Neuquen

The Neuquen region has a very high altitude, varying from 1,300 to 1,500 meters (4,270 – 4,920 feet) above sea level, and roughly 1,480 hectares of vineyards. Though the temperature is cooler than other wine regions in Argentina at an average of 20ºC (68ºF), the high altitude gives Neuquen persistent sun exposure. Most vineyards are planted along the Rio Neuquen (Neuquen River), such as the San Patricio del Chanar region in Neuquen Province. Rainfall measures to 18 centimeters (7 inches) annually and the soil is stony but very fertile. Neuquen is renowned for its full-bodied wines with excellent color—especially the Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Merlot varietals. Neuquen’s important wine growing region is the windy San Patricio del Chanar. San Patricio del Chanar is known for their Malbec and Merlot wines with good acidity. Neuquen winemakers practice with some of the best wine technology in Argentina and create what some wine connoisseurs think of as the best wine in Argentina.

Neuquen is a rather young wine region, and wineries only started planting vines commercially ten years ago. Julio Viola, from the Bodegas Del Fin Del Mundo (literally “From the End of the World” in English) winery, is credited with starting the wine industry in Neuquen when he first planted grapes vines in 1999. The harvests were much better than expected in the first year, and have continued to improve since year by year. Neuquen produces 5.59 million kilograms (6,160 US tons) of grapes annually, and Argentina sets aside 55,948 hectoliters (14.8 million gallons) of Neuquen wine for domestic consumption. Neuquen exports 16,022 hectoliters (4.23 million gallons) or 7.5 million USD worth of wine. Other leading wineries in Neuquen besides Bodegas del Fin Del Mundo include NQN, Familia Schroeder, and Bodega Universo Austral.

tags: neuquen ·