Summary of Argentine Terroir

Summary of Argentine Terroir

Argentina’s high altitude, ample sunshine, large temperature differential, few pests and disease, low rainfall, controlled irrigation, geographic location from the ocean, and pure, alluvial soil create a viticultural environment that is unparalleled elsewhere. This unique combination of terroir qualities produce top wines, especially with the Malbec, Bonarda, and Torrontes varietals (see Wine Varietals sections). Argentina is has a terroir built for these grapes.

In the French terroirs of Bordeaux, the Loire Valley, and Cahors, Malbec vines do not have the pristine ecological conditions that Argentine vineyards, especially in the Mendoza province, possess without the vine pests and mildew that the wetter climate of France holds. Argentina’s sunshine helps the thin-skinned Malbec grape fight off the disease and rot normally prone to the varietal. Like Malbec, Bonarda flourishes more in Argentina than its original home in Italy. Many Italian vineyards prefer to grow Barbera over Bonarda as Barbera thrives in Italy.  Argentina’s Bonarda has high yields, but winemakers have discovered that Bonarda’s high yields do not compromise its rich, intense taste. Bonarda requires warm climates with plenty of sunlight and soils consisting of a sand-clay mixture—characteristics that Argentina possesses more so than Italy. The high altitude and large temperature differentials in Argentina create a Torrontes with excellent acidity, instead of a Torrontes with an oily or flabby texture like the Torrontes from Spain.