Argentina

Argentina - climate

Very influenced by the Andes:

• they are a rain shadow and protect the vineyards from the ocean influences

• the wine regions are defined by altitude (60 - 3000 meters)

Rainfall is very low → drought → irrigation is widely practised (flood and drip)

Water from: rivers and subterranean acquifers

Hail during summer is common → netting is widely used

Biodinamic and organic growing are common

Grapes and training systems

Malbec

• signature grape

• usually single varietal

• can be the leading role for blends with Cab Sav, Cab Fran)

• full body, deep color, high smooth tannins, black fruit, new oak

• today → towards a fresher and fruitier style with gentler extraction methods

Training:

• traditional → pergola = parral

• now → vertical training

Torrontes

• white signature grape

• best in cooler sites (higher altitude)

• aromatic → inert vessels

• med body, med acidity

• stone and tropical fruit

• some floral notes

Training → parral

Other black grapes

Bonarda

• 2nd most planted variety

• very dependable on yielding

• high yield → fruity, easy drinking, med body, raspberry and blackberry

• low yield → greater concentration and structure

Cab. Sav.

• HQ production

Other white grapes

Chardonnay → in a range of styles depending on the site

Chenin Blanc

Sauvingon Blanc

Semillon

Provinces in Argentina

Salta (Cafayate dep)

La Rioja

San Juan

Mendoza (Maipù, Luyan de Cuyo)

Patagonia

Salta - topography, climate, grapes

• the highest vineyards in the world (3000 m)

• semi-desertic enviromment

• high diurnal range, cool night temperature

• the wine has great concentration and structure

Grapes

• Torrontes (Cafayate)

• Malbec

La Rioja - topography, climate, grapes

• valley floor → high volume inexpensive wines

• to the west → altitude → more elegant and structured

Grapes

• Bonarda

• Torrontes

San Juan - topography, climate, grapes

On altitude = 450-1400 m

Grape: HQ Syrah

Mendoza - topography, climate, grapes

North-East → valley = high volume, inexpensive wines

Central → Maipú, Luyan de Cuyo

South → cooler = hq fruit and wines

Central Mendoza - topography, climate, grapes

Maipù

• lower than Cuyo

• old vines of Bonarda and Tempranillo

Luyan de Cuyo

• 450-1500 m

• cooler

• Malbec

Patagonia - topography, climate, grapes

No altitude (200-250 m)

Cooling influences

• latitude

• winds from the desert

• high diurnal range - long sunshine hours, cool night temperatures

Grapes

• Cab Sav

• Malbec

• Chardonnay

Argentina Laws

GIs = 3 large regions

Regions are divided into provinces (Salta, La Rioja, Mendoza, …)

Provinces are divide into departments (Cafayate, Luyan de Cuyo)

Departments may be divided into districts