Wines of Argentina
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Argentina is arguably the most exciting wine producing country in the world. It is an enormous country, stretching from rainforest to frozen wastes.
Argentina's vineyards were originally established by Spanish monks when they arrived in the 1500's. The primary wine production area is in the Mendoza Valley which is located on the eastern side of the Andes mountain range. The vineyards are at higher altitudes than most other growing regions (ranging from 1500 to over 5000 feet). They receive virtually no rainfall and as a result, the vineyards are irrigated.
Wine consumption in Argentina is very high and rivals that of European countries. Most of the wine produced has been for local consumption and has been of mediocre quality.
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Argentina did not have high enough wines of high quality to attract the export market. That changed at the end of the 1990's as international companies began investing heavily in the region. They recognized the opportunity to produce higher quality wines at attractive prices. Argentina ranks fifth in the world (and first in South America) in total wine production but since less than 10% of its wines are exported, much of the world never tastes them.
A relative newcomer to the international wine market, Argentina only started exporting wine in any volume in the early 1990s. Already it has the makings of a great wine nation, even producing a flagship variety all of its own in Malbec, which makes better wine in Argentina than anywhere else.
Yet although its exports have more or less kept pace with the expanding UK wine market, it has failed to grow market share, and its wines have not yet moved beyond a niche market. |
Wine Regions of Argentina
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In the Province of Salta, wine-production goes back to the Spanish conquest. The center of this industry is located in one area known as Valles Calchaquíes. The region includes several terroirs which are differentiated by their altitude, which ranges from 1,700 meters in Cafayate, to 2,000 meters in Yacochuya and Comarca de la Viña, to 2,400 meters in Colomé.
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This area contains more that 1,700 hectares of vineyards. However, its importance not only lies in its wines, but also in the overwhelming beauty of the surrounding landscape that captivates the attention of first-time visitors.
Salta offers an interesting range of wines, among which the fragrant Torrontés whites (the most typical variety in the region) stand out. The superlative ecological conditions prevailing here facilitate the production of formidable deep-colored, full-bodies red wines based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Other varieties cultivated in this area are Chardonnay, Chenin, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Syrah. A curious fact about the region is the presence of Tannat in Cafayate´s vineyards. This grape can be found intermingled with rows of Malbec, although sometimes it is alone and can be clearly identified, which enables the production of dark, powerful varietals.
We consider that one of the most interesting growers of this region is Michel Torino.
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The assertion that Mendoza is the most important wine-producing province in Argentina is almost a cliché. But it is almost impossible not to make such statements, as this province produces more than 80% of Argentina’s wine from its 150,000 vine-planted hectares. Mendoza’s wine industry increasingly focuses on quality, and on finding the optimum relations between different varieties and terroirs. Mendozan diversity is doubtlessly enviable in this respect.
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Mendoza’s wine geography can be divided into three major oases. One of these oases is in the North of the province, on the basin of the Mendoza and Tunuyán rivers; the other oasis is in the Center of the province, and the third oasis in the South, irrigated by the Diamante and Atuel Rivers. However, by carefully studying the territory, one can discover multiple peculiarities within terroirs that are highly different from one another. Each terroir has its own particular location, altitude and soil composition.
Therefore, we can identify the three following regions:
1. NOTHERN REGION: includes the Deparments of Las Heras, Lavalle, Guaymallén, San Martín, Rivadavia, Santa Rosa, La Paz, Luján de Cuyo and Maipú.
2. CENTRAL REGION: includes the Departments of Tupungato, Tunuyán and San Carlos.
3. SOUTHERN REGION: includes the Departments of San Rafael and General Alvear.
Each region, in turn, contains areas that have their own particular ecological features, which give specific traits to the wines produced.
We consider that two of the most interesting estates are those The Zuccardi Family.
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Although this province has a few isolated areas where wine production is relatively important, it is the Famatina Valley where La Rioja’s wines have acquired their greatest popularity. This “oasis” takes in the departments of Chilecito, Famatina, and San Blas de los Sauces, and each department in turn includes specific localities that are intrinsically important in wine production terms, like Vichigasta, Nonogasta, Colonia Mallingasta and Anguinán.
