| No one likes to be shown up in a restaurant when | | | | to produce. |
| confronted with a wine menu. Most of us try to | | | | The vast majority of cultivation happens in the |
| look knowledgeably through the confusing choices | | | | Mendoza region in western Argentina at the foot |
| of countries of origin, grapes and wineries whilst | | | | of the Andes, where around 80% of the wine is |
| trying not to panic. If all goes well, our fellow | | | | grown. Other popular regions include Salta in the |
| dinner companions will be impressed. It's even | | | | far north of the country and Neuquen and Rio |
| nicer if the wine actually turns out to be drinkable! | | | | Negro in the far south on the fringes of Patagonia. |
| If there's a safe bet when confronted by a | | | | What types of wine are there? |
| phone-directory thick wine list, its a wine from | | | | Red wine is most commonly produced in |
| Argentina. As they are the 5th largest producer | | | | Argentina at 47% of total production. Rose make |
| of wine in the world, there are bound to be a | | | | up 30% and the remaining 23% is white wine. |
| couple of their bottles to choose from. With a | | | | A wide variety of grapes exist in Argentina, |
| quick skim of this article, you'll hopefully have a | | | | including popular choices available in neighbouring |
| good idea of the selection to expect and a bit of | | | | countries such as Chardonnay, Merlot and |
| impressive chat to go with it. | | | | Cabernet Sauvignon. However Argentina also has |
| How did Argentina get wine anyway? | | | | a tradition of Spanish and Italian varieties like |
| The production and consumption of Argentinian | | | | Tempranillo, Bonarda and Barbera that can make |
| wine has been around for more than 400 years, | | | | some excellent red wines. |
| when the first specimens of 'vitis vinifera' were | | | | A couple of grapes that have been cultivated and |
| brought to the continent by the Spanish | | | | developed very well are Torrontes and Malbec. |
| conquistadors at the start of the 1500's. | | | | Torrontes is a white wine grape that according to |
| The catholic priests that arrived established | | | | experts, makes "Terrifically fragrant, perfumed |
| vineyards close to their monasteries to be able to | | | | yet rich and fruity wines with crisp acidity and |
| cultivate wine for celebrating mass. Thanks to the | | | | plenty of body." When considering a red, |
| favourable climate close to the Andes mountains, | | | | Argentinian Malbecs are "Perhaps the best in the |
| the vineyards grew fast, showing great potential | | | | world, with powerful, smooth deeply-fruited inky |
| for a wine industry. | | | | black wines full of spice and character." |
| When European immigrants arrived in the 1800's, | | | | Get to know your grapes first-hand |
| they brought new tools and techniques for | | | | Up until the 1990's, wine in Argentina was more |
| cultivation as well as a wider variety of grapes. | | | | focused on the national market; 90% of |
| Construction of railroads in the late 1800's | | | | consumption was Argentinian. However, with a |
| removed the final obstacle for large scale supply | | | | huge drop in national wine consumption, vineyards |
| and the Argentinian market boomed. | | | | started a big drive to export more wines and |
| Where do they grow the grapes? | | | | focus their attentions on international markets. |
| The coverage of vineyards in Argentina is roughly | | | | The strong increase in tourism has also |
| 226,450 hectares. Despite the wide variety in | | | | encouraged them to open their facilities to the |
| climate from the change in Latitude (vineyards | | | | public. This now means that when confronted with |
| covering the country from the same level as | | | | the wine selection, you can name drop certain |
| Morocco in the north to New Zealand in the | | | | bottles that were tasted on your last trip to |
| south) the higher altitude between 2000 and 3000 | | | | Argentina... |
| metres keeps growing conditions roughly the | | | | If you want to get deep into the Argentinian wine |
| same. | | | | culture, tours are available on the 'wine route', a |
| Growing conditions in the Andean foothills prove | | | | winding 2000km that traverses several provinces, |
| ideal for Cabernet, Malbec, Pinot, Semilon, Merlot y | | | | altitudes and geographic regions. Its a great |
| Chardonnay varieties. In general, growing regions | | | | alternative way to discover a beautiful country, |
| are dry and arid with low levels of rain and | | | | and with around 2000 wineries you'll never be |
| humidity; perfect for good, healthy grapes. | | | | short of options putting together your own unique |
| Insects, fungi, mould and other diseases normally | | | | trip. Sitting on the veranda of an Argentinian |
| punishing European vineyard owners aren't an | | | | winery and sipping a glass of Malbec while the sun |
| issue in Argentina, and this gives the added | | | | sinks below the grape-heavy vines may not |
| benefit of being able to grow with few pesticides. | | | | appeal to everyone...but someone has to do it! |
| As a result, organic standard wine is much easier | | | | |