| The Terroir of Mendoza High Altitude, High Desert and Watchful Vineyard Management by Pedro Marchevsky |
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Terroir means different things to different people. To me,
terroir is the combination of climate, soil, altitude and the viticultural practices and style of the people tending the vineyard. Terroir is what makes a particular vineyard or region unique and different. Terroir is what is behind the truly great wines of the world.
I have often tried to explain to people around the world the nuances of Mendoza's desert climate, our high altitude vine farming, our old vine Malbec. But in the end, it all comes down to paying us a visit. Nothing can compare to visiting Mendoza on a brilliant summer day, standing in the vineyard against the majestic backdrop of the snow capped Andes, and enjoying the hospitality of an asado (barbecue) at the home of a Mendozan vigneron.
Perhaps the single most important characteristic of the Mendoza terroir is its location in the high altitude Andean foothills. The premiere winegrowing areas average between
3,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level. As altitude increases, the average temperature decreases, in general
1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Farenheit) for every 100 meter (328 feet) increase in elevation. Winegrowers can literally climb up and down the mountain side in order to find the ideal temperature and microclimate for each varietal. It is even possible to match desired wine styles of a single variety with different altitudes and their respective microclimates.
As is typical with mountain climates, Mendoza enjoys a wide temperature difference between daytime highs and nighttime lows. This wide thermal amplitude between bright sunny days and cool crisp nights allows for
gradual ripening of the fruit. This factor combines with the typically mild harvest season to allow for
prolonged cluster hang-time. The resulting fruit is well balanced with fully ripe, soft and almost sweet tannins.
The alluvial clay, sand and rock soils of these areas are low in organic material, naturally controlling vine vigor and yield. The mountainous formation also offers
excellent drainage, allowing the vines’ roots to dig deep into the rocky soil without finding alternative water sources which would permit constant growth.
Another important factor in making Mendoza a unique winegrowing region is its
desert-like climate. Average rainfalls of 200 mm (8 inches) per year mean that irrigation is indispensable in grape cultivation. The life-giving element comes in the form of pure mountain spring water from the melting snow caps high in the Andes.
An elaborate canal system, which dates back to the Pre-Columbian Incan Empire, distributes the water to the vineyards below. The use of irrigation is an important tool in the control of plant vigor. Intelligent and
careful irrigation management permits the development of a perfectly balanced canopy. The combination of a balanced canopy and organically poor soils, rewards the vigneron with low yields of perfectly ripe fruit.
The existence of the unique characteristics of altitude, climate, and irrigation provide necessary, but not sufficient, conditions for the cultivation of high quality grapes.
Only the understanding of the synergy of all these factors, as well as varietal selection, canopy management, and irrigation control can allow for maximum quality to be achieved.
The human factor is heightened in Mendoza in comparison to other winegrowing regions of the world, where many of these factors of control are relegated to the whims of Mother Nature.
Mendoza is a province of immigrants. In the 19th century, immigrants from Italy, Spain, England and Russia (among others) came to Mendoza attracted by the romance of the wines made there.
The first Malbec vines, imported from Bordeaux, were planted in Mendoza in 1860.
Mendoza’s winegrowers have 140 years of experience with Malbec and its ideal terroirs within Mendoza. The affinity between Malbec and Mendoza is an example of Mendoza’s terroir at its best.
In the last decade, Mendoza’s wine producers have set out to prove that their wines can stand with the best of the world.
With the high altitude desert terroir on our side, we the winegrowers of Mendoza, have the obligation to maximize each vineyard's and each grape cluster's full potential. I ask you to taste and enjoy our wines, and if you find yourself wanting more, I invite you to come and visit us in Mendoza.