The Cold Region Wines
In this article by Jorge Impellizzeri
you'll learn about the best  wine production areas in Patagonia
and the special characteristics of their wines due to the particular
climate of the region. As you get familiar with the names of many
of the best wine varieties grown in the area, you'll get ready
for one - or more - tasting days on your next trip to these lands.
Known
as the cold region wines, the types of wines produced in the
Patagonia Valleys have a high quality and considerable fame
in Argentina. Many of them are exported to some of the most demanding
markets around the world.
The area's wine production is centered around the valleys of Rio
Negro and Rio Colorado. The climate, cold rainy winters and
hot dry summers, as well as the great day/night temperature differences
together with a lot of sunshine, provide the ideal conditions for
the production of high acidity, thus very fresh, wines. The
length of the frost-free season is particularly good for short term
growing wine types.
The Upper Valley of
Rio Negro, which comprises the districts of Confluencia  in the
province of Neuquen, and General Roca in Rio Negro, concentrates
80% of the regional wine-cultivated area. The grape types best adapted
to the natural conditions of the area are: among the whites, Torrontés
Riojano, Pedro Gimenez, Semillón, Torrontés Sanjuanino,
Sauvignon, Torrontés Mendocino and Chenin; and among reds,
Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bonarda.
There's also a very important production of sparkling wines. A considerable
number of wineries produce wines to be exported, mainly to North
American and European markets.
The Middle and Low Valleys of Rio Negro are also good growing
areas. Climate conditions change towards the East, due to the increase
in rainfall. The types best adapted to the area are reds Malbec,
Merlot, Tempranilla, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and whites Torrontes
Riojano, Torrontes Sanjuanino, Semillón and Pedro Gimenez.
Other important wine areas in Patagonia are the Upper and Middle
 Valleys of the Colorado river. The Upper Valley comprises approximately
125 hectares where the main types grown are Malbec, Merlot, Semillón,
Pinot Joubertin and Torrontés Mendocino - also known as "loca
blanca" (crazy white) . The Middle Valley of the Colorado River,
in the district of Pichi Mahuida, Rio Negro, produces Semillón,
Torrontés Mendocino, Bonarda and Malbec among others,
all of which are used for vinification. Worth mentioning is the
production of two wine types which are exclusive of this area: Pedro
Gimenez Rio Colorado and Sauvignon Rio Colorado; both of them have
a good yield and excellent quality.
Since the Controlled Name of Origin (CNO) law was passed, two regions
have deserved such qualification, namely, Luján de Cuyo and
San Rafael  (in the province of Mendoza). The Upper Valley is about
to become the third Argentine region to comply with this law. In
the Enological Study Center from the National Institute of Agricultural
Technology (INTA) studies have been performed to assess the enological
quality of a number of grapevines from different areas as a basis
for future names of origin. The CNO is granted only to superb wines
produced under special conditions using high quality grapes, in
accordance with norms and specifications exclusive of certain geographical
areas. The Upper Valley possesses the natural and production characteristics
to deserve such an award.
Article by Jorge Impellizzeri
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