Argentine wine
Historically, Argentine winemakers were traditionally more interested in quantity than quality with the country consuming 90% of the wine it produces (45 liters per year or 12 U.S. gallons per year per capita according to 2006 figures). Until the early 1990s, Argentina produced more wine than any other country outside Europe, though the majority of it was considered unexportable.[3] However, the desire to increase exports fueled significant advances in quality. Argentine wines started being exported during the 1990s, and are currently growing in popularity, making it now the largest wine exporter in South America. The devaluation of the Argentine peso in 2002 further fueled the industry as production costs decreased and tourism significantly increased, giving way to a whole new concept of enotourism in Argentina.[citation needed]
The most important wine regions of the country are located in the
There are many different varieties of grapes cultivated in Argentina, reflecting the country's many immigrant groups. The
In November 2010, the Argentine government declared wine as Argentina's national liquor.[1]
History
The first recorded commercial vineyard was established at
As the early Argentine wine industry centralized in the western part of the country among the foothills of the mountains, the population centers of the country developed in the east. Transporting wine by means of a long wagon journey put a crimp in the growth of the wine industry that would not be eased till the 1885 completion of the
Economic troubles and growth of export industry
In the 20th century, the development and fortunes of the Argentine wine industry were deeply influenced by the economic influences of the country. In the 1920s, Argentina was the eighth richest nation in the world[citation needed] with the domestic market feeding[citation needed] a strong wine industry. The ensuing global Great Depression dramatically reduced vital export revenues and foreign investment and led to a decline in the wine industry.[citation needed]
There was a brief revival in the economy during the
In the 1980s there was a period of hyperinflation, running at up to 12,000% per year in 1989.[10] Foreign investment was mostly stagnant. Under the presidency of Carlos Menem, the country saw some economic stability. The favorable exchange rate on the Argentine peso during the convertibility period saw an influx of foreign investment. However this period also saw a dramatic drop in domestic consumption.[8]
Following the example of neighboring Chile, the Argentine wine industry started to more aggressively focus on the export market—particularly the lucrative British and American markets. The presence of
Climate and geography
The major wine regions of Argentina are located in the western part of the country among the foothills of the
Some regions have more
The northwestern wine regions are particularly prone to the effects of the
The Andes Mountains are the dominant geographical feature of Argentine wine regions, with the snow-capped mountains often serving as a backdrop view to the vineyards. As the winter snows start to melt in the spring, an intricate irrigation system of dams, canals and channels brings vital water supplies down to the wine regions to sustain viticulture in the dry, arid climates. Most of the wine regions are located within the foothills of the Andes and recent trends have seen a push to plant vineyards on higher elevations closer to the mountains.[6]
The climate in some of this regions can be more
Viticulture
The growing season in Argentina usually last from
Argentina is unique in the wine world for the absence of the phylloxera threat that has devastated vineyards across the globe. The phylloxera louse is present in Argentina but is a particular weak biotype that does not survive long in the soil. When it does attack vines, the damage is not significant enough to kill the vine and the roots eventually grow back.[2]
Because of this most of the vineyards in Argentina are planted on
Various methods of vine training were introduced in Argentina by European immigrants in the 19th and 20th century. The espaldera system combined the traditional method of using three wires to train the vines close to the ground. In the 1950s a new system known as parral cuyano was introduced where vines were trained high off the ground with the clusters allowed to hang down.[6] This style was conducive to the high yielding varieties of Criolla and Cereza that were the backbone of the bulk wine production industry that arose in response to the large domestic market. In the late 20th century, as the market turned to focus more on premium wine production, more producers switched back to the traditional espaldera system and began to practice canopy management in order to control yields.[8]
Irrigation
The intricate irrigation system used to bring water from melted snow caps in the Andes originated in the 16th century (with the Spanish settlers adopting techniques previously used by the
Historically, flood irrigation was the most common method used, whereby large amounts of water are allowed to run across flat vineyard lands. While this method may have been an unwittingly preventive measure against the advance of phylloxera, it does not provide much control for the vineyard manager to limit yields and increase potential quality in the wine grapes.
