Friday, May 25th 2012 - 22:07 UTC

UK passion for Argentine wines: first quarter imports rocket 15% in volume

Argentine wine exports to the UK have rocketed by 25% in value and 12% in volume in the first three months of the year. This put the UK back ahead of Brazil as Argentina’s third largest market worldwide, and the US and Canada, and represents the largest gains for over four years.

Malbec World Day which took place on April 17 was a huge success in Europe

“It’s the volume figure that is the most encouraging” said Andrew Maidment, European director of Wines of Argentina.

“Given that there is obviously a delay between this export data and UK sales data we are hoping to see this translate into increased sales over the coming months as the wines reach shops, bars and restaurants,” he added.

The generic body has been working hard to promote the country’s flagship variety Malbec on Malbec World Day which took place on April 17.

The event attracted global attention with 85 shops participating in the Netherlands; a 350-strong tasting in the Czech Republic; wine tasting in Poland and Russia as well as additional activities in Stockholm, Helsinki and Berlin.

In the UK market Majestic Wine saw sales of Argentine wine above £9 rise by over 19% in the period January 31 to April 23 inclusive compared to 2011.

Between April 10 and 23 the average sales price for Malbec/Malbec blends from Argentina rose by 11% from £7.45 in 2011 to £8.25 in 2012, the retailer said.

Other retailers and on-trade outfits which ran promotions for Malbec World Day included Averys, Naked Wines, Gaucho restaurant group and a deal through Square Meal which involved over 100 restaurants.

“Wines of Argentina” is also focusing on its signature white grape variety Torrontés, later this year.
 

Published in: Agriculture, Economy, Argentina, International.
Tags: Argentina, Malbec World Day, United Kingdom, wines.

52 comments Feed

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1 JohnN (#) May 25th, 2012 - 10:57 pm Report abuse
Until and unless Argentina stops embargo of Falkland Islands, just say NO to Argentine wines!

Better to stick with Chilean wine...
2 Condorito (#) May 26th, 2012 - 12:30 am Report abuse
Well said John!
3 Think (#) May 26th, 2012 - 01:25 am Report abuse
TWIMC

You people drink waaaaaay too much…………
You should learn from the Scots…..

”………….. A 75cl bottle of 12.5% wine could be sold for no less than £4.69.”

www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Politics/article/22973/minimum-alcohol-pricing-plans-cleared-in-parliament.html

Chuckle chuckle©
4 Sullivan (#) May 26th, 2012 - 01:55 am Report abuse
Good wines from Argentina. Muito bem hermanos!:D
5 Ernie4001 (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:42 am Report abuse
Though argentinian malbecs are fine Chilean Carmeneres are better.
6 JohnN (#) May 26th, 2012 - 03:52 am Report abuse
Bit of an endorsement in The Telegraph from Penguin News editor Lisa Watson, when asked about her choice of a “Perfect weekend away?
- Chile, where I could drink fine wine and ride horses”

- www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9290879/My-perfect-weekend-Lisa-Watson-editor-of-Penguin-News-Falkland-Islands.html
7 skåre (#) May 26th, 2012 - 04:15 am Report abuse
Have people taken to drinking raw sewage? Falklands or not, there is nothing so foul as Argentinian wine.

I guess it must be an economy measure and Argentina managing to cash in on the success of Chilean wines.
8 ElaineB (#) May 26th, 2012 - 08:31 am Report abuse
Awww, a bit harsh. There are some awful cheap wines in both countries but there are good Argentine wines. I generally prefer the range in Chile but it very much varies from winery to winery, and personal taste. In the UK I would usually order a Chilean wine in a restaurant as it tends to be more reliable unless I am eating at The Gaucho; obviously. : )
9 expbrit (#) May 26th, 2012 - 08:36 am Report abuse
@5
Chilean Carmenere ... mmmm....
I still have a few bottles of the Camino Real 2003 which gets more sublime by the year :-)
10 Max (#) May 26th, 2012 - 09:17 am Report abuse
The English never drink wine (mayhap cheery)
also wine importing is at very low levels in England.

not even whisky(expensive)...beer...beer....beer....beer...beer
11 ManRod (#) May 26th, 2012 - 09:18 am Report abuse
Argentine Malbecs can be very good, no doubt. Argentina is Chile's closest rival in Latin America regarding high quality wines, but still quite a distance behind in quality wines. I have never seen Argentine wines in the top 10 of the re-known Wine Spectator, but there is almost every time at least 1 Chilean in there, and even winners taking the medal of the best wine worldwide of a specific year, like the Casa Lapostolle Apalta 2005 winning in 2008.
12 skåre (#) May 26th, 2012 - 09:42 am Report abuse
“also wine importing is at very low levels in England”

I guess that shows how little the cretinous Max knows about anything (as if that were even news). It is just that most people in the UK can afford something somewhat more palatable than the vile filth they produce in Argentina .. and preferably something made by their good friends in Australia, France, Italy, USA or Chile.

