Discover Mendoza in six wines
Mendoza lies in western Argentina at the foot of the Andes Mountains, close to the border of Chile. Occupying the high-altitude plains and valleys close to the border that separates both countries, Mendoza leads Argentine wine regions, producing around 70% of the nation’s reds and whites. Catapulted by its finessed Malbec into global wine fame at the turn of the century, wines from this grape are deep purple and feature ripe plum and blackberry, supple tannins, and vibrant freshness in a range of expressions, ranging from fruit-forward and approachable to complex, age-worthy, high-altitude styles.
Premium Mendoza producers of Argentine Malbec include Catena Zapata, Bodega Norton, Achával-Ferrer, Trapiche,and Zuccardi.
Fast facts
Name: The name of the region is linked with the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. Conquistador Pedro del Castillo founded Mendoza city in 1561, naming after his ally, the governor of Chile, Don García Hurtado de Mendoza.
Location: Found in western Argentina below the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, Mendoza vineyards cover around 140,000 hectares across renowned sub-regions that include the Uco Valley, Luján de Cuyo, and Maipú. Elevations range from 800 to 1,200 meters, with high-altitude Malbec cultivation a central part of local winemaking.
Climate & soil: Soils across the region comprise sand, clay, and limestone soils, which contribute minerality and structure to the region’s terroir-driven reds. The region has a desert climate with low rainfall and a good diurnal shift. Snowmelt from the Andes provides irrigation in an ingenious system (“asakas”) developed by the Huarpes, an agrarian tribe that was living in the area when the Spanish arrived.
Grapes: Malbec made Mendoza wines famous and remains its main grape, with the varietal recognized, since 2011, as the most cultivated in all of Argentina. Other key varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Bonarda, Criolla Grande, Cereza, and Torrontés. Such is the versatility of Malbec that the region produces single-vineyard expressions, but the grape also appears as a blending partner, especially in Cabernet-Malbec blends, in many fine wines of Argentina.
Appellation: Mendoza is Argentina’s most prominent wine region, with its subzones characterized by signature terroirs. Uco Valley wines and Gualtallary Malbec a typical high-altitude style, valued for concentrated, cellar-worthy expressions, while Luján de Cuyo Malbec is known for its classic, elegant, well-structured character.
Food pairing: Malbec’s rich fruit, well-integrated tannins, acidity, and velvety texture make it ideal for grilled meats, hearty soups and stews, roasted vegetable recipes, and aged cheeses. Unusually for a red wine, the fruitiness of this red lends a sense of delicate sweetness, making it a good wine for dark chocolate desserts like brownies or soufflé.
Fun fact: Malbec was brought to Argentina from Cahors in southwest France in the mid-1800s by French agronomist Michel Pouget. The French vine expert had been commissioned by the Argentinian government to upgrade local viticulture. Today, there’s a neighborhood in Mendoza named after Pouget.
We’ve curated a select list of single-varietal Malbec and blends with Mendoza’s high-altitude styles taking centre stage. Salud!
Indulge in the wines:
Familia Zuccardi, Finca Piedra Infinita Paraje Altamira Supercal 2017
Hailing from a limestone-rich 0.93-hectare plot in Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley, at an altitude of 3,609 feet, this Finca Piedra Infinita Paraje Altamira Supercal Malbec showcases a granular sense of place. In the winery, it undergoes fermentation with native yeasts in concrete, resulting in vibrant fruit, firm structure, and a saline, mineral finish that speaks of its stony, high-altitude origins.
Catena Zapata, Adrianna Mundus Bacillus Terrae Malbec 2019
A classic example of old-vine Malbec from the iconic Catena Zapata, Adrianna Mundus Bacillus Terrae hails from a 1.4-hectare, high-altitude Andean vineyard located 5,000 feet above Mendoza. Blackcurrant and blackberry pastille and ripe dark fruit shine in an elegant, polished, balanced palate with finessed tannins, fresh acidity, and a touch of balsamic sweetness.
Catena Zapata, Nicolas Catena Zapata 2005
A hallmark of Mendoza blends and terroirs, this red is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon from Agrelo and Uco vineyards, with the remainder Malbec from Gualtallary. With fruit harvested in a cool vintage and the cuvée aged for 24 months in French oak, this blend is maturing majestically, showcasing cassis, fig, and floral hints in a concentrated palate with leathery notes, hints of cedar, and rounded tannins.
PerSe, Gualtallary Craie 2020
Another quintessential display of the high-altitude wines Mendoza is so celebrated for, the La Craie is a Malbec–Cabernet Franc co-fermentation from the elevated El Monasterio Per Sé plot, running from west to east, on Alabanza Hill Gualtallary. This site enjoys full southern exposure, promoting full ripening, with vines nourished by calcareous soils. Aged in neutral French oak, this micro-production, deep purple blend features high-altitude characteristics like dark, intense berry, sage, and ash in a taut palate with chalky tannins, closing in a vibrant finish.
Vina Cobos, Cobos Volturno Cabernet Malbec 2012
Another high-altitude wine emblematic of Mendoza, is this blend from Vina Cobos, a bodega co-founded by renowned American vignerons, Paul Hobbs. Cobos Volturno is blends Cabernet Sauvignon (97%) and Malbec (3%) from the Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo districts, in a powerful and complex wine with cassis, dark fruit, chocolate, oak, and savory herby hints. This full-bodied red displays fine tannins and a long, complex finish.
Achaval Ferrer, Finca Altamira 2005
Achaval-Ferrer is renowned for its single-vineyard wines, and this Finca Altamira from old vines in the Uco Valley’s La Consulta, illustrates the elegance of such Malbec. From vineyards located at a heady 3,400 feet above sea level, this red is intense and dense with candied dark fruit and dried fruit hints in a plush palate with excellent structure and complexity. Aged in French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered for enhanced terroir expression.
You never need an excuse to enjoy a Mendoza Malbec. We hope we’ve whet your appetite!
Feature image: Familia Zuccardi
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