Argentina

Wine has been produced in Argentina since the 1500s, but it was after the opening of the railway between Buenos Aires and Mendoza in 1885 that Argentina made its first wine-stained mark.

Malbec, one of the six Bordeaux red grapes, has since been adopted as Argentina’s signature variety. The purple-hued wine with its flamboyant black fruit and violet flavours, and luscious texture has made Malbec one of the country’s most important exports, along with beef, tango and football.

The wine lands of Argentina lie in the far west of the country, close to the Andes, which form a natural border with Chile. From the high-altitude vineyards of Salta in the north to the pampas of Patagonia in the far south, it is a 1,000-mile journey through its wine capital Mendoza, as well as San Juan and La Rioja.

The region of Mendoza represents almost three-quarters of the country’s wine production. Producers are increasingly interested in exploring their place and both the Lujan de Cuyo area and the Uco Valley are considered the stars of the region. The thinning air and cooler temperatures at high altitude (up to 1,600 metres above sea-level), combined with the arid, sun-drenched climate combines to make reds with an almost opaque colour, juicy, ripe fruit and refreshing acidity.

Although classically made with high percentages of new oak, there is a move towards fresher, more transparent styles, often made in concrete to highlight the purity of fruit and site.

Malbec isn’t the only the grape in town, with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon boasting a strong heritage, while the distinctive Torrontes grape has become known as Argentina’s signature white grape, although its florality can be too intense for some drinkers.

Leading producers include Cheval des Andes (first vintage 2001, from the same team behind Cheval Blanc), Catena Zapata (a leading force in the industry, along with Adrianna Catena’s spin-off cult Cabernet Franc, El Enemigo), Zuccardi and Paul Hobbs’ Viña Cobos.