Rich wines under the shadow of the magnificent Andes.
Although the first vine came to Argentina together with the Spanish colonists already in the 16th century, the presence of Argentinian wines on the global scene is quite short. All the way up to the 1990s, this country was the largest producer of wine outside Europe – however, quantity did not also entail quality. Therefore, almost all of this amount was consumed within borders as it was not considered good enough for export.
It was the desire to penetrate foreign markets that led to the awakening of the ˝sleeping giant˝ and the improvement of quality. Today, Argentina is the largest exporter of wine in South America and the fifth largest producder of wine in the world, while Argentinian wines are becoming increasingly popular and renowned on the global enological scene.
The majority of Argentina’s wine regions are located in the western part of the country, at the foothills of the Andes. This magnificent mountain chain blocks the passage of the moisture within rain clouds, thus Argentina’s wine regions distinguish themselves with their arid, semi-desert climate. Argentina’s commercial vineyards are among the highest vineyards in the world, as grapes are largely cultivated in the somewhat colder climate of altitudes of at least 600 metres above sea level.
It is precisely these meteorological particularities that are to be thanked for the specific features of Argentinian wine – as vines are more exposed to ultraviolet rays, the grapes develop thicker skins, while their wine is strong, juicy and dark with a larger amount of tannins and a pronounced acidity. In addition, thanks to the altitude and aridity of Argentina’s leading wine regions, insects, mold, grape diseases and other problems that affect vineyards in other countries are a rarity in Argentina.
While chardonnay, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and other ˝standard˝ grape varieties are present throughout the country, the true jewel in the wine crown of Argentina is malbec. Althought it hails from France, this dark, robust variety is becoming increasingly equated with Argentina, while malbec wine is a true rising star – a powerful, inky black elixir that abounds with character. The most esteemed malbec wines in Argentina are produced in its most famed wine region – the Mendoza province, that is, from the regions within it that are located at an exceptionally high altitude (from 800 to 1500 metres) such as Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley.
However, although Mendoza accounts for the production of eighty percent of Argentina’s wine exports, this doesn’t mean that its other wine regions are good for nothing, either. Here is also Salta on the north of the country with its quality cabernet sauvignonima and torrontés, Neuquen and Rio Negro in the colder climate of northern Patagonia and San Juan and La Rioja, regions that are yet to rise. In any case, wine culture permeates the entirety of Argentina, and to such an extent that the Argentinian government declared wine the official national liquor in 2010!
WINERY: AL ESTE BODEGA
LOCATION: Medanos, Buenos Aires
CONTACT: tel.: 54(11) 5217-3333
WINERY: BODEGAS LOPEZ
LOCATION: Maipú, Mendoza
CONTACT: tel.: 0054 261 4972406; e-mail: lopezmza@bodegaslopez.com.ar
WINERY: BODEGA NANNI
LOCATION: Cafayate, Salta
CONTACT: tel.: +54 3868 421527; e-mail: info@bodegananni.com.ar
WINERY: BODEGA NOEMIA DI PATAGONIA
LOCATION: Gral Roca, Rio Negro
CONTACT: tel.: +(549) 298 4 530412
WINERY: BODEGA SALDUNGARAY
LOCATION: Saldungaray, Buenos Aires
CONTACT: tel: +54 0291 154 125 261; e-mail: info@saldungaray.com.ar
WINERY: CATENA ZAPATA
LOCATION: Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza
CONTACT: tel.: (54) (261) 413 1100; e-mail: turismo@catenazapata.com
WINERY: COLOMÉ
LOCATION: Salta
CONTACT: tel.: +54(387)4394009;
WINERY: DANTE ROBINO
LOCATION: Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza
CONTACT: tel.: 54-11-45441400
WINERY: DEL FINO DEL MUNDO
LOCATION: San Patricio del Chañar, Neuquén
CONTACT: tel: +54 299 5555 330; e-mail: info@bdfm.com.ar
WINERY: DOLIUM
LOCATION: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
CONTACT: tel.: (54) 0261 4900 190 / 226; e-mail: dolium@dolium.com
WINERY: ETCHART
LOCATION: Cafayate, Salta
CONTACT: tel.: (++54) 11 4469 8000; e-mail: info@bodegasetchart.com
WINERY: FAMILIA ZUCCARDI
LOCATION: Maipú, Mendoza
CONTACT: tel.: (54) 261 441 0000; e-mail: reservas@familiazuccardi.com
WINERY: GRAFFIGNA
LOCATION: Norte-Desamparados, San Juan
CONTACT: tel: (++54) 264 421 4227; e-mail: info@graffignawines.com
WINERY: LAGARDE
LOCATION: Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza
CONTACT: tel.: (54 261) 498-0011, e-mail: info@lagarde.com.ar
WINERY: LA RIOJANA
LOCATION: Chilecito, La Rioja, Argentina
CONTACT: tel.: 54 03825 423150; e-mail: lariojana@lariojana.com.ar
WINERY: TERAZZAS DE LOS ANDES
LOCATION: Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
CONTACT: tel.: (54 261) 488 0058; e-mail: info@terrazasdelosandes.com
WINERY: RODRIGUEZ FERRERO
LOCATION: Tinogasta, Catamarca, Argentina
CONTACT: tel.: (03468) 4824448; e-mail: info@rodriguezferrero.com.ar
Silvia Vidović
