Wine growing regions

Due to the altitude of the Andes Mountains, vines are grown through much of the central and northern parts of Argentina. While there are vineyards on the lower slopes of the mountain range, the vast majority is produced in a narrow section to the east at altitudes often over 1000 metres. In the north of the country there are vineyards planted at 3000 metres which is more than three times higher than the highest vineyards in Europe. Many vineyards are also located where the mountains protect the vineyards from rain clouds allowing the sun to shine and ripen the grapes while increasing the need for irrigation. Despite the altitude, temperatures are similar to parts of Spain and South Africa with daytime temperatures reaching 38°C but night times falling to around 12°C. This ensures good acidity and ripeness in Argentine wines giving great structure and balance they are known for.

Wine laws

Labelling in Argentina is a combination of geographical indications (IG) and the Spanish DOC system, although most wine is produced under the IG system. Under the law there are three levels of quality: IP (Indicacion de Procedencia) – table wines which contain at least 80% of grapes from the IP region, IG (Indicacion Geografica) – higher quality wines grown, vinified and bottled in a designated area, and DOC (Denominación de Origen Controlada) – top quality wines labelled DOC are rare and regulated in the same way as the Spanish DOC by a regulatory council. The council, however, is not regulated so there is no actual law to support the DOC structure. Argentine law recognises various terms, similar to those found in Spain, to describe the ageing process, regardless of the age of the oak or its origin:

Reserva: Is given to all reds which have been aged in oak barrels for at least one year. While in the case of whites, it is six months.

Gran Reserva: Applies to red wines which have been aged for at least two years, while for white wines, it is one year.

The term oak, however, can be used to refer to wines that have been aged in barrels or to describe the use of wood in the form of chips, staves or inner staves.

It is worth noting that changes are happening for recognised IG areas. The existing regions are often defined by political boundary rather than the quality of wine made, there are now efforts to define areas by more rigorous and scientific definitions such as soil type. This aims to prevent producers from using political influence to create new regional boundaries that encompass their vineyards despite them not actually being capable of making wines of the same quality from the same soil or climate.