Cuyo Flashcards
(18 cards)
What are the major regions in Cuyo?
4 major regions, north-south:
- La Rioja
- San Juan
- Mendoza
- San Luis (unofficial)
What are the subregions in La Rioja region?
3 main subregions:
- Chilecito
- Famatina
- Felipe Varela
La Rioja was part of the New Cuyo Region from 1988-2012. In 2012, they politically left the region, yet for wine law it is still regulated as Cuyo
What so special about La Rioja region?
Chilecito subregion is the largest
Famatina is renowned for Malbec
white: Torrontés Riojano, Moscatel de Alejandría
red: Cabernet Sauv, Malbec, Bonarda, Syrah
What are the subregions of San Juan region?
6 main subregions:
- Valle del Tulum
- Valle del Pedernal
- Valle De Zonda
- Calingasta
- Barreal
- Ullum
Zonda is also a name of the wind that mainly affecting western Argentina (cold, humid, high speed)
What so special about San Juan region?
Tulum subregion is the largest with table wine
Pedernal subregion with most exciting wines come from limestone soils
Zonda subregion is the coolest
white: Pedro Gimenez, Torrontés Sanjuanino, Moscatel del Alejandría
red: Malbec, Syrah, Bonarda, Cab Sauv
Mendoza is known to split into 5 sections:
- North Mendoza
- Central Mendoza (Primera Zona)
- Valle de Uco (Uco Valley)
- East Mendoza
- South Mendoza
wines get better quality as they go west into Andes, lower and simpler quality as moving east
What are the departments you can found in North Mendoza?
3 departments:
- Guaymallén
- Las Heras
- Lavalle-Desierto de Lavalle
(desert like climate, making juice and table wines)
What are the departments you can found in East Mendoza?
5 departments:
- Rivadavia
- Junín
- San Martín (biggest)
- Santa Rosa
- La Paz
Rivadavia & Junín both consists of district (Distrito Medrano)
(focuses Malbec production to blended into “Mendoza IG”)
What are the departments you can found in Central Mendoza/Primera Zone?
3 departments:
- Luján de Cuyo DOC (1993)
- Maipú
- Godoy Cruz
Luján de Cuyo is the first DOC in Argentina, created to guarantee origin and winemaking standards
In Luján de Cuyo, there are some “districts/subzones”:
3 districts:
(under Central Mendoza)
- Agrelo (largest concentration, half of Luján’s plantings)
- Las Compuertas (high altitude, good water source)
- Vistalba
best Malbec coming from Las Compuertas & Agrelo
In Maipú, there are some “districts/subzones”:
4 districts:
(under Central Mendoza)
- Las Barrancas (largest)
- Lunlunta
- El Paraíso
- Russell
closest to Mendoza city, strong tourism
What are the departments you can found in Valle de Uco (Uco Valley)?
3 departments:
- Tupungato
- Tunuyán
- San Carlos
In Tupungato, there are some “districts/subzones”:
2 districts:
(under Uco Valley)
- Gualtallary
- El Peral
Gualtallary producing most expensive Malbec, also Chardonnay
In Tunuyán, there are some “districts/subzones”:
3 districts:
(under Uco Valley)
- San Pablo
- Los Chacayes
- Vista Flores
Tunuyán is the tourism hub of the Uco Valley
Los Chacayes has Malbec and GSM
San Pablo has Pinot Noir
Vista Flores is top for Malbec
In San Carlos, there are some “districts/subzones”:
3 districts:
(under Uco Valley)
- La Consulta
- Paraje Altamira
- El Cepillo
(has many 100 years old vines)
What are the departments you can found in South Mendoza?
2 departments:
- San Rafael DOC (1997)
- General Alvear
San Rafael sandy soils, Malbec, Cab Sauv & Chenin Blanc
General Alvear makes mostly jug wine from Criolla, lower and flatter landscape
San Rafael being the 2nd DOC in Argentina
What so special about San Luis region?
a very new region that haven’t officially recognised
plantings of Malbec, Syrah, Cab Sauv also some Viognier
What are some renowned producers in Mendoza IG?
•Achaval Ferrer
•Catena Zapata
•Cheval des Andes
•Familia Zuccardi
•Susano Balbo
•Doña Paula
