MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Forty countries worldwide celebrated Malbec Day, Argentina’s emblematic grape and wine
Wine enthusiasts across the globe gathered to celebrate World Malbec Day, a great opportunity for novices and connoisseurs alike to sample some of Argentina’s flagship varietal. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesAnd you can enjoy a bottle for just £2.99 from Tesco.
Apr 28th, 2012 - 08:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0It's a good variety, making a good wine;
Apr 28th, 2012 - 10:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0but very little of the Malbec I drink comes from Argentina.
Is it an 'Argentinian wine'?
@2 Yes, so you should stop drinking it, esapecially before posting...
Apr 28th, 2012 - 10:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0@2 No. Proper Malbec is French. The grape is called Auxerrois or Cot Noir in Cahors, Malbec in Bordeaux and Pressac in other places. It is one of the six grapes allowed in red Bordeaux wine.
Apr 28th, 2012 - 10:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0Please note. Argies ALWAYS lie.
It is not an Argentine wine but, rather, one they have made their signature wine. Like all original vines, they were imported from the old countries.
Apr 28th, 2012 - 11:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0There are good and bad Argentine Malbecs but most of the good wines are produced for export. Argentine Malbec is produced specifically to combine with the asado and works well with half a cow.
I think we have discussed before that most countries have a variety of wineries, from those producing quality wine to the mass production wineries churning out cheap table wines; Argentina has both.
Thanks, Elaine,
Apr 28th, 2012 - 01:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I really knew this, but it seemed that Argentina was 'appropriating the Malbec brand' through this PR puff.
Chile, Argentina, a good Malbec is a good Malbec.
Geoff.
xx(God, I hope you really are a woman!!! ;-)
@6 LOL, yeah, I am all woman.
Apr 28th, 2012 - 02:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I thought you knew that and was just underlining the point. Argentines produce a lot of Malbec because it compliments the food the enjoy there. It doesn't mean it is the best Malbec in the world but it is probably the best - most reliable - of the wines they produce. I have had some great Argentine Malbec and some pretty ropey ones. Personally, I prefer the blends they produce.
Now, Chile really could make more of their Carmenere as they possess 95% of the vines in the world as the vine was wiped out in Europe. (They didn't even know they were Carmenere vines until about 20 years ago). It is, therefore, pretty unique to Chile and they should promote it more.
Some of the first answers here squeel from jaundice. Ay ay ay ay tesco ay...
Apr 28th, 2012 - 03:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0BTW, no one said Malbec is originary from Argentina; no Vitiferas are native to the Americas, but just like california Zinfandel this particular grape found a better climate in the New World.
Mendoza is also increasingly showing growth in Bonarda, another ill-forgotten grape (this one from Italy). Argentina is perhaps the only non-European country with a true native grape, that would be Torrontes, found nowhere else in the world. So if anyone ever wanted a bottle of Torrontes, there is only one place it comes from. There's been talk of making it a national trademark.
Argentina was bold enough (and I will admit finding boldness in argie industry can be a challenge), to attempt to position itself not by trying to produce just price competitive versions of cab, merlot and pinot noir. It took a HUGE risk in developing Malbec, Torrontes, now Bonarda (there is another grape that could be upcoming called Marcelan); then unknown varietals worlwide.
So far it has payed off because when people want Malbec or Torrontes, they will very likely or exclusively consider wine from Argentina first which is a major advantage at point of sale. Bonarda is also now showing up in stores around the world, as Malbec creeps up in price, replacing it as the “super entry level” varietal from Mendoza.
OTOH, you can get a good cab or merlot from anywhere (AUS, NZ, USA, South Africa, Chile, Italy, Spain, France)... So the point of sale/place of origin advantage is non-existent really.
So much for yankeeboy saying Mendoza was doomed. I don't lie. I said that there has been a massive influx of investment into Mendoza from all over the world and within Argentina, from business people to even Argie, Hollywood, and European film and sport stars. I said that sales had tripled since 2000; I showed a photogallery with sumptous new wineries. I said Mendoza had surpassed Chile in exports. And now a huge oil find. Mendoza!
Mendoza has seen huge investment in past years. A lot of the wineries are owned by French, Chilean, North American, English and Spanish families. They have brought money and expertise to the Argentine wine industry that used to mass produce pretty bad wines for the domestic market.
Apr 28th, 2012 - 03:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0That said, it relies heavily on export and the current government policies will not be beneficial to Mendoza.
I have visited many of the best wineries in the Mendoza area over the years and hope they continue to succeed.
