Mendoza

Mendoza Province is Argentina’s most important wine region, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the country’s entire wine production. Located in the eastern foothills of the Andes, in the shadow of Mount Aconcagua, vineyards are planted at some of the highest altitudes in the world, with the average site located 600–1,100 metres above sea level. Malbec is the region’s most important planting, followed closely by Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Chardonnay. Mendoza is considered the heart of the winemaking industry in Argentina with the vast majority of large wineries located in the provincial capital of Mendoza. Located in the far western expanse of Argentina, Mendoza has a continental climate and semi-arid desert conditions. The region experiences four distinct seasons with no extremes in temperatures which provides for a relatively uneventful annual growth cycle for grapevines; especially winter dormancy. Rainfall in the region only averages around 200 millimetres a year, making irrigation a necessity. Springtime frost is a rare occurrence with the main viticultural concern being summertime hail known locally as La Piedra. The soil of the Mendoza wine region is primarily alluvial composed of loose sand over clay.