Uco Valley IG: altitude, grapes and terroir

By Roel TimmermansPublished on

Wijngaard bij Los Árboles in Valle de Uco met de Andes op de achtergrond

In short

Valle de Uco is een officieel erkende Argentijnse Indicación Geográfica in Mendoza en omvat exact de departementen San Carlos, Tunuyán en Tupungato. De hooggelegen, door de Andes gevormde wijnzone combineert grote dagelijkse temperatuurverschillen, irrigatie vanuit de rivieren Tunuyán en Tupungato en stenige, doorlatende bodems. Malbec is de dominante druif, naast onder meer Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot en groeiende aanplant van Cabernet Franc.

Key facts

Facts about Uco Valley IG: altitude, grapes and terroir
Topic Details
Beschermde status Indicación Geográfica (IG), erkend in 2002 via Resolución INV C.37/2002
Gebied De departementen San Carlos, Tunuyán en Tupungato; niet de volledige provincie Mendoza
Ligging Provincie Mendoza, Argentinië; ten zuidwesten van de stad Mendoza
Breedtegraad Tussen ongeveer 33° en 34° zuiderbreedte
Hoogte Circa 900 m bij Tunuyán tot 1.250 m bij Tupungato volgens het INV-regiorapport
Irrigatie De wijnbouwzones worden gevoed door de rivieren Tunuyán en Tupungato
Dagelijkse temperatuurspreiding Ongeveer 15 °C volgens het INV-regiorapport
Bodems in de hogere zones Stenig en arm; rolkeien met grof zand en wat leem, doorgaans zeer doorlatend
Wijngaardoppervlak 29.272 hectare in 2022 (definitieve INV-data)
Malbec 14.774 hectare, 52% van de aanplant in 2018

Maps and location

Kaart van Argentinië met de ligging van Valle de Uco in de provincie Mendoza
Valle de Uco ligt in het westen van Argentinië, aan de voet van de Andes.
Kaart van Mendoza met de Valle de Uco-departementen Tupungato, Tunuyán en San Carlos
Binnen Mendoza loopt Valle de Uco van Tupungato via Tunuyán naar San Carlos.

Valle de Uco is an officially recognized Argentine Indicación Geográfica (IG) in the province of Mendoza. The wine region encompasses the departments of San Carlos, Tunuyán, and Tupungato; it is therefore not the same as the entire administrative province of Mendoza. The combination of high-altitude vineyards, large temperature fluctuations, and river-fed irrigation defines the regional character.[1][2]

Where is Valle de Uco located?

Valle de Uco is situated southwest of the city of Mendoza, roughly between 33° and 34° south latitude. The official IG was recognized in 2002 and includes San Carlos, Tunuyán, and Tupungato. That is the canonical scope of this dossier.[3]

San Carlos, Tunuyán, and Tupungato

Together, the three departments form the Valle de Uco IG. Within this area, more specific designations of origin exist, but these may not be used as synonyms for the entire valley. The map and regional map show its location in Argentina and the official departmental boundaries, respectively.[4][5]

Why do altitude and climate determine the profile?

Altitude and temperature difference

The vineyards lie roughly from 900 meters in Tunuyán to 1,250 meters in Tupungato. Warm days and cold nights result in a daily temperature fluctuation of approximately 15 °C.[6]

Irrigation and soil

The Tunuyán and Tupungato rivers feed the irrigation. In the higher zones, the soils are generally stony, poor, and well-drained, with pebbles, coarse sand, and localized silt. This requires precise water application and makes generalizations about a single soil type for the entire valley incorrect.[7]

Autumn vineyard and irrigation water near Tupungato in Valle de Uco
Vineyard and irrigation water near Tupungato.[8]

Which grapes grow in Valle de Uco?

Malbec is the dominant grape. The official records noted 14,774 hectares of Malbec in 2018, 52% of the total vineyard area of the three departments. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot were also important plantings; Cabernet Franc grew strongly during the period studied.[9]

Red, white, and sparkling

The current Uco Valley selection includes red, white, and sparkling wines.

Modern circular architecture of Bodega Salentein in Valle de Uco
Bodega Salentein in Valle de Uco.[10]

How large is the viticultural zone?

For 2022, 29,272 hectares of vineyard were registered in San Carlos, Tunuyán, and Tupungato combined. This figure refers to the vineyard area of the official zone and not the total surface area of the departments.[11]

View Valle de Uco wines

View the current selection in the existing Uco Valley collection.

Wines from this region

Sources and review

  1. [1]Erkende en beschermde Argentijnse IG's en DO's — Valle de UcoInstituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (INV)
  2. [2]Regiones vitivinícolas: Valle de Uco, MendozaInstituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (INV)
  3. [3]Erkende en beschermde Argentijnse IG's en DO's — Valle de UcoInstituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (INV)
  4. [4]Erkende en beschermde Argentijnse IG's en DO's — Valle de UcoInstituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (INV)
  5. [5]IGN ANIDA — provincie- en departementsgeometrie (lagen 2 en 4)Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN)
  6. [6]Regiones vitivinícolas: Valle de Uco, MendozaInstituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (INV)
  7. [7]Regiones vitivinícolas: Valle de Uco, MendozaInstituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (INV)
  8. [8]Terroir: herfstwijngaard en irrigatie bij Tupungato — Martha E Chaves, CC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons
  9. [9]Evolución de la superficie de vid: Valle de Uco 2000–2018Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (INV)
  10. [10]Architectuur: Bodega Salentein — Bormidayanzon, CC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons
  11. [11]Resumen de variables vitivinícolas por zona — 2022Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (INV)

Image and map credits

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