The Whites
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Argentina has a range of fine white wines, which go well with
different foods from around the world. These wines exhibit aromas
from fruity to herbal and are present from delicate to
full-bodied. Chardonnay is the most well known sparkling wine in
the world.
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CHARDONNAY
This wine originates from
Burgundy France, with synonyms like Aubaine (Côte d' Or), Auvernat
Blanc (Orlénais), Beaunois (Chablis). These wines are spread in
4,600 hectares of area in Mendoza, in the colder regions, which
allow for slow maturation and good acidity.
It is one of the best
sparkling wines in the world that is light, delicate and fruity.
The wine also can be structured, oily, lactic wine, rich in
vanilla aromas. This is a very fine wine variety with yellow to
greenish yellow tones and blends aromas of ripe banana, melon,
peach or red grapefruit. However in colder weather, fruit notes
such as apple and pineapple predominate. Chardonnay is a
medium-productive white variety with compact clusters that has
small, spherical berries that are yellow-amber at maturity.
Over-ripeness of the grape result in honey flavors. Fermentation
in oak results in aromas of vanilla, butter and honey.
Of course, "you can't
dismiss Chardonnay. It's the driving force for American wine
consumption," says George Rose of Allied Domecq, the international
beverage conglomerate that owns Balbi. "Chardonnay is incredible
in Argentina,” says Catena." Altitude is the key. At different
altitudes you get different characters. For example, more acidity
from higher altitudes, more tropical flavors from lower altitudes.
When you blend them together you get a more interesting wine with
a lot of layers of flavor."
This wine is an excellent
match with seafood and white meats and also with vegetarian
dishes.
CHENIN BLANC
Coming from Anjou,
Center-west of France, this wine clone variety has excellent
productivity and oencological characteristics. In Mendoza it is
grown in the valley of Cuyo.
This wine is
characterized with medium-sized, full and compact clusters with
yellow-gold, ellipsoidal berries and has accentuated perfume.
Because of its tight clusters it is susceptible to rot.
It is a good match with
meat dishes.
PEDRO
GIMENEZ
Pedro Gimenez is indigenous to Argentina, and in Mendoza, almost
half of the area planted with white wine grapes is cultivated with
this variety.
It is mainly a table wine
with medium to large clusters with yellow-gold berries.
It matches well with
pasta and vegetarian dishes.
RIESLING
It is a classical German
grape variety and spread in many parts of the world and can be
dry, sweet, light or full-bodied. In Argentina it is not yet fully
developed; however in other parts of the world it predominates
especially in Australia, New Zealand and California.
This wine variety has
a small cluster with small, spherical, yellow-gold berries. It has
a characteristic delicate perfume. It is a vigorous variety with
medium productivity although it is susceptible to rot. In the
market the Riesling varieties are distinguishes by citric and
herbal aromas, their light body and a well-marked acidity.
This matches very well
with seafood and fish. White meats and Chinese food also match
with this variety quite well. If made as a sweet wine, it matches
very well with desserts based on fruit.
SEMILLON
Coming from south west of
France, this variety is found in Valle de Uco in Mendoza and at
present about 1300 hectares of land is devoted to this wine type.
Semillon has different synonyms depending on the region where it
is found. It constitutes a well-defined entity in the Cuyo, known
only by this name. In Mendoza it is mainly found in Alto Valle de
Rio Negro and Valle de Uco.
This
variety has the great virtue of getting rotten and under certain
conditions of heat and humidity, a fungus (Botrytis cinerea)
softens the grape skin allowing it to dehydrate and the sugar
contained by the grain to concentrate, to produce a sweet creamy
wine. Characteristically this wine is light yellow, with aromas of
wet straw, bland and possesses fruity flavors. Pale, frank yellow
Semillon is used in the production of sparkling wines. In
Argentina, it is dry and complex with interesting honey notes.
It is a good match with
seafood and fish.
VIOGNIER
This wine originates from
South of Gaul, and is grown in province of San Juan and Mendoza.
To the nose it is a fresh
and fruity wine with floral touches. To the mouth it is complex
with secondary flavor of oak.
It goes very well with
white meat in general. A good dish with this wine is chicken with
wine sauce.
SAUVIGNON
BLANC
This white wine grape
variety originates from Bordeaux and the la Loira Valley, in
France. In Argentina, it is grown in valleys of Mendoza and has
gained a significant place among the fine white wine varieties.
This variety in Argentina gets no oak treatment and according to
Johnson from samcooks.com "Sauvignon blanc has a better future
than Chardonnay because it loves heat."
With citric and herbal
aromas, these wines sometimes are one of the most complex and
thickest wines.
It is a perfect partner
for seafood, fish and goat cheese. The wine is also good company
for palate fires.
TORRONTES
This native Argentine
wine is predominantly grown in the La Roja province in Mendoza and
Salta. In the province, almost 12000 hectares of cultivated area
is dedicated to this variety. This excellent fine Argentine grape
dates back to the times when viticulture had just started in
Argentina.
It is a light, young,
fresh and easy to drink wine with golden color, which reminisces
flowers, green herbs, rose and beeswax. It grows with Latin
passion in the mouth. When well elaborated, it is a bright, clean,
greenish yellow wine with memories of rose, honey, orange peel and
ripe tropical fruits.
There are two varieties
of torrontes developed in Argentina.
Torrontes Mendocino has
medium-sized clusters with yellow-gold, spheroid, somewhat
perfumed berries and its economic importance is growing.
Torrontes Riojano has large, loose clusters with
white-yellow-gold, perfumed berries. This variety is widespread in
the Argentine northwest, principally in the provinces of La Roja
and Catamarca, where it produces highly desirable wines and
liquors. It is very important in San Juan where it is known as
Malvasia.
Goes very well with red
meat, and lamb dishes.
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