Wine Business International

Argentina ended a very atypical harvest at the end of April. In sunny Mendoza, the Niña climatic phenomenon was present from November to March in the form of intense rains, spring frosts and summer hails. Argentina wine regions extend for more than 2000 km by the East side of the Andes Mountains, with the Cuyo region (Mendoza and San Juan Provinces) responsible for more than 94% of Argentina’s grapes so, when something affects the Cuyo, it is easy to think that the whole harvest could be in danger. But fortunately this year, it was not the case.

There have not only been climatic problems this harvest. The harvest workers strike claiming for better salaries left the wineries without harvest operations in vineyards and bodegas for several days. The Easter holiday also had an extra day added: ‘Memory Day’, established to remember the crimes from dictator governments. In addition, a discussion between the Argentine government and agricultural producers about financial issues related to exports stopped the harvest on several occasions. But the grapes are now harvested and the wines made.

According to the last official harvest report from the Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (INV), grape production was reduced by around 10%. By 27 April, there were 1,818m kilos of grapes harvested in Mendoza, only 89% of the anticipated volume, which resulted in 942m litres of wines and 295m litres of grape must. San Juan, the second major region, produced 805m kilos of grapes, or 96% of the anticipated volume, leading to 253m litres of wine and 296m litres of grape must.

An agreement between producers and the government demands that not less than 30% of the grapes are used to make must, to ensure wines are made with the best quality grapes. Until now, in Mendoza 74.5% of the grapes were used to make wines, so the compulsory percentage of grapes destined to make must is not being fulfilled. Although traditionally Mendoza always destined more of its grapes to wines that musts, this year the production of grape must will be smaller, as the intense rains have results in lower sugar in the grapes. As a consequence, producers have decided to make more wine instead of grape must in an attempt to get better prices. If this tendency towards more wine and less must continues, it will be difficult to foretell the impact on wine prices and exports, considering they have been growing in volume at annual rates superior to 22%.

The total grape production for Argentina is now 2,777m kilos, producing 1,276m litres of wine and 615m litres of grape must. The volume of grapes harvested represents 90% of the anticipated total.

As to the quality of harvest, Daniel Pi, chief winemaker of Trapiche Winery, said they were “predicting wines with a better approach in regard to alcohol content and tannins at harvest time”. He added “wines with very good tannic maturation, not so alcoholic would be the prognosis for this harvest”.

With all the white grapes harvested for the season producer Manuel Lousada Chief Winemaker for Terrazas de los Andes said that the grapes harvested in their vineyards and those from their suppliers, have given him “excellent expectations” and that he was convinced that the quality of the wines will be very good.

Thanks to the low temperatures of the past year, the red grapes, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, have developed excellent colour and taste. Producers think that the Malbec from Mendoza is going to be exceptional.

As Jose Zuccardi, owner of Familia Zuccardi winery in Mendoza, said to Los Andes newspaper “ this is a year with some climatic difficulties, but these are difficulties that other countries have every year despite they produce wines of excellent quality.” He was optimistic: “the maturation of tannins in red varieties is better than in drier years. In addition with all the technology added by the wineries and the knowledge that the producers have been incorporating, still in years of climatic difficulties, it is guaranteed that good wines will be obtained".