pinot. Premium wines show concentrated ripe fruit flavors with toasty notes from oak.

Question 10

What are the best areas for Torrontes?

Answer 10

Salta, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, with the best coming from Cafayate in the Salta Province.

Question 11

Describe a typical Torrontes.

Answer 11

Intensely fruity, floral perfume, medium body and acidity and flavors of stone fruit and melon. The aromatic nature means they are usually fermented in inert temperature controlled vessels and released in the year of harvest.

Question 12

What other whites does Argentina grow?

Answer 12

Chardonay. Premium chards matured in oak, some new. Chenin Blanc, SauvBlanc, Semillon, and Viognier.

Question 13

What is the white variety with the greatest plantings?

Answer 13

Pedro Gimenez (not Pedro Ximenez). Used in cheap wines for the domestic market.

Question 14

Name the four main Provinces.

Answer 14

Salta, La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza.

Question 15

Which Province is the most northerly?

Answer 15

Salta. Close to the Bolivia border. Home to some of the highest vineyards in the world. Produces wines of great purity and concentration.

Question 16

What is the dominant grape of Salta?

Answer 16

Torrontes. Produces highly aromatic wines.

Question 17

The Famatina Valley is in what Province?

Answer 17

La Rioja Province.

Question 18

What is Famatina Valley known for?

Answer 18

Large volumes of grapes grown on the irrigated valley floor. Exported wines are labeled as Famatina to avoid confusion with La Rioja in Spain. Torrontes is their specialty, with black grapes of cab, Syrah and Bonarda.

Question 19

Where is San Juan Province and what is it known for?

Answer 19

North of Mendoza. Similar altitude. Noted for Syrah. Chard and Viognier the most planted whites.

Question 20

Which Province produces the most wines?

Answer 20

Mendoza.

Question 21

What are the five divisions of Mendoza?

Answer 21

Northern, Eastern, Central, Uco Valley and Southern. Wines from the different regions are frequently blended.

Question 22

What do Northern and Eastern Mendoza contribute?

Answer 22

High-volume, inexpensive wine. The Mendoza river provides irrigation for large quantities.

Question 23

What department in Central Mendoza has the longest history of producing high quality wines?

Answer 23

Lujan de Cuyo. Fine Malbec from old Malbec vines producing soft, round and sweet spice Malbec blends.

Question 24

What department has the highest vineyards in Mendoza?

Answer 24

Uco Valley. Source of high quality fruit. Cool nights retain acidity and fresh fruit flavors. Floral notes.

Question 25

What varieties are grown in the Uco Valley?

Answer 25

Chard, Torrontres, SauvBlanc, Malbec, Cab, Merlot, Tempranillo and Pinot. Includes the high altitude of Tupungato to the west, recognized for its quality.

Question 26

What department is in Southern Mendoza?

Answer 26

San Rafael. Cooler due to its southerly location. Grows mostly Chenin Blanc.

Question 27

What Province is in Patagonia?

Answer 27

Rio Negro and the relatively new Neuquen Province.

Question 28

What climatic conditions do the growers deal with in Patagonia?

Answer 28

Cooling influence from latitude not altitude. Strong desert winds. Low rainfall and wide diurnal range therefore low incidence of disease. Long daylight hours and cool nights provide concentrated but fresh fruit flavors and medium to high acidity. SauvBlanc, Pinot, Malbec and Merlot make premium wines here.