Circuito Productivo del Vino

Summary

This video script delves into the art of winemaking, starting from the cultivation of the vine to the fermentation process. It highlights the importance of climate and grape varieties like Cabernet and Malbec in Argentina. The script outlines the stages of wine production, including harvesting, fermentation, and aging, and touches on the significance of domestic consumption and international exports, particularly emphasizing Mendoza's role in Argentina's wine industry.

Takeaways

• 🍇 Wine is made from the fermentation of the year's fruit, specifically from grapes belonging to the Vitaceae family.
• 🌡 The grapevine requires harsh climatic conditions to develop properly, with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius and gentle winds to reduce fungal incidence.
• 🌱 Grapevines are typically propagated through cuttings rather than seeds, with the operation occurring in spring and fruits maturing by late summer to early autumn.
• 🍇🔪 The grape harvest, which is crucial for wine production, typically takes place between February and April, with white varieties harvested first.
• 🛠️ Mechanical harvesting involves a machine designed to remove grapes without damaging the plant, followed by hand-picking if necessary.
• 🧪 The most important stage in wine production is fermentation, where grape sugar is converted into alcohol by yeasts, both naturally occurring and lab-selected.
• 🍇🍶 After fermentation, the wine undergoes processes such as racking (remontaje) to aerate the mass and promote yeast activity, and clarification to achieve a cleaner and clearer wine.
• 🚰 Secondary fermentation may occur, where malic acid is converted to lactic acid by lactic bacteria, reducing the wine's acidity.
• 🍾 The final steps in wine production include filtration to remove any remaining particles and bottling, which prepares the wine for market or further aging.
• 📈 Argentina's internal wine market is significant, with 75% of production being consumed domestically, and it is less affected by economic crises due to the affordability of most wines.
• 🌍 Argentina's wine export sector has been dynamic since the late 1990s, with Mendoza being the leading province in production and export, accounting for 65% of national production and 84% of export values.

Q & A

What is the primary ingredient used to make wine?

The primary ingredient used to make wine is the fruit of the vine, specifically grapes that belong to the family of Vitis vinifera.

What type of environmental conditions are required for the proper growth of grapevines?

Grapevines require arid climatic conditions to develop properly, with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius, good sunlight for sugar development, and gentle winds that facilitate leaf growth and reduce the incidence of fungi.

How does grapevine reproduction typically occur?

Grapevines typically do not reproduce with seeds but through cuttings taken from the same plant, a process that occurs in spring.

What are the two main parts of a grape cluster?

The two main parts of a grape cluster are the 'rachis' or stalk, which holds the grapes, and the rest, which is made up of the skin, pulp, and seeds.

What is the most important stage in the wine-making process?

The most important stage in the wine-making process is fermentation, during which the sugar of the grape is transformed into alcohol.

What microorganisms are responsible for the fermentation of grape sugars into alcohol?

Wild yeasts, known as 'indigenous' yeasts, are responsible for the transformation of grape sugars into alcohol. Nowadays, selected yeast strains are often added from a laboratory to ensure optimal fermentation.

When does the grape harvest typically take place in Argentina?

In Argentina, the grape harvest typically takes place between February and April, with white varieties harvested earlier and red varieties later.

What is the purpose of the 'remontaje' process in wine-making?

The 'remontaje' process is used to aerate the mass, providing greater yeast development, increased fermentative activity, and a rise in temperature, as well as homogenizing the mass and dispersing the extracted substances.

What is the 'malolactic fermentation' and its purpose in wine-making?

Malolactic fermentation is a secondary fermentation process where malic acid is transformed into lactic acid by lactic bacteria, reducing the wine's acidity and releasing carbon dioxide.

What are the two main methods for clarifying wine?

The two main methods for clarifying wine are natural clarification, where particles settle out of suspension, and artificial clarification, which involves the addition of egg whites, bentonite, or gelatin to help clear the wine.

Which province in Argentina is the most important for the production of Argentine wines?

Mendoza is the most important province for the production of Argentine wines, producing 65% of the national production and exporting approximately 84% of the total export values.

What is the significance of the internal market in the Argentine wine industry?

The internal market is very important in the Argentine wine industry as 75% of the production goes to this market. The increase in domestic consumption is a consequence of the inability to export the product in recent decades, and it remains stable even in times of crisis.

Which countries are the main export destinations for Argentine wines?

The main export destinations for Argentine wines include the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, which account for 70% of the total exports.