| South American chile argentinian wine gift basket
The New World wines of South America are winning awards in the traditional wine market. It shouldn't come as a surprise. The grape vines of Chile and Argentina were planted by missionaries who came from Spain with the conquistadors in the mid-sixteenth century. Wine and winemaking in South America has a longer history than anywhere else in the New World. In the mid 1500’s, Jesuit missionaries brought viticulture to South America. This introduction began in Chile and continued to Argentina. The wine producing nations of South America are making progress to improve the quality of their wines. While Chilean wines are better known on the foreign market, Argentina is increasing the quality of its wines and is making a global impact. As well as these two countries, there is also a small amount of wine coming out of Uruguay. Argentina is one of the worlds largest wine-producing countries. The Climate of Argentina is similar to the Andes and it is this similarity that supports the Argentinean wine industry. Argentina is mainly an arid landscape that profits from irrigating waters off the mountains. Argentina's warmer inland region encourages vine growth down the entire length of the country. In the north, the vineyards lie at the same latitude as Morocco; and in the south, vineyards share latitude with New Zealand. One of the vital aspects to growing quality wine grapes here is altitude, with vineyards planted at 2,000 and 3,000 feet to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. Argentine wines are made from grapes such as traditional Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and also varieties like Tempranillo, Bonarda, Barbera, Torronts and Malbec. Chile has a wonderful climate for growing healthy wine grapes. Located, west of the Andes, Chile's climate varies from the heat of the arid, rocky, mountainous desert to the north and the icy, cold, Antarctic expanse in the south. Chiles vineyards flourish in the warm, fertile valleys that are positioned between the two areas. Viticulture has been established in Chile for centuries and there are a wide selection of global wine varieties planted, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and many more. Argentine wine Argentine wine, as with many aspects of Argentine cuisine, has its roots in Spain. During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, Juan Cedrón (or Cidrón) brought the first vine cuttings to Santiago del Estero in 1557, and the cultivation of the grape and wine production stretched first to neighbouring regions, and then to other parts of the country. Argentine winemakers have traditionally been more interested in quantity than quality and the country consumes 90% of the wine it produces. However, the desire to increase exports fuelled significant advances in quality. Argentine wines started being exported during the 1990s, and are currently growing in popularity. Argentina is the largest wine producer in South America and the 5th largest in the world, with over 1,200 million liters (2003), and the 13th largest exporter in the world (431 million USD in 2005). Argentina probably produces the best Malbec. Ironically, in the 1980s, Argentina almost gave up on the grape through government vine pull schemes. Due to the high altitude and low humidity of the main wine producing regions, Argentine vineyards rarely face the problems of insects, fungi, moulds and other diseases that affect grapes in other countries. This permits cultivating with little or no pesticides, allowing even organic wines to be easily produced. Regions The most important wine regions of the country are located in the provinces of Mendoza and San Juan (Cuyo region), and La Rioja. Salta, Catamarca and Río Negro are also wine producing regions. The Mendoza Province produces more than 60% of the Argentine wine and the source of an even higher percentage of the total exports (84% by value during the first trimester of 2006). Mendoza - Valle Central, Mendoza area, Valle de Uco, San Rafael area San Juan - Valle de Tulum, Valle de Ullum Salta - Valles Calchaquíes La Rioja -Valle de Famatina Catamarca - Valle de Tinogasta Río Negro (Alto Valle) Jujuy - San Salvador de Jujuy (Northernmost wine producing province that has produced wines at some of the highest recorded altitudes) Neuquén - San Pedro del Chañar (developing wine region in the north of the Patagonian province) Grapes There are many different varieties of grapes cultivated in Argentina though Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon among the reds, and Torrontés and Chardonnay among the whites, are the most popular of them. At the same time, some varieties are cultivated caracteristically in certain areas. The most distinctive grapes are probably Malbec and Torrontés. Argentina is well-known for its Malbec wines and was introduced in the mid-19th century to Argentina. Torrontés is also produced in Spain. Red Malbec - Mendoza (20,000 hectares) Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah - San Juan Tempranillo - Mendoza Merlot - Río Negro Pinot Noir - Río Negro White Chardonnay - Mendoza Torrontés - La Rioja, Mendoza and San Juan - caracterized by its fruity flavour Sauvignon Blanc Riesling - San Juan and La Rioja Chenin Blanc - Mendoza Viognier - Mendoza and San Juan Sémillon - Mendoza and Río Negro Chilean wine Chile has a long history of wine making, going back to the conquistadores who brought grape vines with them in the mid 16th Century and planted vineyards. In the mid 18th century, French varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were introduced. However, government decrees prohibited the planting of new vineyards between 1938 and 1974. Much low quality wine has historically been produced (often from table grapes such as sultanas) and producers have traditionally been more interested in quantity than quality. However, in the early 1980s a renaissance began with the introduction of stainless steel fermenters and the use of oak barrels for ageing. Subsequently, the export business grew very quickly and large amounts of quality wines were produced. The number of wineries has grown from 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005. Chile is now the fourth largest exporter of wines to the United States. The climate has been described as midway between that of California and France. The most common grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère, which is often regarded as perhaps the most suitable grape for the Chilean climate. Regions In December 1994, the Republic of Chile defined the following viticultural regions, also known as viticultural zones or appellations: Viticultural Region of Atacama, within the III Administrative Region. Within it are two subregions, the Copiapó Valley and the Huasco Valley, both of which are coterminous with the provinces of the same names. Viticultural Region of Coquimbo, within the IV Administrative Region. It has three subregions: Elqui Valley, Limarí Valley, and the Choapa Valley. All subregions are coterminous with the provinces of the same names. Viticultural Region of Aconcagua, within the V Administrative Region. It includes two subregions, the Valley of Aconcagua and the Valley of Casablanca, Chile. The Aconcagua Valley is coterminous with the province of that name. The Casablanca Valley is coterminous with the comuna of that name. Viticultural Region of the Central Valley, which spans the VI and VII Administrative Regions and the Administrative Metropolitan Region. Within it are four subregions: the Maipo Valley, the Rapel Valley, the Curicó Valley and the Maule Valley. Viticultural Region of the South, within the VIII Administrative Region. Two subregions are included: Itata Valley and Bío-Bío Valley. |
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