I am sure that they have the good sense to leave Argentinian wines to those, like you, who have an uneducated pallet.
13 Martin Woodhead (#) May 26th, 2012 - 10:12 am Report abuse
Dont buy anything argentinan while they are behaving like dicks
14 Max (#) May 26th, 2012 - 10:15 am Report abuse
& 13

What an awesome fanaticism !
15 Brit Bob (#) May 26th, 2012 - 10:24 am Report abuse
@13

Agreed
16 Conqueror (#) May 26th, 2012 - 10:28 am Report abuse
As I shall be making clear to web-users in Britain, argie wine is piss strained through sh*te. British dockworkers could perform a valuable service for the British public by dumping all argie wine over the side. There will be no environmental problems as argie wine is indistinguishable from ditchwater. Dock water is of a higher quality. At the bottom line, think of this. Argie wines have had argie hands on them. Yuk!
17 Max (#) May 26th, 2012 - 10:56 am Report abuse
best drink is “ beer ” .
i sometimes (rarely)drink it mixing with vodka.
18 Guzz (#) May 26th, 2012 - 11:18 am Report abuse
Uruguayan Tannat is quite fine as well, a shame we can't keep up with the demand...

Don't mix oranges with apples. enough things separates us to start with, lets not look for reasons in the few things that does unite us... Just my thought...
19 yankeeboy (#) May 26th, 2012 - 01:21 pm Report abuse
Uruguayan wines are gross gross gross..
20 skåre (#) May 26th, 2012 - 01:26 pm Report abuse
Uruguayan and wine are a contradiction in terms. Vinegar is the closest Uruguay can get to making wine.
21 Guzz (#) May 26th, 2012 - 01:30 pm Report abuse
Sorry to hear you think so

en.mercopress.com/2010/03/23/uruguay-on-the-world-s-viticulture-map-with-its-distinctive-tannat-wines

...but glad the world thinks differently :)
22 windy (#) May 26th, 2012 - 01:36 pm Report abuse
It would apear that the british public do not share the mindless bigotry of the islanders. You are begining to sound like the orange order bigots from Northern Ireland. May i remind you Britain is in a double dip recesion flat broke ,an easy way to save £70 million pounds a year would be to get rid of the islands or enter into talks with Argentina. Then your navy would be able to dock in South American ports again instead of just sailing aimlessly up and down. And your children would be able to learn spanish enjoy free university education. Instead of being completly hobbled to the employment market of the entire continent. You just can't beat a good Malbe.
23 skåre (#) May 26th, 2012 - 01:46 pm Report abuse
Shame that your link doesn't support the ridiculous notion that the world thinks differently ;)
24 Guzz (#) May 26th, 2012 - 01:56 pm Report abuse
Well, the Tannat claiming prizes in France is a small indication that some relevant people appreciate the wines from Uruguay, wouldn't you agree? :)
25 yankeeboy (#) May 26th, 2012 - 01:56 pm Report abuse
I don't mean any offence but seriously Uruguayan wine is disgusting. The first time I had it was in that little beach restaurant across from the Conrad. It is really strong and tastes horrible and that is all they had! I had never even heard of Tannat and I am sorry I did!
26 skåre (#) May 26th, 2012 - 01:59 pm Report abuse
Agreed, Guzz, but some people isn't the whole world :)

Some people (quite a lot of people) actually thought that Elvis was a good singer .. and they were wrong too. Almost as many like ABBA and they are all certifiably insane ;)
27 Guzz (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:00 pm Report abuse
Did the servant know you were yanqui? Just a thought... :)
28 yankeeboy (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:04 pm Report abuse
I took a bunch of RG friends who had never been to PDE before they were doing the ordering....
29 skåre (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:06 pm Report abuse
I think Guzz is trying to imply that the waiter may have done something quite unspeakable to the wine with one of his bodily fluids .. but my suspicion is that would actually have improved the wine and given yankeeboy a misleadingly good impression ;)

