Argentina is one of the largest wine producers in South America with over 210,000 hectares of vineyards and it’s the fifth largest producer of grapes in the world after France, Spain and Italy. The first vines were introduced into Argentina by Father Juan Cedron who brought them from Chile to Santiago del Estero in the mid-16th century. He later introduced them to Mendoza together with its founders Pedro Del Castillo and Juan Jufré. Much later on the French agronomist Miguel Aime Pouget introduced the varietal Malbec, which thrived in Mendoza and is now one of Argentina’s most popular wines. Further vine plantations were spurred on with the arrival of the railway in the 19th century. Argentine wine producers always paid more attention to quantity rather than quality and most of the wine they produced was consumed locally, Argentina once being the sixth largest consumer in the world. But in the 1990s winemakers began to focus more on quality rather than quantity and started exporting wines, particularly to the USA. At the same time local consumption slowed down, which also encouraged producers to find new markets.

Quality Not Quantity
One such winemaker was Nicolas Cantena who, inspired by of Napa-valley wineries, took his knowledge back to the Argentine and to the winery his grandfather had started in the late 19th century. There, he started to produce quality wines for export. And in 2002 when the peso was finally devalued after years of being pegged to the US dollar – wine producers suddenly found they were receiving almost four times as much for their export wine after they converted it into pesos. Needless to say, this encouraged many more vintners to focus on quality and the export market.

At the same time foreign investment increased, primarily from the US and Europe. Investors bought up land infinitely cheaper than their own. Robert Mondavi, Seagrams and Paul Hobbs arrived from the US and Pernod Ricard, Jacques Lurton, Rothschilds and Moët & Chandon from France. They established wineries around Mendoza. Today Argentina is a major competitor in the world market. A quarter of its wine production is exported to the USA.

Popular Varietals
Argentina’s most successful wine to date is Malbec and many associate Argentine wines with this particular grape variety. Malbec, ironically, was an insignificant grape in France where it was once mixed with Bordeaux wine. When introduced in the 19th century, it was grown as a single variety. Other red grape varietals include Bonarda, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir and Merlot. Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Viognier, Semillon and Torrontes are among the white varietals.

Sunshine Provinces
In Mendoza where the sun shines for over 300 days a year and rain is scarce, melting Andean snow is the major source of water for irrigation. One of the best times to visit Mendoza is March during the Fiesta de la Vendimia which lasts for a week. Besides gathering the crop, wine tastings are plentiful and there’s music, parades and more celebrations. Before the Vendimia starts the bishop of Mendoza blesses the grapes in the Bendicion de los Frutos.

While Malbec is Argentina’s emblematic red wine, Torrontes is its white. Torrontes is only grown in Argentina and thrives, particularly in Cafayate in Salta province, the smallest of the country’s main wine regions. Cafayate is a valley surrounded by mountain ranges, with an average height of 1,700 metres above sea level, again with over 300 days of sunshine annually. Other varietals grown in the area include Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah and Chardonnay. San Juan province, north of Mendoza, is the second largest producer with some 50,000 hectares of vines, followed the province of La Rioja. Wines are also produced in Catamarca and Rio Negro.

Wine Tours
In the 1990s vineyards also started to embrace tourism, offering tastings, opening wine shops, gourmet restaurants and in some cases providing accommodation. Consequently, Mendoza, which produces just over 70 per of the national wine with over 143,000 hectares of vines, is now one of Argentina’s top tourist destinations. In most of Mendoza’s wineries (bodegas) you don’t need to have a reservation to visit. Many choose to take guided tours - English-speaking guides are nearly always available - which is a great way to learn about its wine and at the same time explore the reg. You can even bike the 24 km wine trail. See Mendoza Wineries.

Wine Tour Operators
Although many decide to plan their own tours, some may find this a little daunting because of the quantity of wineries and the size of the region. There are various tour operators within Mendoza who arrange personal or tailor-made tours.

Ampora Wine Tours. Tel: +54 (0) 261 429 2931.
Grapevine. Tel: +54 (0) 261 429 7522.  The company arranges small group tours and has native English speakers.
Raisin Argentina. Tel: +54 (0) 261 496 1445. Raisin Argentina specializes in exclusive wine tours with gourmet food and premium wines for individuals and groups.
Bike and Wines. Tel: +54 (0) 261 410 6686.  It provides maps, bikes and arranges your tour on bike.
Uncorking Argentina. Tel: +1 (0) 916 396 0456. Toll free: +1 (0) 866 529 2861. Tailor-made wine tours.

Useful Websites
Vino.com
Argentine Wines 
Argentine Global Wines 
Argentine Wine Guide