Chardonnay
ORIGIN: Burgundy/France
SYNONYMS: Aubaine (Côte d' Or), Auvernat Blanc (Orlénais),
Beaunois (Chablis) and for a long time it was erroneously
known as Pinot Chardonnay
CHARACTERISTICS: Chardonnay
is a medium-productive white variety with compact clusters
that have small, spherical berries that are yellow-amber
at maturity. It is a very fine variety, that produces
very high quality white wines. This variety spread from
Burgundy to the whole world and today constitutes the
white variety grown with greatest devotion. The spelling
of Chardonnay is of recent origin, having been established
during this century after its acceptance in ampelographic
congresses. Previously the name of this variety was Chardenet,
Chaudenet, or Pinot Blanc.
Chenin Blanc
ORIGIN: Anjou, center-west of France
SYNONYMS: Pineau de la Loire, Pineau d’Anjou.
In the Cuyo it has been erroneously called Pinot Blanco.
CHARACTERISTICS: Chenin Blanc has medium-sized, full
and compact clusters with yellow-gold, ellipsoidal berries.
It has a very characteristic, accentuated perfume.
NOTES: Chenin Blanc is an important variety in Mendoza
and produces quality wines. Because of its tight clusters
it is susceptible to rot. There are clones with excellent
productivity and outstanding oenological characteristics.
Pedro Giménez
ORIGIN: Pedro Giménez is probably indigenous to
Argentina since it does not match the true Pedro Ximenez
of Spain.
CHARACTERISTICS: It has medium to large clusters with
yellow-gold berries. It is very important in the Cuyo.
Almost half of the area in Mendoza planted with white
wine grapes is cultivated with this variety and in San
Juan it is more than 20%. It produces the majority of
table white wines.
Pinot Gris
ORIGIN: The majority of the plantings in Cuyo, as much
Pinot blanc as Pinot Gris, are in reality clones of Pinot
Noir. Other authors deem that in some plantings it is
confused with a variety known as Canari.
CHARACTERISTICS: Pinot Gris is a variety with grayish-black
berries. The vineyards in which this variety is found
in pure blocks are very scarce. It is a vigorous variety
with good vegetation although somewhat susceptible to
bunch rot.
Riesling
ORIGIN: The origin of Riesling is not clear, but from
very ancient times it has been a classical Alsatian variety.
SYNONYMS: The synonyms used in the Cuyo are usually
erroneous since it is often confused with other varieties.
CHARACTERISTICS: Riesling has a small cluster with
small, spherical, yellow-gold berries. It has a characteristic
delicate perfume. It is a vigorous variety with medium
productivity although it is susceptible to rot.
NOTES: In Argentina its spread is limited.
Semillón
ORIGIN: Semillón comes from the zone around Gironda
from where it has spread to all of southwest France.
SYNONYMS: Semillón has different synonyms depending
on the region where it is found. It constitutes a well
defined entity in the Cuyo, known only by this name.
Although in some cases it has been confused with Sauvignon
Blanc.
CHARACTERISTICS: Semillón has a conical, medium-sized,
well-filled cluster with spheroid, yellow-gold berries.
It is a French variety that has spread all over the world.
It is the principal variety, together with Sauvignon
Blanc and Muscatel, in the making of Sauterne wines.
In the Cuyo, although it is not the object of special
care, the wine produced is of very good quality.
NOTES:
The plantings of Semillón are diminishing
in Argentina due to its susceptibility to bunch rot.
Tocai Friulano
ORIGIN: uncertain
SYNONYMS: Tokay, Flame Tokay (United States)
CHARACTERISTICS: Tocai Friulano has medium-sized, well-filled,
conical clusters with small, spheroid, yellow-gold berries.
It is a very interesting variety that is found in co-plantation
with Semillón, Riesling and Chardonnay. Generally
it is confused with Riesling.
NOTES: In Italy, Tocai Friulano produces a quality-wine
while in France, Galet says that Sauvignonasse produces
a table wine without major merits. In Mendoza it is widespread,
although, as we have seen, under other names. It is valued
for its production.
Torrontés
ORIGIN: Native to Mendoza
SYNONYMS: Chichera, Palet, Loca or Loca Blanca (Rio
Negro)
CHARACTERISTICS:
Torrontés Mendocino has medium-sized clusters
with yellow-gold, spheroid, somewhat perfumed berries.
Until just recently this variety was frequently found
on home trellises and as a mixture in vineyards. Just
recently have pure plantings of this variety appeared.
Its economic importance is growing.
Torrontés Riojano has large, loose clusters
with white-yellow-gold, perfumed berries. This variety
is widespread in the Argentine northwest, principally
in the provinces of La Rioja and Catamarca, where it
produces highly desirable wines and liquors. It is very
important in San Juan where it is known as Malvasia.
NOTES: In recent years this variety has been the object
of extraordinary growth in Mendoza where, in some sites,
it is called Muscat d’Asti. To this end,
it should be pointed out that this denomination (Muscat d’Asti)
does not correspond to any determined variety but to
wines that are made in the region of Monferrato in Italy.
It is an interesting variety, vigorous, with great production.
Lately, its wines have been the object of international
recognition.
Ugni Blanc
ORIGIN: Italian or Etruscan
SYNONYMS: Saint Emilion and Clairette (France), Trebbianos
(Italy)
CHARACTERISTICS: Ugni Blanc has a large cluster with
greenish-yellow berries. It is a variety found throughout
the world. In Italy it is the most important of the Trebbianos,
part of the composition of Chianti and other famous wines.
In France it is the most widespread variety after Carignane
and Aramón.
Like Saint Emilión de Charante, it is used in
the production of fine distillates. In the Cuyo, Ugni
Blanc is not very widespread, but because of its extraordinary
conditions some nurseries are propagating it.
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