@10
Apr 28th, 2012 - 03:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Any “roadblock” is unproductive. But I really don't think the preferencial issue with the USA or EU will completely derail the growth. In fact, it could be perversely a POSITIVE, it has been argued, because it would slow down excess growth which would drive down quality standards.
This happened in Australia with Shiraz, which in the 1990s boomed but then the boom became a bubble and quality standards went out the window, and then the market for OZ Shiraz crashed and the wine gained reputation of being an overpriced sugar-bomb. It has only recently began to fully recover from that.
Malbec could be threatened by the same, because the growth has been so vertiginous, so that in fact some slowdown to “catch a breath” might actually be a blessing in disguise.
Toby, Your idiotic government will doom the wine business like it has with every other successful business in it's 70 yrs history just give it time. 43 countries are about to raise import fees on Arg products. If you think that is good for Mendoza I am happy for you.
Apr 28th, 2012 - 04:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The whole wine industry will most probably be nationalized by CFK and the politburo.
Apr 28th, 2012 - 04:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If the wineries survive. A lot are owned by foreign business people and families and they may not want to wait out another Argentine recovery. When the economy crashed last time there was a lot of world sympathy for Argentina but I doubt it this time around. CFKC and Timmerman have been hell bent on upsetting too many people.
Apr 28th, 2012 - 05:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I do not see CFKC nationalising the wineries. The money comes from export not internal consumption. I mean, they do drink wine but not the money-making wines. They are generally too expensive for the home market.
It is a shame because the success of the wineries in Mendoza is really something Argentines should be proud of.
& 13
Apr 28th, 2012 - 05:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What is the [ pH ] degree of Malbec wines ?
Well, living in Chile, because of outrageous tariffs, I have to buy when I drive over to Mendoza and buy a couple of cases of Malbec and a couple of “champagne” which is outstanding.
Apr 28th, 2012 - 08:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Chile also produces the full range of quality, but I prefer Argentinean sparkling wine over what we produce.
In super premium Malbecs: The below link is very helpful, but Catena Zapata Alta is out of this world.
http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/February-2010/Top-10-Argentine-Malbecs-of-the-Past-Year/
Saying all that, the British need to boycott Malbecs from Argentina and (If an airfreight service starts from Montevideo to the FI) buy Tannat from Uruguay.
instead.
@11
Apr 28th, 2012 - 08:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Did I say it is good? It may be a blessing in disguise that is all, before it would produce a slow down before it became a bubble. Doubling of exports and wineries every 4-6 years eventually is bound to bring froth and lack of basic standards, just like what happened with Aussie Shiraz (which can be a superb wine).
@12
The government has no use for the wine industry, so it leaves it alone. Peronists are populists and opportunists, but not comunists.
The only wine is not enough for me that it must be mixed with gin.
Apr 29th, 2012 - 08:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0Laughter.........Laughter.........WDFRP
Toby, If all is well how come the provinces are contemplating issuing quasi-currencies AGAIN?
Apr 29th, 2012 - 11:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0Anyone know what the exchange rate is for Patacones to Peso to U$?
I hate to say I told you so..wait a minute no I don't...
hahahaha
Interesting that France did not participate.
Apr 29th, 2012 - 04:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0We will soon be celebrating our second Malbec World Day, aimed at renewing our efforts to establish Argentine Malbec, our flagship variety, as the indisputable benchmark of this variety in Argentina and around the world. The range of events organized to honor our Malbec will include special activities, tastings and a number of celebrations in different countries. It will be a truly Argentine party!
Apr 29th, 2012 - 04:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0THE UNITED KINGDOM
Malbec World Day activities will be held in London and all around the country, with promotions in the main wine shops (more than 250 stores, bars and restaurants around the United Kingdom).
United States, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Malaysia, Brazil, Poland, Algeria, Vietnam, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Greece, Australia, Perú, the Philippines, Germany, Denmark, Chile, Venezuela, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Korea, India, the Netherlands, Uruguay, Sweden, Russia, Armenia and Panama.
http://www.malbecworldday.com/index.php/news/view/46
Cheers people,and enjoy the day.It is Argentine MAlbec day....
Personally I think that the best Malbec I have ever drunk was from the Schroeder Familly winery in Neuquén.
Apr 30th, 2012 - 01:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0The other Neuquén wineries also produce excelent Malbecs. Perhaps the cold has something to do with it.
If Think is around perhaps he can comment on the wineries in Chubut which for the non Argentines is even further south. I believe they are producing some very interesting wines.
21 Simon68 (#) The Schroeder Family Winery - Saurus, produce some very interesting wines. I have visited the winery in the Rio Negro Valley and imbibed all they gave me to taste (and I could still drive).
May 03rd, 2012 - 03:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!