How to Find the Best Argentinean Wine
When most people think of fine wines, they first think of the vineyards of Italy or France. Even in the United States, people tend to think of California before anything south of the border. In fact, few would immediately identify Argentina as a major wine producing location. However, Argentina does have a number of great wines that are produced in the country, and once you try a few, you’re sure to find one you absolutely love.
Throughout Argentina, you’ll find a number of different wines. There are Mendoza Malbecs, Torrontes from Salta, Syrahs, and, of course, classic Cabernet Sauvignons. The country grows a wide variety of grapes, and these grapes lead to the many different types of wine. There are wines for each person, including those for different tastes, budgets, and occasions. Whether you’re looking for a cheap wine for a picnic on the Pampas, a few bottles for your anniversary, or for several dozen to serve at a wedding, you’ll find some amazing wines in Argentina. However, it does help to know where to find them and what types of wines are available.
If you’re on a budget, you’ll want to look for a few bottles of wine that aren’t going to cost you an arm and a leg. One of these is the syrah from Callia. Callia is a region located in San Juan that’s home to a number of elegant, balanced wines. The syrah is a light bodied wine full of fruit – you’ll taste plum, red apple, and boysenberry, and smell cinnamon, plum, and vanilla notes in the wine. And although a sip of the elegant and well balanced Callia syrah will make you think you’re drinking an expensive bottle, a bottle only costs around $3.00 USD. Not bad at all – and it definitely beats a little Three-Buck Chuck!
Looking for something a bit more expensive for a special occasion? How about a Carmelo Patti cabernet sauvignon? This ruby red wine features a very complex mixture of scents, including caramel, vanilla, asparagus, and blackcurrants. It has a light to medium body that has an almost woody character to it. Carmelo Patti is one of the leading winemakers in Mendoza; in fact, he’s involved in every step of the winemaking process and does just about everything himself. He prides himself on excellence, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with a bottle of his cabernet sauvignon – an excellent wine. And at $19.00 USD, you’ll get an excellent price as well.
Finally, if you’ve got a little more money to spend, you’ll find the Melipal Malbec Reserva to be a great “expensive” wine – that is, if you consider around $40.00 USD a bottle to be expensive. The Malbec Reserva is also made in Mendoza, and it’s a bright red wine that contains elements of black cherries, plums, and more. Its acidity easily balances out the rather dense flavors, and even though Melipal Malbec is something of a new wine producer in Argentina, that doesn’t mean they produce bad wine. In fact, they produce some amazing wines that shouldn’t be missed on your tour of Argentinean wine country.