Wset Level 3 - Chapter 37 Argentina

Front 1

What cuts off Argentina from the influences of the Pacific Ocean?

Back 1

the Andes

Front 2

By what are defined Argentina's wine regions?

Back 2

By their altitude.

Front 3

which varieties are Argentina's signature wines?

Back 3

Malbec and Torrontes

Front 4

Where lie most of the vineyards?

Back 4

Close to the Andes, in a series of irrigated oases.

They are spread over more than 1500 km from the province of Salta in the north to Rio Negro and Neuquen in Patagonia.

Front 5

At what altitude lie most of the vineyards?

Back 5

600 meters or more (with exception of Rio Negro and Nequen)

Front 6

and in Salta, close to the town of Cafayate?

Back 6

extends to 2000 meters or more which allows suitable cool sites to be found close to the Equator.

Front 7

Which planting system was historically used?

Back 7

Pergola system, locally known as parral

Front 8

how does it work?

Back 8

lift the grapes away from the searing heat close to the ground, and, with grapes hanging down below the leaf canopy, also provided some shade from the intense sunshine.

Front 9

for which grape parral is still commonly used?

Back 9

Torrontes

Front 10

which system is applied for black varieties?

Back 10

Vertical trellises - the canopies still need to be arranged to give shade for the grapes

Front 11

Is the rainfall high?

Back 11

No, extremely low but water can be drawn from rivers flowing down from the mountains or subterranean aquifers.

Front 12

What kind of irrigation is used?

Back 12

Flood irrigation was widespread but drip begins more common.

Front 13

What areArgentinian's hazards?

Back 13

Spring frost - occasional

summer hail - regular (particularly in Mendoza)

rot or mildew - rare (climate is dry)

Front 14

what is used to protect vines from hail?

Back 14

Netting (its expensive)

Front 15

What is the traditional method of risk management?

Back 15

To own vineyards in several different areas (also advantage at the stage of blending)

Front 16

Is Argentina an important producer of wines made from organically grown grapes? T/F?

Back 16

True

Front 17

Malbec characteristic

Back 17

tend to produce deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with notes of black fruit and high levels of smooth tannins.

Front 18

what gives gentler extraction?

Back 18

more elegant style

Front 19

how are matured most of high-quality Malbecs?

Back 19

In new oak, lending subtle spicy flavors

Front 20

style of Malbec grown at lower altitudes

Back 20

fuller-bodied with richer black fruit

Front 21

style of Malbec grown at higher altitude

Back 21

more elegant, displaying fresher, more floral aromas

Front 22

Is Malbec blended

Back 22

Mostly is produced as varietal wine but can be blended with Cab Sauv., Merlot,

Front 23

Which is the second most planted variety in Argentina?

Back 23

Bonarda

Front 24

Bonarda's characteristic

Back 24

late ripening, deeply coloured with high acidity and tannins

Front 25

Style of Bonarda when grown at high yields

Back 25

easy-drinking, medium to deep colour, fruity raspberry and blackberry

Front 26

Style of Bonarda when yields are controlled and the fruit is allowed to ripen fully

Back 26

great concentration and structure

Front 27

Where is it mainly grown?

Back 27

In Mendoza and San Juan

Front 28

What are other varieties also planted?

Back 28

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah - large volume

Tempranillo, Pinot Noir - smaller volume

Front 29

Premium reds tend to . . .

Back 29

to show concentrated ripe fruit, usually with toasty notes from oak

Front 30

Where is Torrontes widely planted?

Back 30

In Salta, La rioja, San Juan and Mendoza

Front 31

From where comes many of the best examples?

Back 31

From high-altitude vineyards in the Cafayate Region of Salta Province.

Front 32

Torrontes style

Back 32

intense fruity, floral perfume

stone fruits and melon

medium body and acidity

Front 33

How is it usually fermented?

Back 33

in inert, temperature-controlled vessels

(because of its aromatic nature)

Front 34

When is usually Torrontes released from the winery?

Back 34

In the year of harvest

Front 35

What are the other white varieties of Argentina?

Back 35

Chardonnay - the range of styles. Premium wines tend to be matured in oak (also new)

Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Viognier

Front 36

What for Pedro Gimenez is used?

Back 36

This traditional low-quality variety is used in cheap wines for the domestic market. Although in decline, it remains the white variety with the largest plantings.

Front 37

Which of three wine regions is the most popular

Back 37

Patagonia

Front 38

Regions are splited into . . .

