Argentina

Argentina is currently the world’s fifth largest wine producer by volume – after France, Italy, Spain and the USA, but it is only in the last ten or fifteen years, that the Argentinean wine industry has really begun to develop the methods, attitudes and will to become a serious player in the international wine market.

The high volume, low quality vines are gradually being replaced by premium varieties and today Argentinean wines are truly a force to be reckoned with. Formerly struggling bodegas are now attracting the backing of major international wine companies and product quality is soaring. As the industry balance shifts from cheap table wines towards exquisitely crafted wines some vintages are increasingly recognised as being amongst the best in the world. This means that after a relatively long time on the fringe the Argentine wine industry is at last starting to recognise its heritage and starting to reap the benefits.

With the benefit of old vines, unique geographical conditions, investment in new technology and a mix of modern and traditional methods Argentina is now taking its rightful place among its competitors. The wine industry has come a long way since the first vines were planted in the Mendoza valley more than 400 years ago when the Spanish conquerors found a peculiarly green and fertile land in the midst of a vast desert. And it is on this soil that the humble Malbec grape has come into its own and where it continues to thrive. When the grape was originally brought to Mendoza it adapted in the dry climate immediately and today makes incredibly good wines.

The Malbec grape is very susceptible to rot and mildew and therefore difficult to grow in ‘normal’ to damp conditions, so any region that experiences frequent rain while the vines are bearing fruit, has a great deal of difficulty. In Bordeaux, for example, this is a significant problem with Malbec grapes. In Mendoza, though, there is virtually no rain at all, so rot and mildew are therefore not a concern. In the shadow of the Andes, and fed by the mountain melt waters, Mendoza valley vineyards in particular are producing some outstanding wines and are well worth tracking down.

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