Mendoza is by far the largest of Argentina's wine regions, producing around 70% of the country's wine. (Copyright material, Wine-Searcher)
Situated in the rain shadow of the Andes mountains to the west, Mendoza benefits from a dry climate and high average temperatures. Irrigation is provided by the various rivers which cross the region, including the Mendoza river itself, which runs down from the mountains. Warm, dry harvest periods mean that winemakers are able to pick their grapes according to ripeness, rather than being ruled by the vagaries of the weather. As with other New World countries, this leads to a reduction in vintage variation, as well as consistent quality from year to year. Predictable harvests also afford Mendoza's winemakers the luxury of increased control over the styles of wine they produce – a factor which has contributed to the region's international reputation.
Mendoza has many high-altitude vineyards, with an average altitude of around 3000ft (900m) above sea level. (© Proprietary Content, Wine-Searcher) Soil types vary across the region, but the majority of vines are planted on alluvial soils (sand over clay), illustrating the reliance on local rivers for irrigation.
Mendoza already has multiple sub-regions, several of particular interest, which will soon become recognized in their own right. In 1993, one of these, Lujan de Cuyo, became Argentina's first officially acknowledged controlled appellation.
A large number of grape varieties grow successfully in Mendoza, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah and Tempranillo for red wines, and Chardonnay, Semillon, Torrontes and Viognier for white wines.
