Argentina

Question 1

How long is Argentina’s growing region for grapes?

Answer 1

Over 1,500km/870 miles

Question 2

What are the two most important factors for growing grapes in Argentina?

Answer 2

The combined factors of Altitude and Latitude

Question 3

How large is the diurnal shift in some regions of Argentina?

Answer 3

20°C/36°F

Question 4

What is the climate of Argentina?

Answer 4

Continental

Question 5

What mountain range causes the rain shadow that covers most of Argentina?

Answer 5

The Andes

Question 6

What is one of the benefits of the rain shadow?

Answer 6

Disease pressure drops

Question 7

What is one of the necessities for viticulture in Argentina due to the rain shadow?

Answer 7

Irrigation

Question 8

Describe what the Zonda is

Answer 8

The Zonda is a fierce wind that comes down the Andes. It usually occurs during the late spring and early summer

Question 9

Is the Zonda always a good thing?

Answer 9

No, it can cause water stress in the vine, and if it is strong enough, the Zonda can even affect flowering and fruit set.

Question 10

What is a major concern for growers in Argentina during the summer months?

Answer 10

Hail, which has significantly affected yields in some years

Question 11

What are some of the ways growers and producers can mitigate the threat of Hail?

Answer 11

• By using netting on their vineyards, with some only using the nets on their most prized sites
• Owning different parcels of land through out the region

Question 12

What is another concern for growers/producers in Mendoza?

Answer 12

Frost, usually at the flatter areas or the bottom of the slopes

Question 13

How can the El Niño phenomenon affect Argentina?

Answer 13

It can bring higher than average rainfall to the region, and with it more hail.

In 2016 there was a 25% drop across the country, and 40% in Mendoza due to El Niño

Question 14

How often can the El Niño phenomenon occur?

Answer 14

Every two to ten years

Question 15

What are the main soil type in Argentina

Answer 15

• Alluvial soils; however the textures of the soils will vary

Question 16

What are some of the different textures/compositions of the alluvial soils found in Argentina

Answer 16

• Larger stones with calcareous deposits dominate the higher altitudes
• The middle areas are usually dominated by sand, gravel and silt
• The lower areas generally are loamy clay soils that are rich in nutrients

Question 17

What regions have been identified with having deposits of calcareous soils, that some believe will become sources of high quality wines?

Answer 17

• Gualtallary and Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley

- Pedernal Valley in San Juan

Question 18

What triggered the vine pull scheme that was carried out in Argentina, and what was an unintended consequence of that vine pull scheme?

Answer 18

• It was triggered by the rapid fall in demand for domestic wines
• The unintended consequence was that thousands of acres of Malbec vines were ripped out before its potential was recognized

Question 19

30% of the vineyards in Argentina have a vine age of____ years old

Answer 19

40+ years old

Question 20

What kind of water does the Mendoza River, and its tributaries, deliver to the country? How is it delivered to the country?

Answer 20

Pure snowmelt and glacier water from the Andes, which is collected by a series of dams and irrigation channels that date back to the 16th century

Question 21

What is the most commonly used method of irrigation in Argentina?

Answer 21

Flood Irrigation, with over 70% of the vineyards using it

• Furrow being the local flood irrigation

Question 22

Are new vineyard plantings in Argentina being set up for flood irrigation or drip Irrigation? Why?

Answer 22

• Drip Irrigation, this is due to it being cheaper to install (not needing to level the whole vineyard), and it being more sustainable to get the water from bur-holes if there is not a nearby source of water
• Drip irrigation also has the benefits of being more efficient and can be used with greater control

Question 23

When is it more important to give the vines a lot of water versus giving the vines small amounts of water?

Answer 23

• Most producers and growers will give a lot of water during the winter to replicate winter rains, and then low amounts during the summer.

Question 24

What was the traditional way that grapes were trained to grow in Argentina

Answer 24

• Grapes in Argentina used to be trained using the pergola (locally called Parral) system to train the vines away from the heat of the ground and offer some shade

Question 25

Is the Pergola system still used to day? If so, what varieties use it?

Answer 25

It is still used today for some of the warmer areas, and some of the more high vigor and high yielding grapes varieties. - Torrontes - Criolla Chica - Criolla Grande - Cereza - Pedro Giménez

Question 26

Did phylloxera devastate Argentina like it has most of the wine world?

Answer 26

Actually, no. There are many theories as to why this is (sandy soils, arid climate), but it has not.

Question 27

Since phylloxera didn't destroy most of the vines in Argentina, they are still predominately own rooted. Why are some producers choosing to graft vines?

Answer 27

Some producers are changing to grafted vines because they offer better drought protection, and there is an increasing nematode threat

Question 28

How are the grapes harvested?

Answer 28

Traditionally they were harvested by hand, but now due to an increase in the cost of living in Argentina not many workers are willing to take on such low paying work. Which means that many producers are switching to mechanical harvesting

Question 29

Was Argentina always known for producing Malbec?

Answer 29

No. Prior to the late 1980's, Argentina was primarily producing wines from Cereza, Criolla Chica and Criolla Grande.

Question 30

What is the second most planted grape in Argentina?

Answer 30

Bonarda

Question 31

How does Argentina's wine law work?

Answer 31

It is split into 3 main categories: - IP (Indicación de Procedencia): These can cover large geographical areas, though not the country as a whole - IG (or GI, Indicación Geográfica) for wines that meet a certain quality made from a specific geographical area - DOC for wines from a specific geographical area with legislated winemaking criteria – so far, only two have been created: Luján de Cuyo and San Rafael

Question 32

What percentage of plantings are located in Mendoza, and how much of Argentina's total production comes from Mendoza?

Answer 32

- 75% of the plantings | - 2/3s of the total production

Question 33

What is the range of elevation for plantings in Mendoza

Answer 33

500-1500 meters above sea level

Question 34

Name the 5 different divisions of Mendoza

Answer 34

- Northern - Southern - Eastern - Central - Valley de Uco

Question 35

Name the river that runs through northern Mendoza

Answer 35

Mendoza River

Question 36

Name the river that runs through eastern Mendoza

Answer 36

Tunuyán River

Question 37

Do Northern and Eastern Mendoza sit on the foothills of the Alps or the plains?

Answer 37

The plains

Question 38

What is the other name for central Mendoza?

Answer 38

Primera Zona because it has the longest history of high quality winemaking in Mendoza

Question 39

What are the main Black grape varieties grown in Mendoza?

Answer 39

- Malbec - Cabernet Sauvignon - Syrah - Tempranillo

Question 40

What are the two highest quality departments found in Central Mendoza

Answer 40

- Lujan de Cuyo | - Maipu

Question 41

What was the first DOC created in Argentina

Answer 41

DOC Lujan de Cuyo

Question 42

What are the three departments that make up the Uco Valley GI?

Answer 42

- Tupungato - Tunuyan - San Carlos

Question 43

What is the second most planted region in Argentina?

Answer 43

San Juan

Question 44

Where does Argentina rank in terms of production world wide?

Answer 44

5th

Question 45

What are the main export countries for Argentinian wines?

Answer 45

- USA - UK - Spain - Canada - Brazil