Fresh Water from the Andes in Argentina

Fresh Water from the Andes in Argentina

Argentine vineyards’ water supply comes from the purest runoff water of the Andes Mountains—the key to the success of viticulture in Argentina—allowing for controlled irrigation. The average rainfall in Argentine vineyards is only 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) a year so without irrigation, agriculture would be impossible.

All Argentine vineyards are located in dry zones of low rainfall and scarce humidity. Runoff water from the high Andes peaks makes its way down to the valleys and creates pure, naturally mineral-rich water for the wine vineyards and generates alluvial soil (see Soil section below). Man made irrigation is vital for the vines of Mendoza, Salta, and the other major regions, as Argentina’s vineyards do not have rainy weather patterns from the Pacific Ocean like Chile—on the western side of the Andes Mountains. In addition to the runoff water from the Andes Mountains, winemakers have created vast and intricate canals, whose sources are usually rivers, leading directly to the vines’ roots for irrigation. Many winemakers use irrigation systems originally created by Native Americans (notably the Mapuche and Inca tribes) and then reproduced in the area by Spanish conquerors hundreds of years ago. 

Irrigation allows winemakers to directly control the amount of water vines receive. Purposely giving the vines little water is a technique called water stress. Limited irrigation keeps grapes yields low and individual grapes small and dense—forcing the grape to concentrate on forming the seed, the vital reproductive part, rather than the leaves for the plant. Water stress ultimately creates wine with more concentrated sugars and tannins, which is fantastic for the quality of wine. Argentina has the natural environment for creating concentrated, dense, world class grapes that form the base of reserve and grand reserve wines.

Argentina has an ideal ecosystem for the cultivation of grapevines, as attacking parasites and fungi do not thrive in Argentina’s arid climate. Without the threat of pests, winemakers can maintain good vine quality (see Planting and Growing section in Winemaking Practices) and do not need to spray chemicals. The lack of pesticides and chemicals creates a virtually organic environment for the vines to grow. Wines from other major winemaking regions must use more pesticides and have more dirtied water—all which have an adverse effect on the wine produced.