Mendoza

“The Land of Sun and Good Wine”

It is one of the most important provinces of Argentine and very well-known for its wine growing production; that is why it is considered as one of the wine capital cities all over the world.

Location: Western center of the republic of Argentina between 32º and 37º 35' south latitude 66º 30'y 70º 35' western longitude.

Area: 15.070.800 ha.

Population: 1.932.335 inhabitants.

Weather: Mild and dry. The average temperature is 15°C in the low-region, among 42° (maximum) and 5°C (minimum). Rainfalls do not exceed 200 mm per year.

Relief: From a morphological point of view, three main unities can be distinguished: Andean mountains in the west, plains in the east and plateaus and volcanoes in the south, in “Payunia”. Numerous mountains constitute “Cordillera de los andes” (Andean mountain range), the great Mountain Range located in the west along the whole continent, Within the province, the existence of “Cerro Aconcagua” that nearly reaches 7000 (22850 feet) meters above ocean level, should be mentioned since it constitutes the highest peak of the continent.

Hydrography and water exploitation: In the western ranges, rivers are formed from the fusion of melted snow and glaciers that fall from mountains to lower ranges creating streams which meet at the bottoms of ranges. The systematization and regulation of those rivers and the exploitation of subsurface water have originated the so-called oasis and the characteristic occupation of the land in the plains. This systematization constitutes the origin of the irrigation system which includes several manmade channels and trenches. Those channels bring viticulture to life and are used for energy generation. Water storages, which generate docks, constitute exciting tourist attractions.

Economic activities

In the oasis, the main economic activities are agriculture, especially viticulture (base of the economy of Mendoza), horticulture and fruit and olive culture. Other activities are agro-industries and the rendition of administrative, financial and technical services. In the mountains, the main economic activities are mining industry, extensive livestock farming and tourism.

In the plain, extensive livestock farming is practiced.

Other economic activities

In the province of Mendoza, industrial activities are allocated in different oasis and according to the type they belong to. Those activities are performed in cities or in irrigated zones where different kinds of farming are found.

There is a wide range of industries linked to the different type of activities: food, textiles, graphic, metal-mechanical, canning, fridges, grains, sweets, wood, chemical and petrochemical, plastic, etc. However, the main industries are those connected to food and drink, industries and agro-industries, for the income and job opportunities they generate.

The province of Mendoza has a net of natural protected areas composed by thirteen reserves, which cover approximately 4 % of Mendoza’s territory. These areas were created aiming at protecting representative and characteristic environments. Besides, they were selected for having a special value from a panoramic, recreational, cultural and natural point of view, among others. In Villavicencio, there is a wonderful private reserve.

Viticulture zones

North

It covers department of Lavalle and parts of the departments of Maipú, Las Heras and San Martín. Those areas are the lowest of the region above sea level, at an altitude between 600 and 700 masl. Lands are shallow, salty and a little permeable in the lowest and plainest zones.
Vineyards are irrigated with canalized water from River Mendoza together with subsurface water. The characteristic grapes of the region are white varieties such as: Torrontés, Chenin, y Pedro Giménez. Its red varieties are strong varietals and are adapted for the production of light wines.

High zone of the Mendoza River

This land covers the cultivation of most of Maipú and Luján departments. The agro-ecological conditions are extremely suitable; that is why they have been chosen by dozens of wineries that elaborate some of the finest wines in Argentina. The soil is originated by flash-floods made of soft sediments. On the stony subsoil, there can be found sandy-muddy clayey sediments. Its organic poverty is important and warrants high-quality vintages destined for the elaboration of noble wines.

The weather is mild, bright and dry, little rainfalls, moderate winds and humidity that warrant the balance between sugar and acidity in grape juice and in the creation of polyphenols. The zone altitude between 750 and 1100 masl. Weather conditions (15° average) allow color and tannins’ formation in wines and a lengthy ageing process. Irrigation is supplied with water coming from Mendoza River. Malbec is the characteristic varietal of this region. Wines elaborated from this kind of grape have a strong personality and even though it is farmed in other places, the characteristics attained in Mendoza are superior to the rest of the world. Other high-quality farmed varieties are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Chenin, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah, Ugni Blanc, among others.

Eastern zone

In the eastern zone of the Mendoza River, the soil goes gradually down from 740 to 600 meters above sea level. This oasis is located in the departments of San Martín, Rivadavia, Junín, Santa Rosa and La Paz.

The alluvial soils are sandy, muddy, deep and stony in the highest zones. Vineyards are irrigated with canalized water coming from Mendoza and Tunuyán Rivers with subsurface water picked up by pumps. The most spread varieties are: Merlot, Malbec, Bonarda, Sangiovese, Ugni Blanc, Syrah, Tempranilla, Pedro Jiménez among others. Most of them are used in the elaboration of grape juices, grape concentrates and fine wines.

Uco Valley

With Tunuyán and Tupungato Rivers as axes, Uco Valley covers an exensive area of the departments of San Carlos, Tunuyán and Tupungato. It has several characteristics similar to the central zone ones but it also has some distinctive features that favor the vineyards of the place. Winters are severe and summers have mild days and cool nights. The farmed lands’ altitude varies between 900 and 1400 masl.

Therefore, thermal amplitudes between day and night are strong favoring the production of a great color apt to a lengthy ageing and to high levels of acidity that, in some cases, should be controlled by means of a malolactic fermentation. Soils in this region are alluvial, stony and permeable. Nowadays, some of the most representative red wines come from Uco Valley, where foreign investments have enormously grown. Some of the most extensive red varieties are: Malbec, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon y Merlot.

Besides, some white varieties are successfully farmed, among them, Torrontés Riojano, Semillón, Chardonnay (frequently used as base wine for the elaboration of fizzy wines), Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc. Currently, this zone is considered to be the most important one from the viewpoint of viticulture investments.

South

In the Mendocinean south, there can be found the departments of General Alvear and San Rafael that constitute the most productive oasis in the southern zone of the province. Southern vineyards are located at a lower altitude than the rest of the province. Those go gradually down eastwards from 800 to 450 meters above sea level. This oasis has an average temperature of 14° C and is irrigated by Diamante and Atuel Rivers.

The most characteristic variety is Chenin, which attains a strong authenticity. From this variety, fruity wines are obtained with a balance relation between alcohol/acidity. Thermal amplitude levels of the zone favor the production of antocianinas which are responsible for the color of wines. Red varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Bonarda are the starting points to obtain wines with excellent visual body, which are gaining, day after day, important positions in the international markets.

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