Argentina is known for producing high-quality wines, including Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Torrontés. The country has seven major wine regions, with Mendoza being the largest and best known. Other regions, such as Salta and Neuquén, also produce excellent wines. The favorable growing conditions, including a mild, arid climate and high altitudes, contribute to the quality of Argentine wines.
The Argentine country is world famous for producing high quality and exciting wines. In general, Argentine wines are known to be big, fruity and well-balanced with bright fruity aromas. Most Argentine wines are enjoyed young, which means they don’t need to be aged for long periods of time before they reach optimum expression. Argentine red wines include Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Bonarda, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. Argentine white wines include Torrontés, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillón, Riesling, Moscatel de Alejandría, Viognier, Gewürtzraminer and Ugni Blanc, a French white grape.
Argentine wines are grown on a long stretch of land that runs through most of the western side of the country. Pressed against the Andes, Argentine wineries are privileged with ideal growing conditions. These include a mild, arid climate, extraordinarily high altitudes, irrigation from the Andes that melts the water, and the relative isolation of urban areas from pollution. Under such favorable conditions, Argentine vineyards remain relatively free of common diseases and contaminants that often afflict wine grapes.
There are seven major wine regions in Argentina which together cover 221,700 hectares (547832.63 acres, 2217 sq km) of land. Mendoza is the largest and best known of these, and is considered the premier tasting region for Argentine wines. Mendoza is responsible for producing 80% of Argentina’s wine and boasts 146,000 hectares (360773.85 acres, 1460 sq km) of vineyards. Mendoza is so large, in fact, that it’s organized into five separate regions.
Northern Mendoza is known for growing a variety of grape varieties. Particularly notable white wines in northern Mendoza include varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Ugni Blanc, and Torrontés, a grape almost entirely exclusive to Argentina. Northern Mendoza’s premier red wines include Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, and Malbec varietals.
In eastern Mendoza, all varieties of Argentine wines are grown. However, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Torrontés, Viognier, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tempranillo and Bonarda take center stage. The Mendoza River area near the city of Mendoza is known as the prime region for Malbec, especially in Luján and Cuyo. Here, small vineyards with mature plants lend themselves well to boutique wineries. The Uco Valley produces excellent Malbec and Semillón and its wines are known to age well. Finally, in southern Mendoza, the main grape is Chenin Blanc.
In addition to Mendoza, there are six other wine regions where excellent Argentine wines are produced. For example, the San Juan region is well known for its Torrontés and Moscatel de Alejandría. Syrah from the San Juan region has gained worldwide recognition. In the sun-soaked region of La Rioja, Torrontés is the most commonly grown wine grape, and in Catamarca, the rocky terrain is perfect for growing high-quality varietals, including Torrontés and Malbec.
Salta is another well-known region in the world of Argentine wines. Wine production in Salta dates back to the Spanish colonial period. The various growing conditions that can be found throughout the Salta region lead to a wide variety in the characteristics of the Salta wines. The Calchaquíes Valleys of Salta, especially Cafayete, are famous for their high quality wines. As in La Rioja, Torrontés is the most common wine produced in Salta, but Salta is also renowned for creating Malbecs that are full-bodied with intense pigmentation and excellent flavor.
Neuquén is the smallest of Argentina’s wine regions, covering just 1,000 hectares (2471.05 acres, 10 sq km). Although small, the vineyards of Neuquén are dedicated to refinement. The growers here use the latest technology to ensure the best quality fruit. The conditions here are perfect for creating the fruity, bright, full-bodied wines that are emblematic of Argentine winemaking. Appropriate acidity and slow, steady tannin development are easily achieved in this region, famous for its Cabernet Franc, Semillón and Pinot Noir.
At the base of the vast Argentine wine territory is the Rio Negro region. This is the southernmost wine region of Argentina and is located in the Patagonia area. The winters here are cold and the summers hot and dry. These conditions, together with the southern winds, create a unique minerality in the wines grown here that is not easily achieved elsewhere.
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