Agrelo is a small wine-producing wine region about 20 miles (35km) South of the city of Mendoza in Argentina. Located on the southern side of the Mendoza River just south of Perdriel, around the Village from which it takes its name, the area is home to some of the country's most famous wine estates. Agrelo's Terroir is considered to be some of the best in Mendoza for the production of big, Complex red wines made from the Malbec grape variety
The village is located in the western foothills of the Andes mountains, and is a Part of the Lujan de Cuyo department, an administrative title which handily covers some of the best viticultural land in Argentina. The wine-producing zone of Agrelo slopes upward from the town toward the Andes, with the highest (and most desirable) vineyards in the west reaching up to 3300ft (1000m) above sea level.
The lower-lying eastern part of the area is closer to 3000ft (900m). Agrelo has a Dry, desert-like Climate due to its position in the rainshadow of the Andes.
The altitude in Agrelo, while not at the extreme of Argentinean viticulture, is sufficiently high to have a pronounced effect on the quality of the grapes grown here. At this height, sunlight is more intense than in lower-lying areas and so grapes have hot sun during the day to help them ripen.
These warm, sunny days are followed by much cooler nights due to cold alpine winds that sweep down the western side of the perpetually snow-capped Andes. It is this diurnal temperature variation that is the key aspect of Agrelo's terroir, extending the ripening period and balancing crisp acidity and complex flavors in the grapes.
The soils in Agrelo are generally sandy loam with a deeper layer of gravelly stones, made up from eroded, mineral-rich material from the slopes of the Andes. These soils have exceptional drainage, and careful irrigation during summer is an essential part of the viticultural process.
Tannat is a red grape variety from Béarn which belongs to the cotoïdes family. Present in several vineyards of France, it occupies nearly 3,000 ha. Its leaves are reddish with tan patches. Its bunches are either of normal size or larger. Its berries have a thin skin and are rounded. Its foliage has a swarthy appearance. This variety must be pruned long because it is vigorous. It likes sandy and gravelly soils. Tannat is often exposed to leafhoppers and mites. It is also somewhat susceptible to grey rot. It has 11 approved clones, including 474, 717 and 794. Once mature, this variety produces acidic, fruity, tannic, acidic and full-bodied wines. Various aromas emerge, notably tobacco, cinnamon and exotic wood. Tannat is rarely used alone. It is combined with iron-servadou to obtain a fruitier taste or with cabernet sauvignon to be more rounded.
red wines from the region of Agrelo go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or poultry such as recipes of monkfish with vegetable tagliatelle, seven o'clock leg of lamb or turkey osso bucco.
