WINEMAKERS OF THE WIND – PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA…
Patagonia encompasses the extreme south of the American continent, mostly in Argentina, and represents more than a third of the land mass of Argentina. Argentine Patagonia consists of many provinces (states) of which Neuquén and Río Negro are located at the northern edge of Patagonia where the wine regions exist.
Being farther south causes cooler nights, and it also means longer sunlight days in the summer, plus with a thinner ozone layer, the sun gets very intense. All of these create the greater thermal amplitude range (as much as a 65°F day/night difference) in which wine grapes thrive and produce higher concentrations of fruit, color and balance. This intense sun also causes the grapes to grow thicker skins to protect themselves – from the sun itself, and of even greater importance, the high winds. During springtime when the grapes are forming, the winds here are regularly blowing at 50 mph, reaching upwards of 100 mph in some places at certain times. Just picture how much the grapes need to protect themselves, and to do so, they grow very thick skins.
Find out the magic of thick skin grapes and the best times to be in the Patagonia Wine Regions. Get the book at: ExploringWineRegions.com