THURSTQUEEN SHARES ALL THE JUICY LITTLE SECRETS ABOUT ARGENTINEAN WINE

A lot of people just think about Argentina as Malbec land, perfect for buying a bottle of some inexpensive, massive red wine. But Argentina as a country, as a wine region is about so much more than that.

Let’s take a deep dive to chat all about Argentinian wine country, how to find the best Malbec for your money, and learn all about the premiere wine regions of Argentina. But, as we always do in Thurstqueen land, let’s have a little history lesson first:

THE HISTORY OF ARGENTINIAN WINE:

Argentinian’s history as a wine region dates back to 1556, when the first cuttings were brought by Spanish Conquistadors who needed to have wine for religious purposes.

The initial vines were planted in Argentina’s famous Mendoza region, and in the 19th Century Argentina’s first industrial wineries were founded. Production was halted because of a series of Civil Wars from 1814 to 1880.

After the Phylloxera outbreak in Europe, a lot of European immigrants came over to Argentina to try their hand at winemaking. And with them, they brought Argentina’s shining star - Malbec.

A lot of Argentinian vineyards have European roots, who used their techniques from Italy, Spain and France to cultivate vines within this region. With additions like the Transadine Railway in 1885, wine was able to be transported to Buenas Aires for consumption. This was great for the Argentinian Wine Industry, as Argentina’s domestic wine consumption is only topped by Paris.

In the 1980s, the violence from the Dirty War combined with economic crises caused the industry to plummet. A lot of wines from Argentina were considered inexpensive and not well made at this point in time.

In the 1990s and 2000s quality began to shift, and more premium wines from Argentina were starting to be released into global markets. Today, Mendoza is one of the most popular wine regions in the world, and the future for Argentinian wine looks brighter than ever before.

THREE ARGENTINIAN REGIONS TO KNOW: MENDOZA - THE STAR OF THE SHOW

GRAPES TO TRY: MALBEC, CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT, BONARDA

Mendoza is a red wine-lover’s paradise, and it is highly likely that when you buy a bottle of Argentinian wine it will be from this wonderful place!

Roughly 80% of Argentina’s Wine production comes from Mendoza, so if you ever decide to visit Argentina and want to go to Argentinian wine country, spend your time there! You’ll find loads of wineries, large and small in this geographically diverse region.

Mendoza is dry and sunny, and a lot of the vineyards are fed with glacial waters from the Andes Mountains. Mendoza has many subregions to visit, and the best ones to check out are Lujan De Cuyo or the Uco Valley. Lujan De Cuyo is the primo spot for Malbec and the Uco Valley is the up and coming wine region.

A hidden gem of a grape to try in Mendoza is Bonarda. Bonarda is a fuller-bodied, fruity wine that’s actually a bit of a rising star (and may merit its own Thurstqueen post in the future!)

If you’re all about Merlot’s velvet like softness and spicy black fruit, Bonarda will be your jam. A lot of Bonarda wines are made in stainless steel, concrete, and pretty much anything but oak. So if you’re super into un-oaked Reds, Bonarda is definitely a red grape to be on the look out for!

The Mendoza region is definitely known for amazing Malbecs. And before you buy your next bottle of Malbec from Mendoza, here’s something to take into consideration —

PRO TIP FOR FINDING THE BEST MALBEC:

As a grape, Malbec loves altitude. So go for a high-altitude Malbec. Trust me on this. It’s just better.

And the chances are, if you visit any vineyards in Argentinian wine country, look for the ones that are higher up in the mountains. There’s something about higher altitude, direct sunlight, and dramatic temperature shifts that make Malbec so much more interesting. The thinner the air, the more UV exposure the grape clusters get which results in thicker skins and juicier tannins.

When you’re out in the wild, it’s always helpful to look up Malbec producers and see the elevation of their vineyards before purchasing a bottle. Anything above 3,000 feet is a great place to start, as there are a lot of vineyards in Argentina go well above 7,000 feet.

SALTA - SOME OF THE HIGHEST ALTITUDE VINEYARDS IN THE WORLD

LOOK FOR: TORRONTES (A WHITE GRAPE YOU’LL EITHER LOVE OR HATE) & MORE MALBEC

Salta is a region of extreme climates. Arid deserts, stunning, mountainous vineyards that are nothing short of spectacular, and tropical rainforests. Of all the wines you must try from Salta, you just gotta try Torrontes.

Torrontes is floral, fresh, citrusy and super salty. If you’re the type of person who loves sticking your nose in a rose and sucking on lemons - basically if you’re me - you will love Torrontes.

As a wine, Torrontes is incredibly dry and super acidic. It kind of reminds me a lot of grapefruit, but in a really good way. And of course, you have to try the Malbec from Salta - especially after what we know about high altitude.

CATAMARCA PROVINCE - THE UP- AND-COMMER

GRAPES TO TRY: MALBEC, SYRAH, BARBERA

The Catamarca wine region smack dab in the middle of the Andes Mountain range. A lot of Catamarca’s vines are planted along the banks of the Abuacan River. Catamarca as a region gets plenty of sunlight, and little rainfall.

Since Argentina is primarily known for fuller-bodied, red wines, you want to try Malbec, Barbera, and Syrah from this region.

Catamarca Cab is really distinctive. It has a minty sort of quality, and if you’re all about aromatic wines - Catamarca is the place to hit up.

PICK OF THE WEEK: CHAKANA “ESTATE SELECTION” MALBEC MENDOZA $21.99 @ K&L WINES

The Chakana Malbec is a wine I used to broker a long time ago, and it was (and still is) a tremendous value. This silky, sophisticated, multidimensional red is from the Uco Valley, located within the Mendoza appellation.

This winery is a whopping 3,149 feet above sea level and is situated at the foot of the Andes Mountains. The vines are certified biodynamic, and the wine is made with native yeasts.

I am always struck by how sophisticated and intense this wine is. It’s never a fruit bomb, like some Malbecs are, and has loads of violet aromas. The oak isn’t super crazy on this beautiful, slightly inky wine either. At $21 bucks, it’s an awesome value.

We’re smack in the middle of grilling season right now Thurstqueen, so pair this puppy with all your BBQ dishes, or any mushroom-based cuisine for all my plant-based Thurstqueens out there!