Abstract:

More than 210.000 ha are under vine cropping in Argentina. With 18million of hl/year Argentina is one of the main wine production countries in the World and ranks first in Latin America due both to quantity and quality of its production. Argentina has a surface of more than 2.700.000 km2 and has several different sectors suitable for vineyards. At present, the production is located in Mendoza, San Juan, Salta, La Rioja and Rio Negro provinces, mainly in central-western part of the country. The Mendoza province (31-37°S), located near the High Central Andean foothills, is the main producer. The production in Mendoza, as well as San Juan and La Rioja, is located on large alluvial fans. The Salta production is centered in the Cafayate region of Sierras Pampeanas (24-26°S). Vineyards are located in tectonic valleys, at 2200-1800 m/asl on alluvial fans and in alluvial terraces covered by dune fields. The southernmost vineyards of the World are in Northern Patagonia (Rio Negro Province), placed on alluvial and structural terraces. All the country production is located in arid-to semiarid climatic regimes in cold and hot climates, but always with high daily and seasonal climatic variability. Vine-yards are generally located in coarse and stony soils, well drained and with low organic matter contents in surficial horizons, mainly are Orthents and Psaments.