Argentina: The World’s Most Progressive Wine Country
What are some top factors that make a wine country progressive? There’s the growth, popularity, demand, human rights, women’s rights, organics, sustainability, and the list goes on. How often do we see many of these attributing factors come together, creating a rolling wave of continuous momentum from one wine country? Argentina seems to be head and shoulders above the rest. But, why?
Here are three wineries that seem to encompass the overall progressive thinking that make Argentina an industry that has steam-rolled their way to a leading position of forward-thinking practices in the wine world.
Trapiche
You can’t begin to be the most progressive wine region unless you get the right amount of momentum out of the gate. Trapiche is one of Argentina’s oldest wineries, being established in 1883 in Mendoza. It continues to grow in success as the country’s largest producer and one of Argentina’s most reputable brands on an international scale. The passion of this producer is quite remarkable as they are leaders in innovation - practicing modern winemaking and experimenting with micro-terroirs.
Trapiche’s traditional meets modern grape growing and winemaking processes create the perfect cocktail for a continuous upwards trajectory. The upward climb of Trapiche has been fueled by what they claim as a “relentless quest for innovation”. While they maintain a traditional wine culture through biodynamic farming, they are consistently striving towards pushing the envelope in terroir discovery and modern winemaking.
Marcelo Belmonte, the Agricultural Engineer for Trapiche implements historic biodynamics within the vineyards. This ancient farming method is one of the purest ways to create organic and sustainable vineyards, using the lands natural offerings and moon cycles to guide vineyard management. Trapiche uses an organic approach of steering clear of chemicals and pesticides and uses natural fertilizers from their winery farm for the vines. Argentina’s dry and sunny climate make it a prime location for organic grape growing, and the number of organic certified wineries has almost doubled since 2014. Today, more than 161 vineyards in Argentina are now classified as certified organic. This eco-friendly outlook not only ensures top vineyard health but matches the direct market drive for more sustainable products.
Marcelo is also accredited with bringing innovative methods to Trapiche’s agricultural techniques such as introducing satellite imaging and soil electrical conductivity mapping. This is an example of how complacency is the enemy at Trapiche, and that this outlook is one that’s shared by most wineries in Argentina as an entire region. They continue to lay the building blocks of history upon history.
Susana Balbo
Susana Balbo’s tenacious spirit led her to become the first woman to graduate from enology in Mendoza in 1981, and also become Argentina’s first female winemaker. She established her winery in Mendoza, Argentina in 1999 where her two children Jose and Ana have joined her in the family business.
Susana Balbo became an important catalyst for female empowerment in the Argentina wine industry. Beginning with her commendable power move of naming a winery after herself. Her strong leadership was recognized by other women in wine, and provided them with the idea of equality entitlement they needed to step into strong leadership roles, which plays a major factor in the development of Argentina’s wine landscape today.
In a global industry that consistently boasts “king of” titles to popular male winemakers, Susana earned the title “Queen of Torrontes”, a royal appointment that was and still is practically unheard of for female winemakers anywhere else in the world. Argentina has a strong history of faming female leaders, and it began with Eleanor of Aquataine. A French (and English) Queen who championed the Malbec grape in her heartland of Cahors, which became Argentina’s signature grape as it ultimately flourished in hot and dry climates.
Wines of Argentina is notably more progressive than other countries when it comes to equality and also having females take on leadership positions. In fact, the majority of the governing body itself are women. Wines of Argentina has proven their claim to be “agents of change towards a sustainable and inclusive culture committed to equal opportunities in the world of wine.” Some of their commitments include breaking gender stereotypes, encouraging inclusive leadership, and promoting equality through example. Additionally, they are also the first Wines of body in the world to adhere to the U.N.’s Women’s Empowerment Principles.
Additionally, the cornerstones of Susana Balbo’s winery entail innovation and sustainability, which is certainly a template for a reoccurring pattern of break strong and steadfast we see with the most successful wineries in Argentina.
Catena
Catena is a focal point for Argentina that encompasses all progressive factors of its’ wine industry. Dr. Laura Catena, 4th generation vintner, has successfully and consistently built upon a sturdy foundation that began with Nicola Catena planting the first Malbec vineyard for Bodega Catena Zapata in 1902.
Female empowered, historic, sustainable, organic, biodynamic, academic, scientific, and the list goes on.
Stemming from Catena’s dedication to their craft came the development of the Catena Institute of Wine. It’s here where Dr. Laura Catena has been leading in-depth scientific studies for two decades. Deriving quality from research that may be more diligent than any other wine studies in the world. From high-altitude climate variations, to sustainability protocol, the Catena Institute of Wine has been laying the groundwork of vineyard research to wine.
When asked what the next revolution for Catena will be, Dr. Laura Catena states, “It would have to be preserving biogenetic diversity in vines. We have 135 specifically identified cuttings of Malbec, the largest in the world. A lot of the diversity in vines has been lost. Climate change is a huge challenge. It’s not just heat, it’s biodiversity and ecology and how we are encroaching on nature. We all need to play a role with increasing biodiversity and preserving biodiversity. The vision of the Catena Institute is to use science to preserve nature and culture. You need to preserve both to have a wine culture. 39% percent of our vineyards are unplanted and have native fauna and flora in it. So, the next revolution is doing all the work to protect this biodiversity and culture.”
Read also: An interview with Leah Spooner and Laura Catena, Laura Catena: The Modern Matriarch of Argentine Wine
Argentina has propelled themselves into the position of the world’s fifth largest wine producer. Many Argentine wineries that we know and love today had a strong start, with continuous momentum of development and growth. They’ve bulldozed their way to equality and stayed ahead of the game in organics and sustainability thanks to their unique and dramatic terroir. Not only have they championed Malbec by reinventing its profile in to high-quality single-varietal wines of high-altitude, but they have also proven diversity by cultivating several other varieties that can easily stand against the world’s best.
The wine industry here thrives in an environment where history and innovation collide, and as it’s notably fiercely fueled by the passion of its’ members, past and present, this force won’t be slowing down any time soon.