Anuva Wines Knowledgebase
La Pampa Province
La Pampa Province
The Pampas, from the Quechua word meaning “plain,” are grassy, level, and vast plains in central Argentina. The Pampas are not a main wine growing or viticultural region as the region receives an average rainfall of 90 centimeters (35.4 inches) annually and the elevation is mostly flat, except for the few hills in the western part of the Pampas. The average temperature is 18 degrees Celsius (65 degrees Fahrenheit), and summers are warm and humid while winters are fresh and mild. The fertile soil in the Pampas creates a haven for farmers and supports numerous crops and grazing for livestock. One of the biggest parts of Argentina’s economy is beef production and agriculture (notably soy and wheat). The Pampas support organic cattle raising: an ideal environment with plenty of rich grass means less growth hormones must be injected and the beef will have less saturated fat than grain-fed cattle (see The Asado and Cattle in Argentina in Argentine Culture section).
Argentina makes the third most honey, soybeans, and sunflower seeds in the world—with maize and wheat following in fifth and eleventh respectively. Argentina also exports fruits but not to the extent of soybeans and cereals—some of Argentina’s biggest commodities. Soybeans account for 92% of Argentina’s 52 million tons of oilseeds produced annually. Argentina also generates 50 million tons of cereal (wheat, maize, and other grains) a year. As for Argentina’s dairy production, the country’s cattle industry produces 10 billion liters a year. The majority of Argentine agriculture originates in Las Pampas. Only about 50 hectares in the Pampas are dedicated to vineyards. Gauchos once roamed the Pampas region freely, although in the late 1800s were driven out of the region because farmers took the land to suit Argentina’s growing population and the demand for more Argentine exports (for more about Gauchos, see The Asado and Cattle in Argentina section in Argentine Culture). Today, some argue the Pampas have been over cultivated and fear that the once grassy plains will be something of the past.
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