Argentine Wine Education
Mendoza: Argentina's Wine Capital Top Ten "Must-Know" Facts
These are 10 fun facts to remember about Mendoza. Memorize these and you'll be a star at the office, your local wine bar, or your next dinner party!
- Argentina is the world's 5th largest producer of wine. 80% of Argentina's wine comes from Mendoza, South America's largest wine producing region.
- A wide range of varietals grow well under the sunny Argentine skies. The most important wine varieties are (Reds) Malbec, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah; and (Whites) Torrontes, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Other varietals grown include Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Viognier, and Sémillon.
- Mendoza is divided into 4 distinctive grape-growing areas: Lujan du Cuyo, Maipu, Uco Valley, and Eastern Mendoza.
- Vineyard altitudes range from 2,000-4,700 feet above sea level. The city of Mendoza rests at 2,500 feet above sea level. At these high elevations, the air temperature stays relatively cool, yet the vines receive significantly higher amounts of solar radiation than vines at sea level. This results in increased water stress and better tannin maturity at harvest. It also increases bud productivity, allowing for more selective pruning and yield management.
- The growing areas of Mendoza receive less than 10 inches of rain per year, but irrigation water is plentiful from year-round snow melt in the Andes so that water yields are in complete control of the viticulturist. Soils vary from sandy to clay, but are predominantly loamy. Many areas also have pebble and river stone subsoil. Drainage tends to be excellent. Most soils are low in organic material due to elevation and climate, creating additional desirable vine stress.
- Vineyards here enjoy over 300 days of sun per year. Nights are usually cool, which brings a crucial day-night temperature amplitude that allows the vines to create rich flavors during the day, and to respire without losing beneficial acidity during the evenings.
- Grapes here have the longest "hang-time" in the world, which creates balanced wines with ripe fruit flavors and smooth tannins. The geeky term for these flavor compounds is "polyphenols". Argentine wines like Malbec have the highest polyphenal counts of any place in the world. That's good.
- Due to the high altitude and desert-like climate, vineyards rarely face the problems of insects, fungi, molds, phylloxera, and other diseases that affect grapes in other countries. Pesticides and herbicides are barely needed and are used sparingly.
- Mendoza was voted Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine (2008). "Today Mendoza is a wine region on par with many of the best in the world."