Wine regions
While there is some wine production in the provinces of
In the far northwestern corner of the country are the provinces of Catamarca,
Mendoza
Despite the total area planted declining from 629,850 to 360,972 acres (254,891 to 146,080 ha) between 1980 and 2003, Mendoza is still the leading producer of wine in Argentina.
The majority of the vineyards are found in the
Historically, the region has been dominated by production of wine from the high yielding, pink-skinned varieties of
High-altitude plantings
Argentina's most highly rated Malbec wines originate from Mendoza's high altitude wine regions of Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. These Districts are located in the foothills of the Andes mountains between 850 and 1,520 m (2,800 and 5,000 ft) elevation.[11][12][13][14]
Argentine vintner Nicolas Catena Zapata has been widely credited for elevating the status of Argentine Malbec and the Mendoza region through serious experimentation into the effects of high altitude.[15][16][17] In 1994, he was the first to plant a Malbec vineyard at almost 1,500 m (5,000 ft) elevation in the Gualtallary sub-district of Tupungato, the Adrianna Vineyard,[15][11] and to develop a clonal selection of Argentine Malbec.[18][19][20][15]
High altitude Mendoza has attracted many notable foreign winemakers such as Paul Hobbs, Michel Rolland, Roberto Cipresso and Alberto Antonini[11][12]
San Juan & La Rioja
After Mendoza, the San Juan region is the second largest producer of wine with over 47,000 ha (116,000 acres) planted as of 2003. The climate of this region is considerably hotter and drier than Mendoza with rainfall averaging 150 mm (6 in) a year and summer time temperatures regularly hitting 42 °C (108 °F). Premium wine production is centered on the
Recently, the higher-altitude vines planted in the Pedernal valley in Western San Juan, one of the most isolated regions in Argentina, have received significant acclaim for their potential to bring fame to the province's wine industry. The altitude here exceeds that of more southerly Uco Valley in Mendoza, leading to extremely dry conditions with high thermal amplitude and excellent results both for red and white wines.[21]
The La Rioja region was one of the first areas to be planted by Spanish missionaries and has the longest continued history of wine production in Argentina. Though a relatively small region, with only 8,100 ha (20,000 acres) planted as of 2003, the region is known for
Northwestern regions
The vineyards of the northwestern provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy and Salta are located between the
The soils and climate of the regions are very similar to Mendoza but the unique
Most of Cafayate region in Salta is located at 1,660 m (5,450 ft) above sea levels in the river delta between the
Patagonia
The southern Patagonia region includes the fruit producing regions of Río Negro and Neuquén. These have a considerably cooler climate than the major regions to the north, which provides a long, drawn-out growing season in the chalky soils of the area. In the early 20th century, Humberto Canale imported vine cuttings from Bordeaux and established the first commercial winery in the region.
The most significant vineyards are located in the Rio Negro Valley, where some of the most prominent Pinot Noir red wines in Argentina are made, and in the upper Neuquen Valley, especially around the town of San Patricio del Chanar. Additionally, there are promising vineyards located in the La Pampa Province near the Colorado river, near the city of 25 de Mayo. These regions have shorter summers with longer daylight hours, and significantly colder winters than the main wine areas further north. Besides Pinot Noir, the area is known for producing good Merlot wines as well as white wines (mostly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc). Recently, however, the area has gained traction because of its promising Cabernet Franc red wines, which have added to the diversity of Argentine wine with their hint of red fruit, elegant tannins and peppery taste. .[24]
Further south, the Province of Chubut is a mostly uncharted wine frontier. Traditionally considered too cold for plantings, there are micro-climates (e.g. the irrigated Chubut Valley area near the Atlantic coast, the Trevelin Valley where Pacific winds moderate the climate, and some steppe regions) which are promising for winemaking. Production started in the late 2000s, with a new Wine Route established in 2017. The main plantings have been, so far, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Merlot, Riesling and Pinot Gris.[25]
