Argentina’s wine regions are defined by altitude, with many of the best vineyards located at a height of over 1000 metres above sea level. In Salta, in the north of the country, some lie more than 3000 metres above sea level and it is altitude which enables Argentina to produce such good quality wine so close to the equator. The country’s two best known grape varieties are Malbec and Torrontés, though Bonarda and Chardonnay are also widely planted.
Torrontés grapes flourish in the high-altitude, cool, dry climate of the Salta region of northern Argentina, situated on the edge of the Andes Mountains, producing highly aromatic dry white wines with a crisp, refreshing flavour and a lingering finish. The wines are an excellent match for chicken and fish dishes and their light aromatic style and relatively high acidity also pair well with spicy Indian and Thai dishes.
Mendoza Province in the south of Argentina dominates wine production in the country and within Mendoza, the Uco Valley with its high-altitude vineyards is known for its high quality Malbec. There is plenty of sun to ripen the grapes, and the cool nights help retain acidity and fresh fruit flavours in the grapes, producing expressive, flavourful wines. A natural pairing for these Malbec wines is of course steak, but they will go well with most meat dishes.
Here are two wines to try to give a flavour of what Argentina has to offer:
Alamos Uco Valley Malbec 2019, Mendoza
This dry, medium (+) bodied wine with high acidity is bursting with fruit. Aromas of blackberry, red cherry, plum and raspberry on the nose, and intense flavours of blackberry, plum, cherry and chocolate, with a hint of spice, on the palate, it is a well-balanced wine with medium (+) tannins and a medium (+) finish. A natural pairing is steak but we enjoyed it with a grilled lamb dish. Available from Majestic £9.99 (£8.99 Mix Six)
If you enjoyed this Malbec and would like to compare it with a Malbec from its ancestral home in SW France, why not give this Cahors Malbec a try?
Zuccardi Valles Torrontés, Salta 2019
This is a very good example of a Salta Torrontés wine. With intense floral aromas of elderflower, orange blossom and honeysuckle, as well as peach and apricot on the nose, and flavours of lemon, apricot and peach with a hint of spice on the palate, this is a dry wine with medium (+) acidity. It is a medium (+) bodied wine with a medium (+) finish and high alcohol. A very good, well-balanced wine.
Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants £13.99