The historic Malbec vineyard at Cheval des Andes.
Malbec is that dark and delicious red wine that originally came from France but now is most closely associated with Argentina. Deep purple in colour, velvety in texture and plummy in profile, Malbec is capturing fans the world over for its Bordeaux-like characteristics without the big price tags.
Malbec is one of the original Bordeaux grape varieties, along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carménère. It also has considerable plantings in the Cahors region which resides 200 kilometers southwest of Bordeaux near the Spanish border. Cahors is thought to be the birthplace of Malbec.
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The historic Malbec vineyard at Cheval des Andes.
Mendoza is Argentina’s premier wine growing region. It is a high elevation plateau that has 350,000 acres planted to grape vines at the base of the Andes Mountains. The vineyards are planted at elevations of 2,600 to 5,000 feet, making them some of the highest vineyards on the planet. While many varieties (both red and white) are planted in Mendoza, Malbec is the star and the wine that has built this region’s reputation.
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The private tasting room at Bodega Santa Julia
For almost 60 years the Zuccardi family has been making wine in Argentina’s Mendoza region. We visited one of their 3 wineries to hear their story first-hand, have a delicious traditional asado lunch and to taste their wines.
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The barrel room at Achaval Ferrer.
If a wine enthusiast is playing a word association game and “Argentina” were to come up as a clue, he or she will likely say “Malbec”. On a recent trip to South America we discovered many other quality wines that Argentina produces, however, our visit to Achaval Ferrer certainly made us appreciate why Malbec is such a source of national pride.
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Malbec at Viu Manent.
Our first trip to Chile and Argentina was full of surprises. It’s no surprise to us that good quality wines are being produced in both countries that are terrific value. What was surprising is just how many wines are being made in both countries that are of excellent quality. Not surprisingly, we found some outstanding Malbec in Argentina. But to our great surprise Viu Manent in Chile is making its name with Malbec, a variety almost exclusively associated with its South American neighbor.
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