ARGENTINA As you would expect from the land of the Tango (the dance, not the drink) Argentina produces full-blooded, seductive wines of spice and passion. Like their neighbors across the Andes in Chile, they produce excellent value, mostly red but increasingly white, varietal wines across all price points. As the 5th largest wine producing nation in the world Argentina was long renowned for the quantity rather than quality of its wines. Since the 1990s Argentina has benefited enormously from the influx of investment and expertise - seemingly from every famous wine region in the world – combined with modern technology and better vineyard management and winemaking techniques. Apart from a couple of blips - notably the 1998 El Niño and the economic crisis of 2001-2 - it has been a heady rise even if a general unwillingness to reduce yields has meant that its progress has been slower than hoped. So far it has emulated Chile’s success but has not yet, by a long chalk, surpassed it. Planted with vines by the Spanish colonizers in the mid 16th century, it was the widespread immigration from Italy and Spain in the mid-19th century (and later France) that bestowed Argentina with such an eclectic mix of grape varieties. The country’s trump card has turned out to be the old Bordeaux variety Malbec which, outside of Cahors, has never really made its mark in its French homeland. In Argentina it seems to have found its spiritual home, producing intense, opulent wines with refreshing acidity and increasing sophistication.In the hands of top producers and in increasingly good (and high) single vineyard sites it is yielding some truly fine wines. The underrated Bonarda is Argentina’s second most-planted variety, although the next best qualitatively are the improving Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, followed by Merlot, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir and Barbera. The most interesting whites come from the fruity, floral Torrontés grape, but the there are some very fine wines from the ubiquitous Chardonnay, and it is the latter that looks set to dominate in years to come. Other white varieties include Sauvignon Blanc (in the coolest sites), Chenin Blanc, Sémillon, Pinot Gris and Viognier. Much of Argentina is semi-desert and very dry and hot, even in the foothills of the Andes; it is only the high altitude of the vineyards and the cooling influence of the mountains that enables quality wines to be made. Irrigation is a must but it is only now that the vital step of limiting this to reduce yields is being followed by more than a small minority. The region around Mendoza accounts for about 70% of Argentina’s wine production, although cooler, wetter areas like Patagonia in the south and Salta in the far north (home to the world’s highest vineyards at an astonishing 3000m) are increasingly influential even if quantity remains small. Salta produces very good Torrontés and Cabernet Sauvignon, while Patagonia, and particularly Rio Negro, produces elegant whites and structured reds. In Mendoza, a lot of poor quality wine is still produced for domestic consumption but the sub-region of Luján de Cuyo produces some lovely velvety Malbecs while the cool, gravelly Maipú is best for Cabernet Sauvignon. The most exciting area in Mendoza for fine reds and whites, however, is the Uco Valley 60km south of the city. Its sub-region of Tupungato also produces Argentina’s best Chardonnay.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 05:08:06 +0000
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