Argentinian Fine wine

Vines were first planted in Argentina in the 16th century by Spanish missionaries, but the country’s transformation into a modern fine wine producer is a 21st-century story, driven above all by Mendoza, the country’s viticultural locomotive.

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Argentinian wine history

Long dominated by high-yield, bulk production for local consumption, Mendoza’s vineyards underwent a quiet revolution in the 1990s on the back of a wave of investment, technological modernisation, and a shift toward export-focused, high-quality production. Initially, this meant big, bold Malbecs, whose plush, rounded nature found favour at the massmarket level, particularly in the US, where the power-packed formula was hugely popular with critics and consumers alike. Originally from Cahors in France, Malbec quickly became a global ambassador for Argentine wine. But over the past two decades, Mendoza has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a source of hearty, fruit-driven wines into a region increasingly defined by site expression and finesse. Growers have planted at higher elevations – some above 1,500 metres – where cooler temperatures and intense sunlight preserve acidity and aromatics. Vineyard mapping and precision viticulture followed, often alongside organic practices, while winemaking moved toward restrained oak, earlier picking and minimal intervention. As a result, today’s best wines are less about power and more about freshness, texture and place.

Popular Argentinian wine

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2019 Fósil Chardonnay, Zuccardi, Altamira, Mendoza

2012 Caro, Barons de Rothschild/Catena, Mendoza

2009 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino, Mendoza

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2021 Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae Malbec, Catena Zapata, Gualtallary

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Popular Argentinian wine regions and styles

The country’s signature grape, Malbec, has traditionally delivered bold, violet-scented reds with plush fruit and firm structure. At the heart of this production has been Mendoza, where pioneering winemakers have begun exploring altitude, microclimate and soil variation, particularly in emerging sub-regions in the Uco Valley such as Gualtallary and Altamira. Here, producers are working with limestone-rich soils, cooler temperatures, and diverse microclimates to craft more restrained, fresh, ageworthy styles. Mendoza’s evolution – from monoculture to mosaic – is what defines the confident, terroir-led face of contemporary Argentinian wine. Malbec, long the region’s flagship, is now often fermented with native yeasts and aged in concrete or large, neutral oak to preserve site expression. This new Mendoza is less about extraction and oak, and more about freshness, texture and transparency – a confident evolution that’s placing it firmly among the world’s great fine wine regions. And now, the next frontier is the developing but hugely exciting region of Patagonia, from where a new generation of thrilling Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are emerging.

Argentinian wine FAQs

Is Malbec still Argentina’s calling card?

In a word, yes. But these days, there is more than one type of Malbec. Stereotyped as a bold, burly red for drinking with steak, Malbec is a variety that, at its most approachable, offers juicy flavours of black fruits, often with notes of violet, spice and soft, ripe tannins. But at higher elevations – notably in Mendoza’s Uco Valley, where cooler nights preserve acidity and aromatics while poor, rocky soils yield smaller berries and more concentrated flavour – Malbec takes on a more nuanced, elegant character. Vibrant, layered and terroir-driven, these wines often display floral lift, graphite or herbal complexity that reflect their high-altitude origins.

What other regions are worth exploring, apart from Mendoza and Malbec?

Mendoza is responsible for around 70% of Argentina’s total production, and in sub-regions such as Gualtallary and Altamira, producers are embracing minimalist winemaking to let these terroirs shine. There's also a trend toward earlier harvesting, which brings freshness and tension to the wines, yielding increasingly refined examples of Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and more.

But Argentina’s identity now extends beyond just Mendoza and Malbec. Syrah and Bonarda thrive in the dry and warm San Juan, just north of Mendoza, while Salta, in the very far north, is home to some of the world’s highest vineyards – up to 3,000 metres – along with intensely aromatic Torrontés and bold, concentrated reds. Arguably most exciting, though, are the wines emerging from Patagonia, in the far south, and sub-regions such as Neuquén and Río Negro. Here, the markedly cooler conditions – ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay – have attracted both significant investment and increasing acclaim.

Argentinian wine producers

Argentina’s initial emergence onto the international scene was led in no small part by the likes of established family-owned producers such as Catena Zapata and Familia Zuccardi, who excelled with accessible, smooth-textured Malbec for a wide consumer audience. Those leading lights were also instrumental in the country’s second wave, a drive away from the big, bold blockbusters towards more refined styles, in which they have been joined by such forward-thinking, terroir-focused producers as Achaval Ferrer and Belasco de Baquedano. Further lustre – and confidence – was lent by the entry of such notable overseas investors as LVMH and Baron de Rothschild, while more recently, the third generation of the family behind SuperTuscan Sassicaia has kickstarted quality wine production in Patagonia, through the Chacra estate.