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Argentine wine harvest down 25%
May 1, 2009
By Jimmy Langman
Due to climatic conditions, this year's wine harvest in Argentina will be down 25% as compared to last year.
According to Argentina's National Wine Institute, hail in some provinces, and overall higher temperatures in February and March, are factors in the lower production output this year.
The lower production this year has occurred despite Argentina having a 12% increase in land under cultivation for wine grapes.
Guillermo Garcia, president of the National Wine Institute, said: 'If there had not been an international crisis, we would not have been able to provide wine to countries with developed markets.'
Garcia added that Argentine wine companies need to begin keeping more than three months of stock on hand to make up for such production shortfalls.
Exequiel Barros of the Mendoza-based Caucasia Wine Thinking consultancy told decanter.com that many Argentine wineries are worried about their ability to supply medium-priced wines but added: 'We need to see how the international outlook develops this year before we can dare to make any projections.'
In Chile, wine growing areas that are not irrigated, such as Cauquenes in the Maule Valley, are predicting a similarly low harvest, with an estimated drop in production from 30 to 40% because of higher temperatures and low rainfall.
Most wineries in Chile, however, are reporting a good harvest. 'The lack of rain has been good for this year's harvest. But wineries in the far south, such as in the Bio Bio, may experience changes to quality because of the higher temperatures,' said Edmundo Bordeu, professor of oenology at Chile's Catholic University.
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