Argentina's Top 5 Wine Varieties

Vivid images spring to mind with the mere mention of Argentina: Tango dancers gliding across a shaded plaza in Buenos Aires; gauchos cantering on horseback over sprawling pampas; and, of course, a glass of deeply colored Malbec sitting alongside a perfectly grilled steak.

The fact that Argentine Malbec has not only become one of the world’s most popular wines, but a calling card for Argentina’s entire wine industry, was something pioneering generations of winemakers whose families originally hailed from Spain, Italy and elsewhere could never have imagined. But today Malbec, after enjoying a decade of unprecedented sales growth, is practically synonymous with Argentinean wine.

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The eighth-largest country in the world in terms of square miles, Argentina is the fifth-largest wine producer in the world by volume. Argentina offers an array of landscapes, from glaciers, deserts and lush wetlands to soaring mountains and broad plains. It also sports a vast assortment of habitats suitable for growing grapes, and not just Malbec, but also Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Torrontés and other varieties such as Chardonnay, Syrah and Tempranillo.

In addition to Mendoza, where roughly 80% of Argentina’s wine is made, vineyards thrive across a 1,500-mile span, from the Calchaquí Valley in the far north of the country to Patagonia in the south. From north to south, Argentina’s main wine regions are Salta, La Rioja, Catamarca, San Juan, Mendoza (which is divided into five subregions), Neuquén and Río Negro.

Blessed with all the sun its grapevines need, what sets Argentina apart from the rest of the world is the altitude of its vineyards. The highest vineyard in the world is located in Salta, at a dizzying height of more than 10,000 feet above sea level. Meanwhile, the average vineyard grows at 2,700 feet.

—Mike DeSimone & Jeff Jenssen

Argentina’s signature grape, Malbec is bottled alone or blended with other Bordeaux varieties. Intense flavors of dark berries and spice are found in versions ranging from fresh and fruity to barrel aged and powerful.

One to Try: 

Finca Flichman 2013 Misterio Reserva Malbec (Mendoza); $12, 90 points. Supremely fresh plum, berry and cherry aromas announce an equally pure palate with ripe, tasty blackberry and cherry flavors that veer into chocolate, toast and coffee on the finish. This offers an ideal mix of clarity, big flavors and value. Best Buy. 

The country’s second most planted grape, Bonarda is related to Charbono. Formerly made into low-cost table wine, it’s now a high-quality alternative to Malbec. Expect flavors of cherry, fig, cassis and fennel.

One to Try: 
Zolo 2014 Sustainably Farmed Estate Grown and Bottled Bonarda (Mendoza); $10, 87 points. Powerful black-fruit aromas are dusty and minerally, with a rubbery component. A loud, juicy palate is jacked up with acidity, while red-berry flavors are wild and full of energy. This is an intense bistro wine to drink with a burger or flank steak. Best Buy. 

Grown throughout the country, the flavor profile varies with geography and climate. Cabernet from Mendoza is high on the cherry notes, while bottlings from Salta feature blackberry and savory flavors.

One to Try: 
Trapiche 2012 Broquel Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza); $15, 90 points. Spice, licorice and herbal notes complement red-fruit aromas, while the palate offers plenty of structure and tannic grab. There’s an avalanche of blackberry, cassis, fig, chocolate and herbal flavors to process, while the finish is rich and rewarding before breaking up in bits. Best Buy. 

Chardonnay styles range from crisp, steel-fermented bottlings to buttery, well-oaked versions. Cold temperatures stemming from high altitudes coax out minerality, while warm regions accentuate tropical-fruit notes.

One to Try: 
Mascota 2013 La Mascota Chardonnay (Mendoza); $17, 87 points. Baked apple and butterscotch aromas convey a sense of ripeness and oak. The palate feels round and creamy, but not flabby. Melon, apple, vanilla and caramel flavors are ripe and end with just enough acidity to maintain balance.

Argentina’s hallmark white grape, Torrontés is descended from Mission and Muscat of Alexandria. Bright citrus and stone-fruit flavors balance with notes of rose petal, white flowers and light spice.

One to Try: 
Kaiken 2014 Terroir Series Torrontés (Salta); $17, 87 points. Round, tropical-fruit aromas are plump and easygoing. This is a fat, somewhat oily Torrontés with flowery flavors of lime and papaya that turn pithy and a touch bitter on the finish. Drink right away.

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