Back 38

provinces

Front 39

and provinces

Back 39

into departments

Front 40

Where is Salta province?

Back 40

Close to the border of Bolivia - the most northerly region

Front 41

At what height are located some of the vineyards?

Back 41

3000 metres

Front 42

what gives for the grapes extreme climate here?

Back 42

great purity and concentration

Front 43

Which grape is dominant?

Back 43

Torrontes, producing highly aromatic wines, especially in the Cafayate region

Front 44

What are the dominant black varieties of Cafayate?

Back 44

Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon

Front 45

Which of the provinces has the third largest area of production?

Back 45

La Rioja

Front 46

Which is the main area of La Rioja?

Back 46

Famatina Valley - large volumes of grapes can be grown on the irrigated valley floors.

Front 47

What is a speciality of this province?

Back 47

Torrontes

than

Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, and Syrah

Front 48

How are labeled these wines?

Back 48

Famatina

Front 49

What is the second most important province?

Back 49

San Juan Province

Front 50

altitude of its vineyards

Back 50

450 to 1400 meters (similar to more arid and hotter Mendoza)

Front 51

San Juan grapes

Back 51

SYRAH

than

Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda

Chardonnay and Viognier

Front 52

Which province dominates winemaking?

Back 52

Mendoza

Front 53

In what conditions are planted its vineyards?

Back 53

In dessert conditions, protected from rain by Andes (west) and the vastness of Argentine Pampas (east)

Front 54

Name 5 divisions of Mendoza

Back 54

Northern,

Eastern,

Central,

Uco Valley

Southern

the grapes of these different divisions are often blended.

Front 55

What is the focus both in Northern and Eastern Mendoza?

Back 55

The focus is on high-volume, inexpensive wine.

Front 56

What provides Mendoza River?

Back 56

Irrigation water, making growing large quantities of grapes possible

Front 57

Which part of Mendoza has the largest wine producing history?

Back 57

Central - some if the most famous producers are based there.

Front 58

Name two departments of Central Mendoza

Back 58

Lujan de Cuyo

The Maipu

Front 59

What for Lujan de Cuyo is renowned?

Back 59

Very fine Malbec

Notable for its old Malbec vines, which provide much of the soft, round and sweet spice in Malbec blends.

Front 60

what is its altitude?

Back 60

900-1100 metres in the foothills of the Andes, south-east of Mendoza city

Front 61

Where lies The Maipu?

Back 61

To the east of Lujan de Cuyo, has lower altitudes

Front 62

Which grapes perform particularly well here?

Back 62

Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon

Front 63

What provides eastern, lower part of Maipu?

Back 63

much of the high volume, inexpensive wines (both domestic and export)

is also a valuable source of Bonarda and Tempranillo

Front 64

Where lies The Uco Valley?

Back 64

To the south-west of Mendoza and is source of high-quality grapes

Front 65

The Uco Valley altitude

Back 65

900-1500 metres (the highest in Mendoza)

Front 66

How help cool temperatures during the night?

Back 66

Retain acidity and fresh fruit flavour in the grapes.

The wines sometimes display floral notes.

Front 67

Which grapes are grown there?

Back 67

Chardonnay, Torrontes, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Tempranillo.

Some places are cool enough to grow Pinot Noir

Front 68

Which department includes The Uco Valley?

Back 68

Tupungato to the west, a high altitude area recognised for high-quality wines.

Front 69

Which department is in South Mendoza?

Back 69

San Rafael

Front 70

san Rafael altitude

Back 70

compared with other parts of Mendoza has low altitude

Front 71

climate

Back 71

on of the coolest areas in the province because of its southerly location

Front 72

Which grapes are significantly grown there?

Back 72

Chenin Blanc

Front 73

Name 2 provinces of Patagonia.

Back 73

Rio Negro and Neuquen

Front 74

what is the cooling influence?

Back 74

latitude, the plantings are only on 200-250 metres altitude.

Front 75

What provides a challenge for grape growers?

Back 75

Strong desert winds

Front 76

From what grapes benefit?

Back 76

Low rainfall and wide diurnal range - vines benefit from a low incidence of disease.

Long daylight hours and cool nights provide wines with concentrated but fresh fruit flavour and medium to high acidity.

Front 77

what other grapes are capable of making premium wines in the Rio Negro?

Back 77

Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Malbec and Merlot

Front 78

what about Neuquen?

Back 78

Its potential is still being explored