PS: I do actually feel guilty because both Argentina and Uruguay actually make some reasonably decent plonk; but it is infinitely more fun slagging the stuff off.
30 Guzz (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:07 pm Report abuse
What can I say, yanqui, chimichurri and urea does not go well in wine, not even Tannat :)
31 yankeeboy (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:08 pm Report abuse
Mayhap
32 Guzz (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:11 pm Report abuse
Mayhap indeed :) Let me share some info with you about Uruguay; spreading dollars about is a good way to get attention, but it doesn't always bring you the best out of people :)
33 yankeeboy (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:13 pm Report abuse
Yes it does.
34 Guzz (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:16 pm Report abuse
If you say so :)
35 skåre (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:17 pm Report abuse
Agreeing with Guzz is getting to be a bad habit of mine - and I promise to get help for it - but greasing palms with money is as likely as not to bring the worst out in people. It really is pot luck.
36 yankeeboy (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:20 pm Report abuse
I was telling a friend the Mayhap story last night. He couldn't figure out how someone with ESL would know that word either.
37 Guzz (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:30 pm Report abuse
There is naught to come after, yanqui. Mayhap it's only a coincidence...
38 skåre (#) May 26th, 2012 - 02:37 pm Report abuse
Mayhap is quite a cult word though is it not? It seems to me that it is certainly quite common here is Scandinavia amongst the Lolcats generation.
39 jerry (#) May 26th, 2012 - 06:55 pm Report abuse
Your dislike of Argentina is clouding your judgement (and your taste buds). Argentina produces some excellent wines, so why not admit it and go on to a subject you might know something about.
40 Retroqqq (#) May 26th, 2012 - 10:36 pm Report abuse
Argentina is an assertive bad boy and British love bad boys. ;)

You know this is the only truth! hhaha
41 paradox (#) May 26th, 2012 - 10:57 pm Report abuse
Like this page to stop the blockade on the islands!

Boycott Argie Malbec
www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Argie-Malbec/369568409759454
42 Guzz (#) May 27th, 2012 - 03:58 pm Report abuse
If it's true that the sale of Argentinian wine is rocketing in UK, mayhap the Argentinians should consider spicing their wines with Avivol, I'm quite sure it wont affect the taste...
43 Think (#) May 27th, 2012 - 05:56 pm Report abuse
(42) Guzz
Some Deaspabilar, mayhap......;-?
44 Guzz (#) May 27th, 2012 - 06:08 pm Report abuse
Two pinches of realitox and they might be all set to face the new world order :)
45 British_Kirchnerist (#) May 27th, 2012 - 08:57 pm Report abuse
More good news for Argentina, and Britain, must shop for some of their wine myself sometime (and there were some of you calling me a Muslim!) So much for the isolated basket case =) Whoever said above that the Islanders risk becoming like the Ulster Orangemen made a very important point
46 Islander1 (#) May 28th, 2012 - 02:30 am Report abuse
Guzz- we are not all fanatics - I enjoy a good Chilean- Uruguyan and yes even an Argentine wine! Mostly Chilean here of course but there is the occasional Ur one about and hope to tast some more when the “return” trade mission goes to Uruguay in the spring. When I visit UK I often enjoy an Arg wine. All 3 nations grow good grapes and produce good wines - each one has its specialities.
47 Guzz (#) May 28th, 2012 - 02:46 am Report abuse
Glad to hear not everyone put themselves (and everyone else) in a box...
Cheers for that, in both meanings of the word
48 JohnN (#) May 28th, 2012 - 03:41 am Report abuse
Anybody who cares about the sovereignty and dignity of the Falkland Islands community would understand that until and unless the Argentine embargo against Falkland Islands products and services is ended, buying Argentine wines will not help the Falkland Islanders.

Similarly, the move by Argentine unions to boycott British ships should mean that anybody who cares about British sovereignty and dignity should not buy Argentine products or services.

Reference:
Falklands dispute: Argentine union to boycott UK ships:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17022603

Britain hands Argentina £27million in aid through EU and IMF schemes as Buenos Aires orders boycott of UK goods:
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2108037/Falkland-Islands-Argentina-orders-20-firms-boycott-British-products.html
49 shb (#) May 28th, 2012 - 05:59 am Report abuse
I never drink Argentine wine and never will.

If it were up to me I would ban the stuff in the UK, until relations are better.

I don't believe in giving our enemies cash.
50 Bombadier Spoon (#) May 28th, 2012 - 06:27 am Report abuse
I have never tried Arg wine. I know I may get ripped for this but I do enjoy a Chiliam Merlot. I'm a big fan of red wine. I can't stand white wine. However I don't drink much. Since leaving the army and the missus constantly reminding me “ever since you left your arse has been getting bigger” I am much aware of what I am putting into my body. That is why I now have to put up with low calorie beer. Aawww I hate getting older. 29 and I am counting the calories. I will try an Argentinian wine. I may not like their politics but I may like the wine. Lets find some good in the bad.
51 Welsh Wizard (#) May 28th, 2012 - 11:10 am Report abuse
Argentinean wines bad? Yup, you try telling the Lafite family that argentinean wines are bad, I'm sure they will agree....
52 JohnN (#) Jun 03rd, 2012 - 02:18 am Report abuse
Is English wine really as good as anything France has to offer?
Yes, says Terry Kirby, and he has dozen bottles to prove it...
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/reviews/is-english-wine-really-as-good-as-anything-france-has-to-offer-7811579.html

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