Quantcast
Channel: Winemaking Regions – Tasting Argentina
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 23

The story of the highest vineyards in the world

0
0

Once upon a time, the winemakers in Argentina discovered that their wines were much richer in flavors depending on the altitude where they grow their grapes, the more altitude the more concentration and intensity… And this is how the story of the highest vineyards in the world starts, with one word: SALTA. Salta Cafayate

With vineyards that are planted between 3300 and 10000 feet (yes! That high! The guys at Colomé Winery are the owners of the highest vineyards in the world) the province of Salta has become the highest region in the world to grow grapes for wine. Nowadays, these wines are seen as an exotic product, very exclusive all over the world, with a unique personality which earned all kinds of distinctions between experts and amateurs. The high altitude wines are coveted by the finest international markets.

 

Lots of people will say that this just works as a marketing strategy, and I cannot lie, it worked perfectly in the local market of fine quality wine. BUT, (and is a BIG BUT!) is also true that beyond the marketing, the reason to cultivate vines so high is to look at the development of different grapes, in a different climate. At higher altitudes, with an achieved higher thermal length, colder nights, increased incidence of ultraviolet rays, the grapes generate a tougher skin and a black color. The fruit struggles far more to survive and concentrates more flavors that will give far more flavorful wines afterwards.

Salta Vineyards

SALTA VINEYARDS Photo Credit: carola_vanlimborgh Flickr via Compfight cc

The excuse of the temperature range (this idea of a chilly night and the fire of the day) is the main attraction: a temperature difference that facilitates concentration of aromas, flavors and fundamentally color. How is this? The plant performs the photosynthesis process only when there is sunlight; however, nutrient consumption is constant, even during the night, at which photosynthesis obviously cannot occur. If at night the temperature drops significantly, the vine enters in a kind of rest, slowing down the activity and thus consuming less nutrients, which are kept in the grape and, over the vegetative cycle, they are enhanced in an outstanding way.

The sun intensity at this altitude, also generates the skins of the grapes to be far thicker to protect from the harsh sun. In the skins of the grapes is where we get the main extraction of aromatic intensity as well. This is why Salta is the best region for the famous Torrontes wine, our flagship white. Even though the white wines are fermented for a very short period with the skins of the grapes (and plenty of them without it), on the first press of the juice all that aromatic intensity goes straight to the juice that then will become the wine. That is why Salta wines are so aromatic, and when it comes to red wines, full of tannin! And this region is not just Malbec, actually you will find some of the best Cabernet Sauvignons in the country, peppery and structured. But if full bodied is what you are looking for…go for a Tannat!

CAFAYATE VINEYARDS

Vineyards in Cafayate Photo Credit: Cascada Expediciones Flickr via Compfight cc

When it comes the time to talk about alcohol, the altitude and the sun play a very important part. The bigger the sun intensity the more dehydrated the grapes, so they have low levels of water and higher concentration of sugar, which afterwards turns into alcohol. You will have a very fruit forward and with rich flavors that will disguise the alcohol content. So as I always say at our Buenos Aires Wine tastings, if after 1 or 2 glasses of Salta wine your cheeks start to get red, you just blame the sun!!! ;). Fortunately, we work with some of the most delicious wines in Salta, from El Porvenir de Cafayate Winery. 

EL PORVENIR DE CAFAYATE

Finca Rio Seco, one of the vineyards of EL PORVENIR DE CAFAYATE at 5.600 Feet altitude

In conclusion, the high altitude wines are highly concentrated, aromatic (even with some hints of cooked fruit), with lots of color, high levels of alcohol (although is tough to perceive it, at least on the mouth) and varietal typicality that it seems dulled by a definitely predominant land.

So, after this amazing information about Salta and its wines, what are you waiting to go and get a bottle of this wonderful whites and reds that the region has to offer! Chop Chop! Life is too short to not enjoy the wines!

Thanks for reading my dear wine lovers. Until another post about Argentinian Wines and its wonderful regions!

 

Un abrazo

 

Diego

 


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 23

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images