Late Harvest Torrontés and More Argentine Sweet Wines

Dive into the world of late harvest Torrontés wines via Bodega Santa Julia Tardío. Additionally, discover a variety of winemaking techniques employed in Argentina to craft delectable sweet wines.

Discovering the unexpected can be delightful! That was my experience when I sampled the Santa Julia Late Harvest Torrontés.

You might have heard about Argentina’s iconic white grape variety Torrontés (if you haven’t, I made this guide for you). Torrontés wine is very aromatic. Think of sweet white flowers and tropical fruit. On the palate, it surprises you with citrus and herbal notes, and a vibrant acidity.

While most Torrontés wines in Argentina are dry, the grape’s aromatic profile also lends itself beautifully to the creation of exquisite sweet wines.

HOW LATE HARVEST WINES ARE MADE

Tardío wines are made with grapes that are left on the vines and harvested later in the season, when they are riper and higher in sugar. This is only one of the many methods for producing sweet wines in Argentina.

The key to an enjoyable late harvest wine that isn’t cloying lies in a good acidity that balances its sweetness. Add Torrontés’ sweet aromatic notes to the mix and you will have a solid sweet wine! That’s why this grape is perfect for this wine-style.

SANTA JULIA LATE HARVEST TORRONTÉS

When I tasted this wine, I immediately perceived an explosion of flowers, apricot, honey and linden tea on the nose. On the palate, the sweetness is compensated by the complexity of the wine. Notes of honey, orange peel and grapefruit. It has a nice acidity and a pleasant finish. The wine is made of 85% Torrontés and 15% Viognier. The later grape adds to its bouquet and unctuosity. Delightful!

What would you pair this Late Harvest Torrontés with? I suggest orange zest white chocolate bar or a fruit salad with tropical fruits like peach, mango and pineapple.

Bodega Santa Julia commits to a sustainable production and many of their vineyards are certified organic. The winery is located in Maipú, Mendoza. It grows vines in this location, as well as in Santa Rosa (Eastern Mendoza) and Uco Valley. Santa Julia wines are available in the U.S and many other countries since it is one of Argentina’s largest producers.

OTHER SWEET WINES MADE IN ARGENTINA

Beyond late harvest wines, there are many other winemaking techniques for sweet wines explored by local winemakers, such as the following.

• Viña Las Perdices (Mendoza) makes ice wine by freezing late picked Malbec grapes in the winery.
• Bodega Secreto Patagónico (Neuquén) explores the cane cut style.
• Caelum (Mendoza) produces Malbec and Torrontés by the Passito method. The first time I had a sweet Malbec was at a tasting guided by Caelum’s owner. I was amazed by this wine. It was sweet but not cloying. Loved it!
• Rutini (Mendoza) makes botrytized wine. Making this style of wine is not easy in Mendoza as the dry climate is not suitable for the noble rot.
• Santa Julia also makes a fortified wine (Oporto-style) called Malamado.

Unfortunately, the production of these wines is very limited and most of them are only available in Argentina. So, when you spot one of these bottles, don’t hesitate to pick one up!

Meanwhile, you can easily find a bottle of late harvest Torrontés in the U.S, U.K. and Canada.