History of Wine in Argentina

History of Wine in Argentina:

Argentina just recently became a major wine exporter. Wine drinkers all over the world are discovering that Argentina has some top wines rivaling well-known wine countries such as France, Australia, or California. The first vines, planted by Spanish missionaries in 1541, did not thrive as the missionaries planted the grapes in the humid Rio de la Plata (see Rio de la Plata section in Other Important Regions of Argentina) region. In 1542, grapes seeds from Peru were planted in the Salta region of northern Argentina. Twelve years after, settlers brought vines of the Criolla Chica (also known as the Californian Mission grape or the Chilean Pais grape creating mediocre wines) varietal from Chile to the Mendoza Province and San Juan Province, finally beginning Argentine wine production. Vines in the western part of Argentina flourished. European immigrants throughout the years brought grapes from their home countries to Argentina to cultivate—such as the famed Malbec brought in 1880.

Argentineans drank lots of their wine and up until the late 1990s, Argentina’s main concern in wine production was quantity over quality. Argentina produced huge amounts of mediocre wine for internal consumption. In 1988, Argentineans consumed 98% of Argentine wine.  Argentine table wine, referred to as Dama Juana (Lady Jane), was so terrible that it was customary for Argentineans to mix the five liter (1.3 gallon) jug of Dama Juana with ice, soda water, or Coke-a-cola to mask the poor taste. Nonetheless old habits die hard, and today some Argentineans still mix cheaper wine with other beverages. The amount of Dama Juana wine produced has decreased rapidly. (http://www.inv.gov.ar/PDF/Estadisticas/PanoramaViti/modalidad_envio2006.PDF)

Argentine winemakers changed their “quantity-over-quality” views on winemaking when wine connoisseurs and enologists, notably Paul Hobbs, traveled to Argentina and raved about Argentina’s winemaking potentials—if only infrastructure improved. Nicolas Catena, owner of Bodega Catena Zapata in Mendoza, Argentina, studied at the University of California in Berkley and also visited many wineries in Napa Valley. While visiting these wineries, Catena took note of the modern techniques United States wineries were using and was the first Argentinean to copy this infrastructure at his vineyard in Mendoza—with the help of Hobbs. Catena and Hobbs worked together making a world-class Chardonnay wine in 1989.  Hobbs then founded his own winery, Paul Hobbs Winery, in 1991.  Both wineries soared with the new and improved winemaking techniques. Catena produced the first Argentine 100% Malbec wine in 1996.

The potential for quality wine caused many wineries to amplify their quality standards: switching from concrete vats to oak barrels for premarket aging, utilizing the value of yield control, and implementing temperature control during fermentation. Wine connoisseur’s opinions, coupled with a failing economy in 2001, prompted Argentina’s decision to start exporting wine. The wine exported was much cheaper than French, Italian or New Zealand wine, prompting many wine drinkers with a curious tongue to try Argentine wine. Needless to say, wine drinkers fell in love with Argentina’s wine and it is now the fifth largest exporter of wine in the world.  Wine exports have been increasing in relation to the total amount of wine produced, proving the world’s interest in Argentine wine. 2010 exports are expected be around 3.4 million hectoliters since the grape harvest is expected to improve from 2009. The United States is expected to stay the number one country to which Argentina exports, and world consumption of Argentine wines should grow by 6% in the next five years. (http://www.calwinexport.com/files/Wine%20Annual_Buenos%20Aires_Argentina_3-4-2010.pdf

and http://www.prosperar.gov.ar/admin/uploadfiles/files/Prosperar-Wines-pdf.pdf) 

tags: history ·