Phylloxera

Argentina, like Chile, is unique in the wine world for the absence of the Phylloxera threat that has devastated vineyards across the globe. Unlike Chile, the Phylloxera louse is present in Argentina but is a particularly weak biotype that does not survive long in the soil. When it does attack vines, the damage is not significant enough to kill the vine and the roots eventually grow back. Because of this most of the vineyards in Argentina are planted on nongrafted rootstock. There are many theories about why Phylloxera has not yet reach this part of the world. The centuries-old tradition of flood irrigation where water can deeply saturate the soil may be one reason, as is the high proportion of sand present in the soil. The relative isolation of Argentina is also cited as a potential benefit against Phylloxera with the country’s wine regions being bordered by mountains, deserts and oceans that create natural barriers against the spread of the louse.