A vineyard in southern Patagonia: Challeng-ing the climate at Viñas del Nant y Fall

Final Project of the GTEC Specialization (Esp. Ing. Daniel Toffetti - UNMDP)

Abstract

Production processes in agriculture and livestock have always been conditioned by the characteristics of the soil, the climate, the sources of irrigation and the variety and nature of the surrounding ecosystem. Although in some privileged regions of the planet, nature is so bountiful that crops are grown with ease, in most cases, man has had to resort to his ingenuity to ensure that crops are viable and sustainable over time. As far as vineyard production is concerned, the Vitis vinifera species has specific preferences for soils with good drainage, an adequate balance of nutrients, a temperate and dry climate, sufficient but not very frequent rainfall, and abundant sunlight. In Argentina, vineyards are grown in regions with semi-arid soils and temperatures between warm and temperate, from the province of Rio Negro to Salta, with successful vineyards existing in some microclimates, including on the Atlantic coast of the province of Buenos Aires. In Patagonia, where suitable soils are abundant, cold weather and frost prevent the development of traditional vineyards. There are important vineyards in the valley between the Negro and Colorado rivers, but further south, the climate is not favorable for cultivation. The Nant and Fall case is about a pioneering venture on the outskirts of Trevelin, Chubut province, where a viable vineyard was developed by incorporating frost detection and protection technology.