Consul General Santiago Villalba

Consul General of Argentina Santiago Villalba welcomed guests to the Consulate of Argentina in New York on Thursday, April 28, 2022, to celebrate Malbec World Day 2022. Veronica Kathuria of Wines of Argentina spoke about how Malbec varietals were brought from France to Argentina in 1853. Under the expertise of Italian and French winemakers who had immigrated to Argentina, the wine industry made great strides, as Malbec adapted to its new terroir. Malbec World Day was first celebrated in 2011 and has become an annual April tradition.  

Veronica Kathuria

There are three wine regions of Argentina: The North - high altitudes (Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca), Cuyo - arid (La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza), and Patagonia & Atlantic Region (La Pampa, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut, Buenos Aires).  

Malbec Argentino's Got Range

Argentina's most famous grape, Malbec, creates wines with great character and diversity in part due to the range of altitudes at which they are grown. What I learned during Malbec World Day in New York, was that most Argentine vineyards sit above 4,500 feet above sea level or higher, next to the Andes mountains, reaching up to 10,922 feet in the north. The diverse range of altitudes gives the terroir its signature characteristics. Typical aromas found in Malbec wines are "reminiscent of cherries, strawberries, plums, raisins, and black pepper." Aged in oak, it acquires "coffee, vanilla, and chocolate notes." In the mouth, it "fills the palate with its sweet, silky tannins."  

Malbec wine rainbow

There are three types of Malbec wine, White Malbec, Red Malbec, and Rosé Malbec. White Malbec is "fruity, floral, dry, sweet, refreshingly acidic, with a lengthy finish. Red Malbec is oaky, has spicy and fruity flavors, full body dry wine with smooth textures and a smoky finish. Rosé Malbec is "crisp, fresh, floral and citrus flavors, with soft acidity and fruity aromas."  

There were over 40 wines at Malbec World Day in New York, and it was interesting to do side-by-side tastings of Malbecs from different vintages as well as produced at different altitude ranges to fully appreciate the nuances and characteristics of Argentina's most famous wine. In addition to Malbec, brands also brought a variety of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and more, to tempt guests' palates. 

The Tastings 

Alta Vista brought four different wines with them to introduce the brand, including their Brut Blanc de Blancs, Sparkling Domaine, Mendoza, Argentina, 12.6% alcohol, made from 100% Chardonnay grapes from the Albaneve estate in the Uco Valley.  

Alta Vista Single Vineyard, Serenade, Malbec, 2015, Agrelo, Luján De Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina, 14.5% alcohol. Elevation 3,450 feet, aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. Wine aging time between 5-8 years. 

Alta Vista Estate Torrontés 2018 made with 100% Torrontés, and Alta Vista Estate Malbec, 2020, made with 100% Malbec, with grapes grown at a minimum of 3,200 feet.  

Bodega Colomé has produced wines since 1831, and brought two of their expressions, Auténtico Malbec, 2019, 14.5% alcohol, grown at 7,546 feet in the Calchaquí Valleys, and Estate Malbec, 2019, 14.5% alcohol, produced from grapes grown at Finca La Brava (5,577 feet), Finca Colomé (7,546 feet), and Finca El Arenal (10,207 feet).  

Bodega Trivento Argentina brought three different Malbec expressions with them: Bodega Trivento Reserve Malbec 2020, Mendoza, Argentina, 91 points, 13.5% alcohol, Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2019, 14% alcohol, 12 months in oak barrels, 95 points, gold, from International Wine Challenge 2021, Luján De Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina, and Ecolo 2016, Malbec. 

Domaine Bousquet has been making certified organic wines in Argentina since 1997. They brought five expressions of their wine including: Alavida, USDA Organic Kosher Wine, Malbec 2021, 14.5% alcohol, made with 100% Malbec grown in the cool climate of the Gualtallary area, Mendoza, Argentina. 

Another interesting Malbec they presented was their Gaia, Earth Goddess, Malbec 2019, made with organic grapes, Gualtallary Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina, 14.5% alcohol. Made from organic grapes grown at a cool 4,000 feet altitude. 

Other wines including their Ameri, 2019, 100% Malbec, Gaia - Organic Malbec Nuoveau, 2020, 100% Malbec; and Virgen, 2020, made with 100% Malbec. 

Luigi Bosca brought five expressions of their brand including their Luigi Bosca De Sangre, Cabernet Franc, 2018, Selección de Parcelas, El Paraíso, Mendoza, Argentina, 14.4% alcohol; Luigi Bosca De Sangre Malbec D.O.C. 2019, 100% Malbec; Luigi Bosca De Sangre White Blend, 2021; Luigi Bosca Fina Los Nobles 2015, Cabernet Bouchet, and Luigi Bosca Pinot Noir 2020. 

Mary E Woodka - Luigi Bosca

Pulenta Estate brought three different expressions of their brand, Pulenta Estate 2020 Malbec I, Mendoza, Argentina, 14.5%, limited number of bottles produced; Pulenta Wines Gran Cabernet Franc XI, 2019, Agrelo, 14.5% alcohol, limited number of bottles produced, made from 100% cabernet franc; and their Bodega La Flor Pulenta Wines Malbec 2021, Mendoza, Argentina, 14.5% alcohol, "A special selection of our vintage," limited number of bottles produced. 

Justin Argenti - Pulenta Estate

Salentein brought five different expressions including their Salentein Reserve Malbec 2020, Valle De Uco, Mendoza, Argentina, 14.5% alcohol, 100% Malbec; Salentein Numina, Gran Corte, 2018, made from a blend; and Pyros, Valle de Pedernal, Appellation, Malbec 2016. 

Rebecca Weber, Susan Bocanski - Salentein

Tapiz brought five wines from their brand, Tapiz Alta Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon; Tapiz Black Tears 2017, 100% Malbec; Wapisa Malbec 2018, 100% Malbec; Zola Reserva Cabernet Franc 2019, 100% Cabernet Franc; and Osmosis Sauvignon Blanc 2021, 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 

Trapiche has been making wine since 1883. They brought three of their expressions, their Trapiche Medalla Malbec, 2017; Trapiche Broquel Selected Barrels Malbec 2020, Mendoza, Argentina, with grapes harvested from 2,953 feet - 3,937 feet, and their Trapiche Gran Medalla Malbec 2017, Mendoza, Argentina, 14.5% alcohol, created to celebrate the winery's 125^th anniversary. 

Veronica Kathuria and Debra C. Argen

Until next time, cheers! 

To learn more about Malbec and Wines of Argentina, please visit their website: www.winesofargentina.org  

Wines of Argentina
Sarmiento 212, 2° piso, CP 5500
Mendoza, Argentina
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Telephone: +54-0261-4235346
Website: www.winesofargentina.org 

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