Valle de Uco is a viticultural region southwest of Mendoza, in Argentina. Situated along the Tunuyán River, the Uco Valley is widely considered one of the top wine regions in Mendoza, and all of Argentina. The annual average temperature is 14 °C (57 °F) and altitudes range from 900–1,200 metres (3,000–3,900 ft) above sea level.[1]
| Uco Valley | |
|---|---|
  Uco Valley Location in Argentina | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Argentina, Mendoza Province |
| Coordinates | 33°37′S 69°08′W / 33.617°S 69.133°W |
The combination of high elevation, alluvial soils, irrigation sourced from the Andes Mountains, a long growing season with over 250 sunny days a year, little rain and vast temperature differences between day and night are all conducive to growing quality wine grapes. These climate and geography elements come together to provide excellent fruit ripening and concentration, developing colors, aromas, flavors and textures resulting in wines that are deep in color, intense in aromas and rich in flavors. The Uco Valley figures prominently in the Argentina Wine Route for tourist visitors.[2]
Traditionally, the varietals grown in this area are Sémillon and Malbec; together with Bonarda and Barbera in a smaller amount.[3]
Climate
edit| Climate data for Valle de Uco (Temperature normals and records: 1993–2018; Precipitation normals: 1981-2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 39.0 (102.2) |
36.5 (97.7) |
34.0 (93.2) |
31.0 (87.8) |
28.2 (82.8) |
27.2 (81.0) |
27.0 (80.6) |
31.5 (88.7) |
34.0 (93.2) |
38.4 (101.1) |
34.8 (94.6) |
36.6 (97.9) |
39.0 (102.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.8 (83.8) |
26.9 (80.4) |
24.4 (75.9) |
19.9 (67.8) |
15.9 (60.6) |
13.3 (55.9) |
12.9 (55.2) |
14.5 (58.1) |
16.9 (62.4) |
20.7 (69.3) |
24.6 (76.3) |
27.8 (82.0) |
20.6 (69.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 21.7 (71.1) |
20.0 (68.0) |
17.4 (63.3) |
12.9 (55.2) |
9.2 (48.6) |
6.5 (43.7) |
5.7 (42.3) |
7.4 (45.3) |
10.1 (50.2) |
14.0 (57.2) |
17.4 (63.3) |
20.5 (68.9) |
13.6 (56.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) |
13.3 (55.9) |
11.2 (52.2) |
7.1 (44.8) |
3.9 (39.0) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
1.5 (34.7) |
3.8 (38.8) |
7.3 (45.1) |
10.0 (50.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
7.2 (45.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 3.8 (38.8) |
2.0 (35.6) |
1.5 (34.7) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−9.6 (14.7) |
−8.2 (17.2) |
−13.6 (7.5) |
−13.8 (7.2) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
0.6 (33.1) |
0.3 (32.5) |
−13.8 (7.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 43.2 (1.70) |
50.1 (1.97) |
52.1 (2.05) |
30.9 (1.22) |
29.4 (1.16) |
29.0 (1.14) |
37.3 (1.47) |
30.2 (1.19) |
40.4 (1.59) |
41.8 (1.65) |
40.1 (1.58) |
42.0 (1.65) |
466.3 (18.36) |
| Source: Red Hidrológica Nacional[4] | |||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ Michel Rolland & E. Chrabolowsky (2208) Wines of Argentina, pp. 93-94 Mirrol SA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- ^ Channel 2 Official Uco Valley Air Television Archived 2012-03-24 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Vineyards in Uco Valley Mendoza"
- ^ "Base de Datos Hidrológica Integrada" (in Spanish). Secretaría de Infraestructura y Política Hídrica. 7 November 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2018.