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5 Cards in this Set
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Uco Valley |
MENDOZA Located at a latitude of 33°S, the area's elevated vineyard sites benefit from high daytime temperatures which drop to cool at night. This allows the grapes to produce balanced sugars and acidity while achievingphenolic ripeness. Some of Mendoza's finest white wines made from Chardonnay andTorrontes come from Uco Valley vineyards, as the relatively cool climate allows the requisite slower ripening period. Soils throughout the Uco Valley are alluvial and fairly uniform: a clay and rock base with a stony, sandy surface. These free-draining soils are excellent for quality viticulture as they stress the vines, leading to decreased vigor and lower yields, and consequently wines with a higher concentration of flavor. |
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San Rafael |
MENDOZA
CH Despite its distance from the Andes in the west, San Rafael is still located within the mountain range's considerable rain shadow and has a semi-arid climate as a consequence. This is advantageous for grape growers as the rivers provide plentiful snow-melt water for irrigation, which can be carefully controlled to limit the growth and vigor of the vine. The sandy, alluvial soils help in this regard as well; they are reasonably free-draining and cause the vines to develop deep root systems to reach water in the ground. This leads to grapes with a higher concentration of sugars and tannins, and the wines produced from these berries are rich and complex, with an excellent balance of flavor. Alt has less of an effect here as the rest of Mendoza |
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Rio Negro |
PATAGONIA The climate is cooler than in much of the rest of Argentina and elegant, cool-climate styles of Pinot Noir, The dry climate has proved itself well suited to the growth of Vitis vinifera. Hot summers and cold winters ensure a consistency of climate that allows viticulturists a degree of predictability in the harvest. While the altitudeis very low by Argentinean standards – around 820ft (250m) above sea level – the region is still subject to a pronounced diurnal temperature variation, where warm days are followed by cold nights. This lengthens the growing season and leads to a balance of rich fruit characters and acidity in the wines.Rio Negro's soils are mostly alluvial, and are made up of gravel with a considerable limestone component. These are well drained, so growers are able to carefully control the water intake and growth of their vines through irrigation. Slightly parched vines put resources into producing small, concentrated berries rather than luxurious, leafy foliage. |
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Neuquen |
PATAGONIA PN Strong desert winds and hot sun combine to provide a climate in Neuquen that is sufficiently temperate for viticulture. Warm, sunny desert days are followed by brisk desert nights, and the diurnal temperature variation that results extends the growing season. This allows the grapes time to develop fruit complexity without sacrificing acidity, and the wines are well balanced as a result.This windy part of the desert is fed by the Neuquen River, which brings meltwater from the Andes to hydrate the vineyards. The stony alluvial soils are well drained, and allow root systems to grow deeply into the ground for minerals. The healthy vines that result produce high-quality grapes with an excellent concentration of sugars and acids.The relatively cool climate in Neuquen means that although much of the region produces red wines, the quality of the whites made here is high and is attracting international attention from critics and consumers alike. |
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Patagonia |
Patagonia is a desert, and viticulture is possible only near the rivers, where meltwater from the Andes is abundant for irrigation. The classic desert climate of warm days and cold nights extends the growing season in the region, slowing ripening in the grapes and letting them develop rich varietal character while retaining acidity. South America's southernmost wine-producing region. Despite being one of the world's least-obvious places for quality viticulture, this desert region – with its cool, dry climate – has proved itself well suited to producing elegant red wines from Pinot Noir |
