Argentina
The fifth largest producer of wines in the world, Argentinan Wine making owes its roots to the
Spanish who firstbrought wine grapes here in 1557. Argentine wine is as big and as bold as their national dance, the Tango. With intense red wines to soft fruity white wines, their wonderful flavors and spice will seduce you into a lifelong love affair with wines from Argentina.
Though the country’s winemaking prowess dates back hundreds of years, it wasn’t until modern winemaking techniques arrived that winemakers started to emphasize quality over quantity. As such, Argentina wines have only been common in the Western markets since the early 1990s.
Red wines dominate the Argentine wine industry. Malbec is the most prevalent, but you’ll also find Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Syrah, Barbera, Dolcetto and Sangiovese wines here. The last three grapes are due to the influx of Italian immigrants, who along with the French brought new growing techniques and new grapes to the region.
One of the main reasons you didn’t see a lot of Argentina wine on the market until recently was the fact that most of the wine was consumed in the country. Argentines love their wines and hate to see them go.
Today, you’ll find red and white wines across all price points. But don’t let price alone guide you. There are some surprisingly great Argentina whites and reds at very attractive price points in stores these days. Part of the fun of drinking these wines is discovering those little treasures that have a big taste and a low cost.
Some consider the country to be the next Australia. The growing conditions here are ideal and outside of a few off years, notably 1998 when El Nino conditions ruined the crop, Argentina wines have remained consistently good and a great value.
Malbec continues to steal the show here, which is an age-old Bordeaux variety. It 
produces an intense wine in Argentina soil, with a nice acidity and great sophistication. Bonarda is no slouch either, which is the country’s second most planted grape. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Tempranillo are all up and comers.
That’s not to say that whites aren’t well represented in Argentina. The Torrontes grape is produces a wine with a fruity with a great finish. Other white wine grapes include Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Viognier and Pinot Gris. Sauvignon Blanc grows well in the cooler climes.
Most of the grapes are grown at high altitudes as much of the country is desert like, hot and dry. The mountains are the only place where the conditions combine to create quality wines.
Mendoza is the major growing region and 70% of all the wines are grown here. Patagonia to the south and Salta to the north are increasingly becoming known for their grapes and wines. In Salta, you’ll find Torrontes and Cabernet Sauvignon while in Patagonia, the emphasis is on white and red wines that are sophisticated and flavorful.
More and more the lower quality wines produced in Mendoza are being kept for consumption at home. As such, some very solid Argentina wines are finding their way into the marketplace and their big and bold flavors match the passion of their winemakers.