New developments
Argentine winemakers have long held the belief that vines required hot and arid climates with large temperature variations to produce quality wines. This 'winning formula' led to a concentration of wineries in Mendoza, San Juan and La Rioja provinces in the west, as well as higher-altitude vineyards in Salta. More recently, there has been a shift towards slightly cooler and equally arid climates further south, in Neuquen and Rio Negro. Wineries there still benefit from windy and arid conditions, but with cooler temperatures and a shorter growing season.[citation needed]
However, in the last decade, the potential for 'non-traditional' (or re-discovered) regions has become apparent, concentrated in several areas: (1) the Atlantic coast from
The climate in Mar del Plata and along the coast of Buenos Aires Province display the same temperature range as Bordeaux with similar (high) precipitation. Further inland, summers gain a few degrees while winter nights become somewhat colder in the flat southern Pampas. Adding to the variety of climates and soils in the area, there are low mountain areas (generally below 1,000 metres or 3,000 ft.), valleys and rivers. Major wineries (like Trapiche) have made investments in the area and production is likely to increase significantly, but most of the potential in this vast area is untapped. As the coast continues south, the weather becomes drier and windier, with (counter-intuitively) hotter summers. South of the city of
Climate chart for Mar del Plata:
Climate data for Mar del Plata (1961–1990, extremes 1931–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 41.6 (106.9) |
38.2 (100.8) |
36.3 (97.3) |
33.0 (91.4) |
28.5 (83.3) |
25.5 (77.9) |
27.7 (81.9) |
29.9 (85.8) |
30.1 (86.2) |
34.4 (93.9) |
35.7 (96.3) |
39.4 (102.9) |
41.6 (106.9) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.3 (79.3) |
25.8 (78.4) |
23.7 (74.7) |
20.5 (68.9) |
16.8 (62.2) |
13.8 (56.8) |
13.1 (55.6) |
14.4 (57.9) |
16.0 (60.8) |
18.5 (65.3) |
21.7 (71.1) |
24.4 (75.9) |
19.6 (67.3) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 20.3 (68.5) |
19.9 (67.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
14.6 (58.3) |
11.3 (52.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
8.1 (46.6) |
8.9 (48.0) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13.1 (55.6) |
15.9 (60.6) |
18.5 (65.3) |
14.0 (57.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) |
14.1 (57.4) |
12.5 (54.5) |
9.1 (48.4) |
6.4 (43.5) |
4.1 (39.4) |
3.8 (38.8) |
4.0 (39.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
7.6 (45.7) |
10.1 (50.2) |
12.7 (54.9) |
8.7 (47.7) |
Record low °C (°F) | 3.0 (37.4) |
1.2 (34.2) |
0.2 (32.4) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
−9.3 (15.3) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
−9.3 (15.3) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 100.1 (3.94) |
72.8 (2.87) |
107.0 (4.21) |
73.3 (2.89) |
73.5 (2.89) |
54.9 (2.16) |
58.9 (2.32) |
64.0 (2.52) |
56.4 (2.22) |
83.4 (3.28) |
75.3 (2.96) |
104.0 (4.09) |
923.6 (36.36) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 107 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
76 | 77 | 79 | 81 | 83 | 84 | 81 | 81 | 80 | 80 | 77 | 76 | 80 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 288.3 | 234.5 | 232.5 | 195.0 | 167.4 | 120.0 | 127.1 | 164.3 | 174.0 | 210.8 | 222.0 | 269.7 | 2,405.6 |
Percent possible sunshine | 63 | 60 | 54 | 58 | 51 | 41 | 42 | 46 | 47 | 51 | 52 | 59 | 52 |
Source 1: NOAA,[26] Meteo Climat (record highs and lows), Oficina de Riesgo Agropecuario (June record low only) | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (precipitation days),[27] UNLP (sun only)[28] |
Climate of Bordeaux (for comparison - note the reverted seasons)
Climate data for Bordeaux-Mérignac (1981–2010 averages) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 20.2 (68.4) |
26.2 (79.2) |
27.7 (81.9) |
31.1 (88.0) |
35.4 (95.7) |
39.2 (102.6) |
38.8 (101.8) |
40.7 (105.3) |
37.0 (98.6) |
32.2 (90.0) |
26.7 (80.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
40.7 (105.3) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 10.1 (50.2) |
11.7 (53.1) |
15.1 (59.2) |
17.3 (63.1) |
21.2 (70.2) |
24.5 (76.1) |
26.9 (80.4) |
27.1 (80.8) |
24.0 (75.2) |
