The Argentine Wine Industry

Key statistics – regions and varieties

Regional breakdown

Mendoza remains by far the most important wine-growing region in Argentina, accounting for two-thirds of plantings. Total area under wine grape vines, in hectares, of Argentina's wine regions are as follows:

Mendoza	148,200
San Juan	47,200
La Rioja	8,200
Río Negro	2,900
Catamarca	2,400
Salta	1,900
Neuquén	1,000
Other provinces (total)	1,300

Vine age

A key advantage in Argentina's bid to produce world-class wines is the fact that more than 50% of the vines in these plantings are over 25 years old, and only 5% are less than 4 years old.

A large proportion (25%) of the vines are between 4 and 8 years old – a result of the widespread moves at that point to rip out volume varieties that were occupying prime sites and replace them with 'premium' varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and (of course) more Malbec. This was a calculated investment in the future direction of the Argentine wine industry, and it is paying off.

Varieties - red

Further evidence of the evolution in the industry can be seen in the fact that while, in 1990, only 21% of grape production was used for making genuine red wines, the proportion in 2004 had risen to about 44% (the bulk of cheap table wines in Argentina, based on Criolla grapes, are considered rosada, or pink).

The area in hectares devoted to each premium variety in 2004 (the most recent statistics available) are outlined below. The figure in square brackets is the area planted in each variety in 1990. The trends are quite clear:

Malbec	21,200	[10,500]
Bonarda	17,200	[12,200]
Cabernet Sauvignon	16,200	[2,300]
Syrah	10,800	[700]
Merlot	7,100	[1,200]
Tempranillo	5,600	[5,700]
Pinot Noir (Pinot Negro)	1,200	[200]
Barbera	900	[1000]
Cabernet Franc	300	[<100]

Note the incredible expansion in plantings of “new” varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, as well as increasing focus on the signature local grape varieties of Malbec and Bonarda. In coming years, expect to see expanding plantings of cooler climate grapes such as Pinot Noir in the Río Negro region.

Varieties – white

A similar trend is present in white premium grape plantings, albeit on a smaller scale:

Torrontés	8,000	[8,600]
Chardonnay	4,800	[900]
Chenin Blanc	3,100	[4,000]
Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano)	2,600	[2,200]
Semillon	1,000	[1,300]
Sauvignon Blanc	1,200	[300]
Sauvignonasse (Sauvignon Vert)	700	[1000]
Riesling	100	[300]

Index

Statistics source: Argentine Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura