![]() In November 2010, the Argentine government declared wine as Argentina's national liquor. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and other international varieties are becoming more widely planted, but some varieties are cultivated characteristically in certain areas. It is a member of the Malvasia group that makes aromatic white wines. ![]() Torrontés is another typically Argentine grape and is mostly found in the provinces of La Rioja, San Juan, and Salta. It has nothing in common with the light fruity wines made from Bonarda Piemontese in Piedmont. The Italians brought vines that they called Bonarda, although Argentine Bonarda appears to be the Douce noir of Savoie, also known as Charbono in California. The French brought Malbec, which makes most of Argentina's best known wines. There are many different varieties of grapes cultivated in Argentina, reflecting the country's many immigrant groups. This allows cultivating with little or no pesticides, enabling even organic wines to be easily produced. Due to the high altitude and low humidity of the main wine producing regions, Argentine vineyards rarely face the problems of insects, fungi, molds and other grape diseases that affect vineyards in other countries. The Mendoza province produces more than 60% of the Argentine wine and is the source of an even higher percentage of the total exports. Salta, Catamarca, Río Negro and more recently southern Buenos Aires are also wine producing regions. The most important wine regions of the country are located in the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan and La Rioja. The devaluation of the Argentine peso in 2002 further fueled the industry as production costs decreased and tourism significantly increased, giving way to a whole new concept of enotourism in Argentina. Argentine wines started being exported during the 1990s, and are currently growing in popularity, making it now the largest wine exporter in South America. However, the desire to increase exports fueled significant advances in quality. ![]() Until the early 1990s, Argentina produced more wine than any other country outside Europe, though the majority of it was considered unexportable. gallons per year per capita according to 2006 figures). Historically, Argentine winemakers were traditionally more interested in quantity than quality with the country consuming 90% of the wine it produces (45 liters per year or 12 U.S. During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, vine cuttings were brought to Santiago del Estero in 1557, and the cultivation of the grape and wine production stretched first to neighboring regions, and then to other parts of the country. Argentine wine, as with some aspects of Argentine cuisine, has its roots in Spain. If we generalize, a South American malbec has more fruit and ripeness, and a French one has more tannins and structure.Argentine red (left) and white (right) wine, with typical elements such as the pingüino ("penguin") and the "Drago" siphon.Īrgentina is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world. Spend a little more and you will get much more character. For a few dollars more, there are many much more “serious”, ambitious and nuanced malbec wines. Sometimes the producer even adds the altitude of the vineyard on the label.Īn Argentinian Malbec in the low-price segment is still a smooth, easy-to-drink wine. The sub-region or the vineyard’s name are emphasized by the growers and sometimes displayed on the label. At higher altitudes, it is easier to retain the acidity in the wines. Traditionally, vineyards have been planted on the plains. The vineyards planted on higher altitudes, on the Andes’ mountain slopes, benefits from a cooler climate. Argentine malbec is no longer just decent volume wines. Today, ambitious producers realize that in certain places, you can obtain higher quality from the grape than in others. And the Argentinean malbec wines have changed, from fruity unpretentious to something more complex. Many US consumers believe that the grape originates from Argentina, which is understandable. Argentine malbec has had great success in the United States. Since 1990, the plantations have grown at a record pace and now cover almost 100,000 acres. Malbec is Argentina’s most famous grape variety. ![]() The climate in the Loire Valley is sometimes a bit too chilly for malbec to ripen properly, but sometimes it does, especially if you keep the yields low. The grape is found in the following appellations: Rosé de Loire, Touraine, Touraine Amboise, Touraine Azay-le-Rideau, Touraine Chenonceaux and Touraine Mesland. Malbec thrives in the eastern part of the central Loire, in Touraine, close to all the magnificent royal castles for which the Loire has become world-famous. Vineyard landscape and a chateau in Bordeaux, France, copyright BKWine Photography BKWine Photography Loire
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