19.4 (66.9) |
13.7 (56.7) |
10.5 (50.9) |
18.5 (65.3) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.6 (43.9) |
7.5 (45.5) |
10.3 (50.5) |
12.4 (54.3) |
16.1 (61.0) |
19.3 (66.7) |
21.4 (70.5) |
21.4 (70.5) |
18.5 (65.3) |
14.9 (58.8) |
9.9 (49.8) |
7.2 (45.0) |
13.8 (56.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.1 (37.6) |
3.3 (37.9) |
5.4 (41.7) |
7.4 (45.3) |
11.0 (51.8) |
14.1 (57.4) |
15.8 (60.4) |
15.7 (60.3) |
12.9 (55.2) |
10.4 (50.7) |
6.1 (43.0) |
3.8 (38.8) |
9.1 (48.4) |
Record low °C (°F) | −16.4 (2.5) |
−15.2 (4.6) |
−9.9 (14.2) |
−5.3 (22.5) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
2.5 (36.5) |
4.8 (40.6) |
1.5 (34.7) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
−5.3 (22.5) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
−13.4 (7.9) |
−16.4 (2.5) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 87.3 (3.44) |
71.7 (2.82) |
65.3 (2.57) |
78.2 (3.08) |
80.0 (3.15) |
62.2 (2.45) |
49.9 (1.96) |
56.0 (2.20) |
84.3 (3.32) |
93.3 (3.67) |
110.2 (4.34) |
105.7 (4.16) |
944.1 (37.17) |
Average precipitation days | 12.2 | 10.1 | 11.0 | 11.9 | 10.9 | 8.3 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 9.2 | 11.0 | 12.6 | 12.4 | 124.3 |
Average snowy days | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 3.9 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
88 | 84 | 78 | 76 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 76 | 79 | 85 | 87 | 88 | 80.8 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 96.0 | 114.9 | 169.7 | 182.1 | 217.4 | 238.7 | 248.5 | 242.3 | 202.7 | 147.2 | 94.4 | 81.8 | 2,035.4 |
Source 1: Météo France[29][30] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity and snowy days, 1961–1990)[31] |
Another promising region are the
The Province of Entre Ríos has a warm, humid climate similar to neighboring Uruguay, where tannat wines are produced. Until the 1930s there were over 60 wineries in the Province, producing more wine than Mendoza and San Juan; these were however forbidden by law in an effort to ensure the settlement of Western Argentina. In recent years, over 60 producers have started replanting wines.[34]
Finally, the steppes of Central Patagonia in Chubut have the southernmost wines in the world. The climate here is markedly colder than any other region, with a threat of summer frost. Much longer summer days with very cold nights and a short growing season have the potential to produce wines that are markedly different from any other wines in Argentina.[35]
Grape varieties and wines
Under Argentine wine laws, if a grape name appears on the
These varieties are often used today for bulk jug wine sold in 1 liter cardboard cartons or as grape concentrate which is exported worldwide with Japan being a considerably large market. In the late 20th century, as the Argentine wine industry shifted it focus on premium wine production capable for export, Malbec arose to greater prominence and is today the most widely planted red grape variety followed by Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tempranillo. The influence of Italian immigrants has brought a variety of Italian varietals with sizable plantings throughout Argentina-including Barbera, Dolcetto, Freisa, Lambrusco, Nebbiolo, Raboso and Sangiovese.[8]
While the historic birthplace of Malbec is
The
Torrontés produces some of the most distinctive white wines in Argentina, characterized by floral
Modern wine industry
By the turn of the 21st century there were over 1,500 wineries in Argentina. The two largest companies are Bodegas Esmeralda (which owns the widely exported brand Alamos) and Peñaflor (which owns another widely exported brand Bodegas Trapiche). Between the two of them, these companies are responsible for nearly 40% of all the wine made in Argentina. The Argentine wine industry is fifth worldwide in production and eighth in wine consumption.[4]
The continued trend of the industry is to increase quality and control yields. Between the mid-1990s and early 21st century, Argentina had ripped up nearly a third of its vineyards but reduced yearly production only by 10%. This meant there was an increase in yields from 66 hl/ha to 88 hl/ha.[23]
See also
- Foreign trade of Argentina
- Sir Edmund James Palmer Norton
- Agriculture in Argentina
- Winemaking
References
- ^ a b Ley No. 26870 – Declárase al Vino Argentino como bebida nacional, 2 de agosto de 2013, B.O., (32693), 1 (in Spanish)
- ^ ISBN 1-84000-332-4.