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The valley is flanked by the Del Velazco and Famatina ranges. Like the rest of Argentina’s wine-producing regions, the climate is dry (the average annual rainfall is 150 mm) and relatively windy. The region has alluvial soils which are typical of ancient valleys. The altitudes in this territory are relatively high: between 800 and 1,400 meters above sea level.
This province has produced wines since the Sixteenth Century, and numerous historical records detail this production. Today, the area devoted to vineyards exceeds 7,000 hectares; an increasing proportion of this area is devoted to the plantation of fine varieties of high enological quality. |
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 Grape verieties of Argentina
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Argentinean Chardonnay, Argentinean Aglianico,
Argentinean Aligote,
Argentinean Barbera,
Argentinean Cabernet Franc,
Argentinean Cabernet Sauvignon,
Argentinean Chardonnay,
Argentinean Chenin Blanc,
Argentinean Gamay,
Argentinean Gewurztraminer,
Argentinean Grenache Noir,
Argentinean Malbec,
Argentinean Merlot,
Argentinean Mourvedre,
Argentinean Muscat,
Argentinean Nebbiolo,
Argentinean Pinot Gris,
Argentinean Pinot Noir,
Argentinean Riesling,
Argentinean Sangiovese,
Argentinean Sauvignon Blanc,
Argentinean Semillon,
Argentinean Syrah / Shiraz,
Argentinean Tempranillo,
Argentinean Touriga Nacional,
Argentinean Vernaccia,
Argentinean Viognier,
Argentinean Zinfandel,
Argentinean Refosco,
Argentinean Prosecco,
Argentinean Cortese,
Argentinean Trebbiano,
Argentinean Brunello,
Argentinean Albana,
Argentinean Pinot Blanc,
Argentinean Canaiolo,
Argentinean Colorino,
Argentinean Montepulciano,
Argentinean Malvasia,
Argentinean Passarina,
Argentinean Garganege,
Argentinean Greco,
Argentinean Negroamaro,
Argentinean Grecanico,
Argentinean Inzolia,
Argentinean Nerello Mascalese,
Argentinean Nerello Cappuccio,
Argentinean Calabrese,
Argentinean Nero d'Avola,
Argentinean Moscato Bianco,
Argentinean Moscato Rosa,
Argentinean Moscatto di Canelli,
Argentinean Grillo,
Argentinean Cataratto,
Argentinean Vermontino di Gallura,
Argentinean Cannonau (Granacha/Grenache),
Argentinean Pascale,
Argentinean Malaga,
Argentinean Monica,
Argentinean Carignan(o),
Argentinean Cagnulari,
Argentinean Viura,
Argentinean Mazuelo,
Argentinean Torrontes,
Argentinean Pinotage,
Argentinean Colombard,
Argentinean Tinto Roriz,
Argentinean Tinta Cao,
Argentinean Tinta Amarela,
Argentinean Bastardo,
Argentinean Vidal,
Argentinean Pedro Jimenez (PX),
Argentinean Tintorella,
Argentinean Carmenere,
Argentinean Bonarda,
Argentinean Grenache Blanc,
Argentinean Len de L'el,
Argentinean Muscadelle,
Argentinean Petit Verdot,
Argentinean Torrontes,
Argentinean Maccabeo,
Argentinean Airon,
Argentinean Malvar,
Argentinean Roussanne,
Argentinean Marsanne,
Argentinean Musdet,
Argentinean Grolleau,
Argentinean Pineau d'Anuis,
Argentinean Cinsault,
Argentinean Petite Syrah,
Argentinean Counoise,
Argentinean Pinot Meunier,
Argentinean Arbane,
Argentinean Petit Meslier,
Argentinean Corvina,
Argentinean Rondinella,
Argentinean Molinara,
Argentinean Corvinone,
Argentinean Albarino,
Argentinean Furmint,
Argentinean Primitivo,
Argentinean Falanghina,
Argentinean Xarello,
Argentinean Parellada,
Argentinean Muller-Thurlgrau,
Argentinean Silvaner,
Argentinean Kerner,
Argentinean Verdejo,
Argentinean Prugnolo Gentile,
Argentinean Verdicchio,
Argentinean Canaiolo Nero,
Argentinean Mammolino,
Argentinean Ugni,
Argentinian Chenin blanc, |
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