San Juan

Spaniards planted Chilean vines in SAN JUAN in 1556. With an altitude ranging from 600 to 1,300 meters (1,970 – 4,270 feet) above sea level, the San Juan region is hot—temperatures can reach 42ºC (108ºF) in the summer—with lots of sunlight.  After Mendoza (see Mendoza section), San Juan has the most vineyard land area with just under 49,000 hectares. Precipitation is minimal, averaging at 15 centimeters (6 inches) annually.  The alluvial soil has a clay and sand consistency. All types of wine—from table wine to sherries—are made in San Juan. Syrah grapes grow particularly well in San Juan, as well as Torrontes, Viognier, Chardonnay, and Bonarda. San Juan produces 405 million kilograms (446,435 US tons) of grapes a year.  About 1.7 million (449 million gallons) hectoliters of wine from San Juan are domestically consumed. 440,439 hectoliters (116.4 million gallons) of San Juan wine are exported, equating to 40.8 million USD. Major wineries in San Juan include Bodega Franalco, Bodega Graffigna, Bodegas la Guarda, Callia Bodegas, Casa Murer, Finca Las Moras, Fincas Rewen, and Tierras de Ponte.