- ^ Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (July 13, 2007). "Chile v Argentina - an old rivalry". Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (September 9, 2008). "Argentina". Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ ISBN 978-3-8331-4611-4.
- ^ "The History of Wine in Argentina". Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
- ^ ISBN 0-19-860990-6.
- ISBN 0-671-68702-6.
- ^ New York Times: THE WORLD; For Argentina, Inflation and Rage Rise in Tandem, 4 June 1989
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8118-7330-7.
- ^ ISBN 978-987-20926-3-4.
- ^ Wine Tip: Malbec Madness, "Wine Spectator", April 12, 2010.
- ^ Tim Atkin: Uco Valley Archived 2018-07-15 at the Wayback Machine, "Tim Atkin: Uco Valley ".
- ^ a b c Julio Elías, Gustavo Ferro, and Alvaro Garcia, 2019."A Quest for Quality: Creativity and Innovation in the Wine Industry of Argentina" Asociación Argentina de Economía Política: Working Papers 4135.
- ^ Pierre-Antoine Rovani's Wine Personalities of the Year Archived 2012-03-13 at the Wayback Machine, Robert Parker Jr.’s The Wine Advocate Issue 156 - December 2004, August 27, 2009.
- ^ The Might of Mendoza: the romantic tale behind Argentina's booming malbec grape, The Independent UK, June 2014.
- ^ Catena malbec 'Clone 17', PatentStorm.us, August 27, 2009. Archived October 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Nicolás Catena Such Great Heights, Gismondi, Anthony Montecristo Magazine, November 7, 2014.
- ^ Four Magazine Archived 2016-12-27 at the Wayback Machine, Wine Spectator, 2012.
- ^ Wines of Argentina, Pedernal. URL: http://blog.winesofargentina.com/es/pedernal-valley-the-extreme-wines-of-san-juan/
- ^ Bodega Colomé - Historia. Archived 2021-03-03 at the Wayback Machine bodegacolome.com. Retrieved 7 March 2021
- ^ ISBN 0-7566-1324-8.
- ^ Wines of Argentina. URL: http://www.winesofargentina.org/argentina/regiones/patagonia/
- ^ La Ruta del Vino en Chubut. URL: http://www.infobae.com/turismo/2017/03/17/la-ruta-del-vino-en-chubut-un-viaje-para-potenciar-todos-los-sentidos/
- ^ "Mar del Plata AERO Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ "Valores Medios de Temperature y Precipitación-Buenos Aires: Mar del Plata" (in Spanish). Servicio Meteorológico Nacional. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ "Datos bioclimáticos de 173 localidades argentinas". Atlas Bioclimáticos (in Spanish). Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
- ^ "Données climatiques de la station de Bordeaux" (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
- ^ "Climat Aquitaine" (in French). Meteo France. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
- ^ "Normes et records 1961-1990: Bordeaux-Merignac (33) - altitude 47m" (in French). Infoclimat. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
- ^ Mariano Braga Wine Strategist | URL: http://www.marianobraga.com/blog/cordoba-vino-argentina-traslasierra/.
- ^ Prensa de la Provincia de Cordoba | URL: http://prensa.cba.gov.ar/campo/vino-cordobes-gano-premio-internacional/ Archived 2019-12-06 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Manera, Marcelo (5 August 2016). "Entre Ríos, una zona que vuelve a apostar por el vino" [Between rivers, a zone that bets on the return of wine]. La Nacion: Vino del Parana (in Spanish). Grupo de Diarios América. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ Gualjaina elaborara vinos de calidad, Diario La Jornada, URL: http://www.diariojornada.com.ar/182759/sociedad/gualjaina_bodega_elaborara_vinos_de_calidad/.
- ISBN 978-1454930464.