Argentinian Grape Varieties and Viticulture
July 27th, 2008 Posted in ArgentinaWhile there has been an increase in wines made from the international grape varieties in Argentina, the old grapes still dominate the plantings there. Criolla Grande, Cereza, Moscatel de Alejandria and Pedro Giménez are among the most common. Torrontés is the third most grown white grape, and it only accounts for 2,000 hectares under vine. Many think Torrontés will be the next trendy grape to come from this area.
As far as red grapes, Bonnarda is the most common, with Malbec following closely behind. Cabernet Sauvignon also has a small foothold, and due to Argentina’s spanish ancestory, Tempranillo (here is is known as Tempranilla) is also grown in small quantities. There are also very small amounts of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sangiovese, Dolcetto, and Merlot.
As in Chile, Phylloxera was never a factor in Argentina, so vine grafting is not necessary. The most common vine training system is the Parral system, in which vines are raised about 2 meters off the ground to diffuse heat from the ground and make picking easier.
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