San Juan Wines (14)

 The silence of the vineyards is mixed with the soft splashing of a nearby river. To pause, let your gaze wander, indulge your senses, and enjoy a sweet Cereza (Spanish: cherry) – this is San Juan, the second largest wine region in Argentina!

Dry wine and dry landscape of San Juan

The vines in San Juan truly have a tough life. Hardly any precipitation and dusty, hot Zonda (foehn wind), resulting in a rain shadow. Nevertheless, this does not stop the winemakers of San Juan from utilizing the dry landscape for viticulture year after year. To achieve this, the vineyards are supported by a canal system. Along the fertile rivers Rio Jachal and Rio San Juan, viticulture is easier. These rivers carry fresh meltwater from the Andes into the vineyards. In this way, the lush green vines stand out like a small oasis from the sometimes barren landscape. Often, dry red wines are produced here. The grape varieties Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Merlot are cultivated for this purpose.

In the high vineyards of San Juan

In the wine-growing area of San Juan, cool nights follow hot days. These are good conditions for the red grape varieties in the relatively high vineyards of Valle Tulum, Valle Zonda, or Valle Pedernal. The Tulum valley reaches heights of about 650 m. Here, Malbec and Syrah ripen in very large proportions. The soils mainly consist of clay, silt, and sand, occasionally gravel and pebbles. Valle Zonda is a bit higher. At about 700 to 800 m, the main red grape varieties found here are Syrah and Malbec. As the Zonda wind has a great influence in this section of San Juan, the grapevines must develop long roots to reach water. 

However, the highest wine-growing area is Valle Pedernal. The vineyards in this subregion of San Juan are located at about 1200 - 1300 m above sea level. The green foliage of the Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec vines strongly contrasts with the dark, black rock of the area. This is where the name originates: “pedernal” means flint. 

At this altitude, the sun intensity is very high. The nights are noticeably cooler than in other parts of San Juan. This is reflected in the wine. Because the ripening of the berries is extended under these conditions, very complex wines are produced that impress with elegance.

The red grape varieties in the wine region of San Juan

The Argentine wine region San Juan features several red grape varieties. South American winemakers often cultivate the following:

• Syrah
• Merlot
• Cabernet Franc
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Malbec

San Juan's white grape varieties

San Juan is not limited to red wine alone. Common white grape varieties include:

• Torrontés
• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Viognier

San Juan's light red wine varieties

The light red wine varieties Criolla Chica, Criolla Grande, and Cereza are characteristic of the wine-growing region of San Juan. The Criolla varieties were likely imported from Spain in the 16th century. They are known for their very high yield. Criolla Grande, for instance, ripens between medium to late. This results in often very large, heavy grape clusters. They are vinified either into rosé wine or dark white wine. As a blend, Criolla varieties are used in San Juan for red wine. Generally, inexpensive wines remain in the domestic market of Argentina. The Creole (Spanish: criollo) wine variety is extremely popular among local winemakers. 

Only two varieties are more commonly found in the vineyards of San Juan. These are Malbec and Cereza. Cereza is a cross of the Muscat d'Alexandrie and Listán Prieto (Criolla Chica) grape varieties. The Cereza vine ripens late and, like Criolla Grande, is highly productive. It copes very well with the heat and dryness in the wine-growing area of San Juan. Similar to the Criolla varieties, Cereza is also suitable as a blend for red wine. Rosés and white wines are also made from this light red variety.

Interesting facts about wine from San Juan

How many hours of sunshine are there in San Juan?

In the two hottest months – December and January – San Juan has about 9.7 hours of sunshine per day. The months of November and February also have around 9.5 hours of sunshine per day.

What does rain shadow mean for San Juan?

Rain shadow refers to areas located on the leeward side of a mountain range that consequently have very little precipitation, like San Juan. The clouds usually rain out on the other side of the mountain, resulting in very little water being carried over.

What is the rainfall in San Juan?

The rainfall in the wine-growing region of San Juan is about 12 mm per year. There are approximately 12 rainy days per year.

Buy wine from San Juan online at VINELLO

In our VINELLO online shop, you can purchase wine from the Argentine San Juan. Browse comfortably in VINELLO's shop for San Juan. You will find, for example, dry Syrah and Malbec or Chardonnay if you prefer a chilled white wine. We offer you a convenient service: In our online shop, you can pay easily and effortlessly. We ship your wine quickly and securely. Almost worldwide. Order wine from San Juan and treat yourself to enjoyment. 

Do you have wishes or questions? In any case, you can call us! Our phone number is 0351 – 469 256 55. You can send emails to [email protected]. Find us on Facebook and check out Instagram @vinello_wine. Enjoy with us!