Highest altitude vineyards?
Originally published in 2015 by The Drinks Business as part of a longer article.
Are these the top dozen countries with the highest altitude vineyards?
| Country | Region | Producer | Altitude
metres above sea level (asl) |
|
| 1 | Argentina | Upper Calchaqui Valley, Salta | Colomé | 3,100 |
| 2 | Chile | Elqui | Falernia | 2,500 |
| 3 | China | Yunnan | LVMH | 2,300 – 2,600 |
| 4 | USA | Colorado,
West Elks AVA |
Terror Creek Winery | 1,950 |
| 5 | Lebanon | IXSIR | 1,700 | |
| 6 | Spain | Tenerife, DO Abona | Bodega Frontos | 1,650 |
| 7 | Mexico | Casa Madero | 1,500 – 1,700 | |
| 8 | Brazil | Santa Catarina | Vinícola Hiragami | 1,427 |
| 9 | Australia | New England, NSW | Flower’s Black Mountain | 1,300 |
| 10 | Italy | Val d’Aosta | 1,250 | |
| 11 | Cyprus | Kyperounda | 1,100 – 1,400 | |
| 12 | Greece | Metsovo | Katogi Averoff | 1,000 – 1,300 |
Sources: compiled by the author with unreserved and grateful thanks to folk at many generic and promotional bodies, including of countries not making the cut.
NB: excludes Aurelio Montes’ experimental <1ha recently planted in Peru at 3,000m
NB: Just missing the cut: South Africa and Switzerland, both with vineyards at 1,150m.
Nerd notes:
- Temperature decreases by about 0.6°C to 0.8°C (depending on latitude) per 100m increase in altitude above sea level (asl)
- Diurnal temperature range increases with higher altitude asl. Lower night time temperature reduces respiration rate, particularly of malic acid, of grapes.
- Ultraviolet radiation increases with increasing altitude asl. Increased photosynthesis: thicker skins, more anthocyanins and polymerised tannins.
- Growing seasons shorten between 2 and 4 days per ~100m increase in altitude asl. Vine growth can still be strong because of greater UV and higher diurnal temperature range
- Carbon dioxide uptake is lower at higher altitude asl, which limits photosynthesis. Vine growth may be stunted.
- Risks such as frost, hail, winter hardiness, winds and higher production costs increase with higher altitude asl.
Read the full article here.
Comments
One Response to “Highest altitude vineyards?”
December 24, 2020 at 5:16 pm
Good evening
Please note that in Cyprus there are vineyards up to 1500 meters. We own the highest vineyard among all the wineries in Cyprus at 1480 at Petralona region, Agros village. There is an eve higher elevation vineyard than ours at 1520 belonging to an independant vinegrower. Should you be interested I can give you the coordinates and you google it to check for yourself
Regards
Costas Tsiakkas
Winemaker