Torrontes

Torrontes (accent on the last syllable) is the name of a number of white grape varieties in Argentina, Spain, Portugal, and Chile. The most famous of them is the Torrontés Riojano, which usually means, if you specify just “torrontes”. In Chile is used in the production of the national spirit Pisco.

Torrontes riojano is considered a flagship variety of Argentina, and the best of the three in the family of Argentine torrontes. This is the most common in the area planted white grape in the country.

Pope Francis, a native of Buenos Aires, was sent consecrated a bottle of Argentine wine “Todos” of varieties torrontes riojano to participate in the mass. [ source ]

Riojano torrontes is a cross of Muscat of Alexandria and varieties of kriola Chica (Criolla Chica) – the man who is known in California as mission (Mission), the first cultivar introduced to America by the European colonists. Wine from this variety of torrontes very aromatic and has a high natural acidity.

The best torrontes wines riojano have a rich bouquet of flowers and tropical fruit, very rich flavor and balanced acidity. Considered to be a good match for Asian cuisine (e.g. the green curry).

VI national festival of Torrontes Riojano

One of the best terroir for this variety are the high altitude vineyards of the Salta province of Northern Argentina, particularly the region of Cafayate (Cafayate). In Mendoza and other parts of the country also produce quite decent and typical torrontes wines riojano: in La Rioja (not to be confused with the Spanish Ryohei), in San Juan.

In the failed samples (and a lot of them too) torrontes gives the wine is very alcoholic, bitter, rough, with weak acid.

But in Argentina there are at least two grapes that bear the name torrontes.

First – sanjuanino torrontes (Torrontes Sanjuanino), on behalf of the province of San Juan. The origin of this variation of the varieties is the same, but it is less fragrant, though the hints of Muscat aromas are inherent in both species. Torrontes sanjuanino less common and less important to the Argentine wine. In Chile it is known as the Austrian Moscatel (Moscatel de Austria).

Second – torrontes Mendocino (Mendocino Torrontes). It in the country even less. Mostly concentrated in the province of río Negro. One of the parents had shared with two other brothers of the family of torrontés is Muscat of Alexandria. The second parent is not known. But damn parent nutmeg its aroma is vanishingly small.

Spain can count at least four separate grades, the title of which is “torrontes”. You’ll meet them in the Extremadura, Montilla-Moriles, Navarre and Ribeiro.

In Portugal with this name at all there are completely different wine.

Not to be confused with mixed feelings, impressed by the many samples of the same name, it makes sense to get acquainted with the grade of textbook wines with a clear indication of the variety and place of origin. Plus expert advice.