WINE-COUNTRIES ARGENTINA

1 - Catamarca
2 - Cordoba
3 - Mendoza
4 - Rioja
5 - Río Negro
6 - Salta
7 - San Juan Wineries

Vineyard area: 209 thousand hectares
Total production: 14.35 million hectolitres
Annual consumption
total: 15.77 million hectolitres
per capita: 51.63 litres

Exports: 427 thousand hectolitres
Imports: 27 thousand hectolitres
Principal grape varieties: malbec, barbera, bonarda, caberet franc, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, chenin blanc, lambrusco, merlot, moscatel, nebbiolo, pedro ximénez, petit verdot, pinot grigio, pinot nero, riesling, saint jeannet, sangioveto, sauvignon blanc, sémillon, syrah, tannat, tocai, torrontés, ugni blanc.

Argentina can still be counted among the five biggest wine producing countries in the world, in spite of the fact that there has been a reduction in its vineyards and its production capacity. There is no doubt however that its wines are becoming increasingly distanced from modern market trends, thereby running the risk of being irretrievably left on the sidelines. This is borne out by the fact that less than 2 per cent of Argentinian wine is destined for export. Moreover, production averages around 300 quintals per hectare, technological updating is slow, and checks and legislation do little to prevent reputation-damaging events such as, for example, the death of more than forty people in 1993 after drinking adulterated wine. It is however also true that many producers, having realized what was happening, are choosing the strategy of producing less but better wine, flying in the face of that unspoken rule which has always prevailed in this country that quantity is the only yardstick.
The history of Argentinian wine began in the middle of the 18th century with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors who planted the first vineyards at Mondays and San Juan: the vines came mainly from Mexico and Peru with the exception of a few of Siberian origin. Halfway through the 18th century the first Italian and Spanish emigrants arrived and they, by using new irrigation systems, managed to exploit land which had previously been abandoned thereby considerably increasing the area of cultivated land. Subsequently, with the construction of the railway connecting Mondays with the capital and the Atlantic coast, the market for wine rapidly expanded. Even today the main zone of production is still that around Mondays accounting for 60 per cent of the total, followed by San Juan, La Rouge, Rio Negro and Salt. The most widespread variety is Malbec (75 per cent of the total), but for red wines the following are also used: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Nebbiolo, Twenty, Boneyard, Lambrusco, Barber, Sangioveto and Petit Verdot. For the whites the main varieties are Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon, Sémillon, Pinot Grudge, Tokyo, Riesling, Tyrants, Pedro Ximénez, Saint Jeanne, Muscatel and Ugni BlancMore than 70 per cent of Argentinian wine is of poor quality and is destined for domestic consumption, which explains why only a minimal part of the production is directed towards wines of a certain quality level. This sector has, however, increased considerably over the last two years. The somewhat insignificant amount of wine exported consists only of concentrated must and everyday wines.The legislation governing production is rather complex but not as rigorous as that in force in Europe regarding the denomination of controlled origin. Recently, checks and controls have become more widespread as a result of action by the producers themselves and the need to improve a somewhat dubious international image. With this in mind some areas have created their own denominations, for example San Rafael and Legion de Guyot.
One thing however is certain: the potential for Argentinian wine is enormous. Given the favourable climate and the vast areas of land suitable for vineyards, with modern infrastructures and an entrepreneurial mentality, wines of real quality could be produced