Among the wine-making heavyweights, Argentina is a relative newcomer. Compared to the Caucasus region, where wine production dates back to 6000 BC, Argentina’s viticulture only developed during the late 1500s. And it wasn’t until even later, in the 1990s, that Argentina’s wine-producing prowess gained worldwide recognition. But what the South American nation may lack in years, it more than makes up for with its full-bodied Malbecs and crisp Chardonnays. The country’s temperate and consistent climate lends itself to grape growing, with different regions yielding distinct varieties. Raise a glass and read on for our guide to wine in Argentina…
History of Wine in Argentina
Argentina is now routinely ranked among the top ten wine-producing countries globally, but it wasn’t always this way, and the Latin American nation has put in the work to earn this accolade. Argentina’s wine history began in 1556, when Father Cedrón (a Jesuit priest) brought cuttings over from the Chilean Central Valley. By the close of the 16th century, vineyards had cropped up throughout the country, and according to a census, there were 120 in Mendoza alone by 1739. However, Argentina’s real wine boom came at the beginning of the 20th century, when new technologies arrived from European winemaking countries, along with immigrants from Spain, Italy and France who established their own wineries here. As in many New World wine regions, Argentina’s winemaking industry has undergone somewhat of a renaissance in recent decades, with boutique wineries making a name for themselves and consistently generating high-quality tipples.
Wine Regions in Argentina
Mendoza is the most well-known (and largest) of Argentina’s wine regions, and three-quarters of the country’s wine-making takes place here. High altitudes and expansive desert landscapes combine to create the ideal conditions for the ‘New World nectar’, and Malbec, in particular, has become synonymous with Mendoza. Native to South West France, Malbec grapes are right at home in the Andean foothills around Mendoza and have become the nation’s flagship variety. Valle de Uco – set some 3,400ft above sea level – is one of the region’s most abundant areas, often likened to California’s Napa Valley due to its cutting-edge facilities and idyllic backdrop.
Home to some of the world’s highest altitude grape-growing regions (at a lofty elevation of 4,900ft above sea level), Salta, in Argentina’s far north, yields a selection of exceptional vinos. Here, the vineyards of Cafayate benefit from an ideal climate, where intense sunlight blesses the grapes with perfect sugar levels and the minerals found in the soil give rise to distinct qualities. Its stand-out export is Torrontés Riojano, a fresh and crisp white with aromas of grapefruit and tropical notes.
Still at altitude but slightly lower lying than Mendoza, Patagonia’s vineyards in the south of the country produce robust reds and floral-flavoured whites. The desert region’s well-suited climate is cool and dry, while the natural acidity of the terroir promises longevity in bottle ageing. Patagonia’s Pinot Noirs generally combine notes of raspberry, cherry, herbs and truffle, while its Chardonnays have hints of pear and peach, and its satin-smooth Malbecs express spiced notes. The Rio Negro Valley is one of Patagonia’s most prolific wine regions, with standout bottles of Sémillon, Merlot and Malbec hailing from here.
Argentinian Wine Varieties
When it comes to wine in Argentina, Malbec is the undisputed kingpin of the industry, and the inky, robust red acts as a stellar accompaniment to the nation’s signature dishes of asado (barbecued meat) and bife de lomo (sirloin steak). Other red varieties that deserve a mention include (intense and complex) Cabernet Sauvignon, (fresh and elegant) Merlot and (silky and delicate) Pinot Noir. Argentina’s white wines can’t quite compete with the Sauvignon Blancs of France’s Loire Valley or Burgundy’s Chardonnays, but Salta and Patagonia do produce some very respectable Torrontés and Sémillons.
Written by Luisa Watts
