| Terroir refers to the special characteristics of wines brought about by geography. Terror denotes to the “sense of a place” embodied by the nature and effects of the physical environment to the development or creation of a product. In this article, we will explore how the climate, soil and vines of Argentina influenced the production of tasty Argentina wine. |
Climate of Argentina
Argentina is subject to various climatic changes. The northern part of the country is marked by hot, humid summers with dry winters, as well as, occasional droughts. Southern Argentina features warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfalls particularly in elevated areas. Luckily, all the viticultural areas in Argentina are located in arid zones characterized by temperate climates.
Limited winters with abundance of sunny days. The temperature averages to about 15 degrees Celsius. The annual mean temperature in these areas is about 13.80 degrees Celsius.
The annual rainfall measures between 150 and 400 mm. It is also more frequent in spring and summer. Strictly speaking, rainfall is insufficient for the cultivation of vines, thus making it necessary that wine-growers irrigate the surface and sometimes the subterranean water.
Soil of Argentina
The soils of Argentina are shallow to the west and deep towards the east. Its depth varies between scarce centimeters to differing meters. The depth is proportional to the topographic position, as well as, the deposits of pebbles and gravel that are carried over by the movement of ice and water. In general, rocky soils are located in spots in the higher and steeper zones. They are barely fertile and are made up of pebbles, coarse sand and some silt. In general terms the soils are by the nature of their physical–mechanical composition very permeable and of good internal drainage. The pH varies between 7.3 and 8.0, and the calcareous fraction varies between 2 and 10%.
The summer’s elevated temperatures and luminosity, joined by the reduced precipitation, the abundance of calcium in the soil and the cultural practices, causes rapid decomposition and in general terms, the quantity of organic material is scarce. The values for total Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Zinc are low. Potassium has above normal values. Iron and phosphorus are not used to advantage although present in the soil, probably due to the alkalinity.
Vine Production in Argentina
There are few fungal diseases (e.g. powdery mildew, downey mildew and botrytis) and their incidence is of little importance. Phylloxera exists but does not cause economic damage. Almost all of the vineyards are planted on their own roots. In general grapes arrive healthy at harvest. The color of wines from red varieties varies as a function of the temperature characteristics of the region.
The Colour Intensity, according to Sudreau (CI), varies from 0.6 in the hotter regions to more than 1.20 in the colder regions and constitutes a useful criteria in the differentiation of areas. Hotter regions can have a deficiency of acids.
There are 210,000 hectares planted with vines. The average yield is close to 10,000 kilograms per hectare. A wide range of varieties from different origins have been cultivated for more than 150 years. At INTA’s Center for Enological Studies the enological quality of different varieties from various areas has been studied as a base for future appellations.
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