2013 has been a long year for winemakers in Argentina. The harvest ended on May 5 in Mendoza, the major wine region in the country. This is a late harvest. But according to reporting in Winesur Wines of Argentina says it is an excellent vintage both in quality and in quantity. The harvest is said to be excellent also in other regions of Argentina: Rio Negro, Neuquen, La Pampa, Salta etc.
The harvest volume is up with 23% and will reach 640 million kilos (640,000 tons, approximately some 4-5 million hectolitres).
According to comments from winemakers across the country the year seems to display considerable variations though. “A fresh climate, excellent health conditions and the scarcity of hazard climatic events, guaranteed an outstanding crop” says Sebastian Zuccardi of the Zuccardi winery to Winesur.
However, Saintago Mayorga of the Nieto Sentiner winery says “As a consequence of [the] high yields some wines display less concentration, but exhibit great fruit expression and freshness” according to Winesur.
Most wine producers describe the year as one that was comparatively free of climatic and other problems and that gave grapes with very good ripeness in the end.
This sounds promising and it will be interesting to taste the wines when they are ready.
Major grape varieties in Mendoza:
- Criolla grande, 318 thousand tons harvested up to May 5
- Malbec, 308 kt
- Cereza, 265 kt
- Bonarda, 213 kt
- Pedro gimenez, 124 kt
- Syrah, 108 kt
- Cabernet sauvignon, 105 kt
[box type=”info” style=”rounded” border=”full”]Argentina has made fantastic progress in winemaking over the last decades. The best way to experience it is to go there and see – and taste – for yourself. Join us on our next BKWine wine and food tour to Argentina and Chile![/box]
One Response