Río Negro IG

Río Negro once had far more vines than it does now. In 1975 the province had 17,579 hectares. The INV counted 1,259.8 hectares in 2025, spread over 213 vineyards. State support ended in the 1980s and many growers moved to fruit. General Roca department holds 821.1 hectares, which is 65.2% of the province, followed by Avellaneda (171.0), Adolfo Alsina around Viedma (102.2), Pichi Mahuida (61.5), El Cuy (59.9) and Conesa (36.4).

The wines that put the province back on the map come from old vines. Humberto Canale arrived in General Roca in 1909 and planted the first vineyards in 1912. Bodega Chacra farms Pinot Noir planted in 1932 and 1955 at Mainqué, and Bodega Noemía bottles a Malbec block from 1932, also at Mainqué. Both are organic and biodynamic. The range is wider than the Alto Valle suggests. De Bernardi in El Bolsón grows Pinot Noir, Merlot and Gewürztraminer at the foot of Cerro Piltriquitrón, and Don Amaro near San Antonio Oeste grows Malbec in sea wind.

When I open a Río Negro red I'm looking for fruit that stays fresh and tannins that feel fine. I'll check the narrower IG on the label each time, because the valley matters.