Malbec: Argentina’s best Ambassador

By Alexandro Rangel

Malbec is a purple grape variety used to make red wine where its origin is based in the Bordeaux part of France but struggled to reach its peak due to weather and pest conditions. Although Malbec never found its potential in France it found its fame with the sun-drenched climate in Argentina. Malbec was first introduced to the Argentines during the 19th century when its mayor Domingo Sarmiento directed the French agronomist Miguel Pouget in bringing grapevines from France to Argentina. It soon became Argentina’s signature grape and caught the hearts of red wine lovers. It was within at this time during the 20th century where the Argentine wine industry focuses on exporting wine. Now Argentina is leading the production of Malbec with over 75% of all the acres in the world. Today it grows in seven different countries and the popularity of the grape continues to grow. 

Cassette, cuvée 2015, by winemakers Germain Michel and Matias Farga

The Perfect Combination: Food and Wine

• When it comes to meat the Malbec goes the best with lean cuts of sirloin, flank, skirt steak, lamb, pork, and chicken. 
• The perfect pair of cheese and Malbec has to be blue cheese, provolone, mozzarella, and melted swiss. 
• For those who are vegan Malbec has a special pairing with a food’s herbs, spices, and vegetables. The Malbec is a perfect pairing with herbs as well as spices are mint, sage, rosemary, shallot, cumin, and pepper. Through vegetables, the Malbec goes fantastic with mushrooms, potato, roasted peppers, onion, beet, black beans, kale, chard, and forbidden rice. 

Malbec Regions

Where to find Malbec?

• One can find and taste these beautiful grapes as well as tour these cities in Mendoza, San Juan, and Salta. 
• The origin of the birthplace of Malbec, France, is the second largest region of the grape in Bordeaux, Loire Valley, and Sud-Ouest. 
• The USA has adopted Malbec due to its popular selection from consumers as well as its high rate of imports in the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. 

• Other countries you can find Malbec is in Chile (Colchagua, Curicó, Cachapoal), South Africa, Australia (South Australia, and New Zealand (Gisborne, Hawkes Bay).

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