Ch. 29 – Argentina Flashcards
Argentina history
1816 independence from Spain
- Attracting European immigrants, bringing winemaking traditions
New wave of immigrants from Europe after Phylloxera early 1900
Nicolas Catena
- started to export and raise quality with help of foreign investment
Climate in Argentina
Influence of altitude and latitude
- most vineyards in foothills of Andes (lowest at 500m)
- most vineyards are planted on flat or gently sloping sites
Wide diurnal range due to altitude
- cooler nights extend growing season
- help to retain acidity
- intense sunlight at low latitude (higher tannins and colour)
Continental climate mainly
Rain shadow of Andes
- irrigation is essential
- low disease pressure
Zonda winds
- hot, dry, powerful
- increases water stress and lowers disease pressure
- can affect flowering and fruit set
- trees planted as windbreak
Hail is constant threat
- vineyards in different areas to spread the risk
- netting only cost-effective for best sites
Frost is significant in Mendoza, usually in flat areas or bottom of the slopes
El Nino influence
- brings rain and hailstorms
- can devastate yields (disease/damage)
Soils in Argentina
Mostly alluvial soils deposited by rivers flowing down from Andes
High altitudes:
- larger stones with calcareous deposits
- poor soils due to lack of flora/fauna
Middle slopes
- gravel, sand, silt
Lower areas
- deeper loamy-clay
- richer in nutrients
Vineyard management in Argentina
Vine pull scheme was introduced in 1980s due to falling domestic demand
Many old vines
Irrigation is essential
- rivers deliver melt water from Andes
- collected by dams and irrigation channels
Traditionally trained to a high pergola (Parral)
- provides shade and raises vine away from hot soil
- still widely used for Torrontes and high-yielding traditional varieties
- VSP is becoming common
Phylloxera is present but not causing significant problems
- most vines are ungrafted
- rootstocks are becoming common due to nematodes and drought-tolerance
Little need for spraying
- ideal for organic, though not many certified
Mechanical harvest is becoming more common due to difficulty finding labor
Modernization
- canopy management
- clonal selection
- picking at different ripeness
- soil types
- single vineyard wines
Type of irrigation in Argentina
Flood irrigation is common
- cheap to operate
- local growers believe it to be optimal for free-draining soils since it allows water to penetrate deeply
Drip irrigation is increasing
- on slopes, it’s cheaper than leveling land
- water for drip is pumped from boreholes
- increased efficiency of water usage
- enhanced control
Timing of irrigation:
- larger amounts in winter
- smaller amounts in summer
- roots grow deep
- vine focuses on fruit
Traditional local grape varieties (pink skinned) in Argentina
Cereza
Criolla Grande
Criolla Chica (Pais in Chile)
now about 20% of production
Key black grape varieties in Argentina
Malbec
Bonarda
Cabernet Sauvgnon
Syrah
Tempranillo
Merlot
Pinot Noir (Patagonia)
Cabernet Franc
Petit Verdot
Tannat
Key white grape varieties in Argentina
Pedro Gimenez (not the same as Ximenez)
Torrontes
Chardonnay
Semillon
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Viognier
Malbec in Argentina
20% of all plantings
- grown exponentially since 90s
vigorous, mid-ripening grape
Deep coloured, full-body, high levels of soft tannins, high alcohol, ripe flavours of blackberry and black plum
Also used in blends and roses
- Bordeaux varieties, Bonarda, Syrah
Increasing understanding of microclimates
- cooler: fresher red and black fruit, herbal notes
- warmer: riper fruit, less acidity
- blending warmer and cooler is common
Cuttings of Malbec from France (further developed by clonal and massale selection)
- Argentinian Malbec has smaller berries and bunches
- softer tannins
Bonarda
late-ripening
Mainly planted in San Juan and warmer areas of Mendoza
High-yielding, inexpensive wines for domestic market
More complex examples from riper black fruit and spice from lower yields and old vines
- Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo
Deep color, red and black fruit, med+ acidity, med tannin and alcohol
- oak can overwhelm it
blending partner for fruit and colour
Cabernet Sauvignon in Argentina
Careful site selection is important
- more susceptible to fungal diseases and extreme temps than Malbec
Typically blended with Malbec
Usually does NOT have herbaceous character
High ripe tannins, spicy notes
Syrah in Argentina
Successful in hotter areas of Mendoza and San Juan
- full bodied, high alcohol, ripe black fruit
elegant fresher wines in cooler areas
Red winemaking in Argentina
Influenced by Spanish, French and Italian immigrants
Traditionally fermented and aged in large oak barrels sometimes with hint of oxidation
Modernization
- later harvesting
- temperature control
- maturation in new oak (typically French)
New wave
- less oak
- earlier harvest
- experimenting with natural ferment
- whole berry ferment
- gentler extraction
- variety of vessels, e.g. concrete
Super-premium age-worthy wines:
- Catena Zapata
Pedro Gimenez
neutral variety
mainly for domestic consumption
Torrontes
Torrontes Riojano (best of three)
Natural cross of Muscat of Alexandria and Criolla Chica
- strong floral aroma reminiscent of Muscat
Vigorous, high-yielding
Early ripening
- successful in Cafayate (Salta) and Uco Valley
Improvements in quality lately:
- reduced yields
- earlier harvesting
- temperature control
- fruity rather than overtly floral
Some producers use some oak, usually single varietal
Late-harvest also produced
