Wines from Argentina

Wines from Argentina make this country the world’s fifth largest wine producer. The origins of this viticulture came with the Spanish colonization of the country. The priests set up missions throughout the region and started growing wine for the sacraments. Until the early 1990s, most wines from Argentina were for local consumption. However, forward thinking vintners wanted to start making a splash in the international markets. This helped improve quality. They have also increased yield per acre.

The region of Argentina where wine making takes place is in the foothills along the Andes Mountains. These vineyards sit in areas with very warm days and cooler nights throughout the growing seasons. A list of regions growing wine grapes in Argentina includes Mendoza, San Juan & La Rioja, Northwestern Argentina, and Patagonia. The varieties of grapes grown differ in each region due to differences in climate and soil conditions. The irrigation methods often take advantage of melting snow coming down from the Andes mountaintops.

Traditional grape varieties include Criolla Grande, Criolla Chica, and Cereza. Later grape varieties have made their presence known. These include Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Tempranillo, Dolcetto, Lambrusco, Raboso, Sangiovese, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, and Ugni Blanc among dozens of others. The most noted grape variety of the country is the Malbec. Many wines from Argentina use this distinctive grape. Many of these wines come from the Mendoza region along the Chilean border with Argentina. These wines continue to grow in popularity throughout the world due to the refreshing flavours they bring.