By Gabriela Malizia for Winesur.comThe year ends with good news for the emblematic grape variety as regards exports, development of cultivated surface and awards.
The most recent good news is that at least 11 Argentinian Torrontés have achieved between 90 and 92 points at Robert Parker’s publication. Bodegas Etchart, from Cafayate (Salta) is leading the awards list. The company of the Group Pernod Ricard got 92 Parker points with its Torrontés Gran Linaje and a Decanter’s Trophy for Torrontés Privado 2009.
El Porvenir de Los Andes was other winery from Cafayate that achieved 92 Parker points with its wine Laborum, a limited edition wine aged between 10 and 12 months in French oak barrel.Moreover, other wines that got 91 Parker points were: Susana Balbo Crios Torrontés (which got a Trophy in the Argentina Wine Awards at the beginning of the year), Tapiz Torrontés 2009 from Tapiz, Alta Vista Premium Torrontés, Manos Negras Torrontés and Terrazas de Los Andes Reseva Torrontés 2009 (which also got Decanter’s Trophy). In this contest, Trivento Amado Sur Torrontés 2009 from Mendoza also got a Trophy.
Furthermore, Finca El Origen Torrontés Reserva 2009 achieved a silver medal at the International Wine Challenge, performed this year in London.
Exports
According to the data of exports accumulated between January and September in 2009 and 2010, Argentinian Torrontés exports grew from.. Read full article
11.5 to 14.2 million FOB dollars, which shows an increase of 23.8%.
Furthermore, the volume of 9-liter cases grew from 428,000 to 512,000 in the same period, registering an increase of 19.7%.
The Torrontés volume share is 3.6% in the pie chart of wines exported from Argentina. Moreover, the average price per case grew from 27 dollars in 2009 to 28 dollars in 2010, with a slight increase of 3.5%.
Cultivated surface
According to Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (National Wine Institute), Torrontés vineyards are 39% of Salta and 31% of La Rioja. In Mendoza, until de 2009 harvest, there were 3,738 hectares cultivated with this variety.
As figures show, Salta and la Rioja are the leading provinces as regards Torrontés vineyards. In La Rioja, this variety has increased 1.45% compared with 2000. However, Torrontés Mendocino has decreased 8% and Torrontés Sanjuanino 18.5%
La Rioja and Salta have greater relative share as regards total hectares: 31.63% and 38.93% respectively. These provinces are followed by Río Negro and Catamarca.
http://www.winesur.com/top-news/it-is-torrontes-time
