Argentina: more than just the M word
Okay, Argentina didn’t invent Malbec, but it took it to new heights (literally). What started as a blending grape in southwest France became a single varietal sensation in high-altitude Mendoza.
And then there’s the Merlot, the Cabernet, the Syrah… frankly tons of incredible red and white wines. A special shout out to super-floral Torrontés – Argentina’s signature white grape.
In terms of the climate, Argentinian vineyards climb up into the foothills of the Andes in arid, desert-like conditions, basking in sun-drenched days and cooled by mountain air at night. The result? Wines with big flavors and aromas.
Argentina, at a glance:
🗺️ Wine regions: split into 3 main zones – the North (including Salta), the Cuyo region (Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja), and Patagonia in the south
🍇 Top grapes: Malbec and Torrontés are the local favorites
🤓 Wine fact: over 75% of all Argentinian wine comes from Mendoza – the country’s wine capital
🥂 Say cheers: ¡Salud!
🍷 Must-try wine: Malbec from Mendoza – rich, fruity and incredibly smooth. There's a reason it's so iconic.
Mauricio Lorca in his natural habitat – at the winery, red in hand, and probably dreaming up his next masterpiece. Stay tuned for more from this Argentinian legend.
Explore – the hotspots:
Mendoza: this desert-high plateau in the foothills of the Andes is where Argentinian Malbec made its name. It’s a viticultural paradise – with over 300 days of sunshine, low rainfall (meltwater from the Andes provides the irrigation), and wide swings between hot days and chilly nights that helps grapes retain acidity and aromas. Which is why Mendoza Malbec is so bold and fruity, yet still so smooth.
Oh and let’s talk steak. Mendoza is cattle country, and the region’s smoky asados are practically cultural heritage. No wonder Malbec became its soulmate – the grape’s deep, ripe fruit and soft tannins are a perfect match for flame-seared beef.
Uco Valley: Mendoza’s sneaky overachieving younger brother, the Uco Valley has become Argentina’s hottest address for fine wine – and luckily, you don’t need a big budget to get involved (for now at least).
It sits even higher up – with vineyards reaching 1,200m above sea level (taller than Mount Etna, for reference). The altitude slows ripening, stretches the growing season, and results in grapes packed with flavor and natural freshness. Malbec is still the headliner, but Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah also shine here.
📍Top tip: Mauricio Lorca’s new Reserve range shows off the Uco Valley at its best. His Malbec is plush and elegant, the Cabernet rich and spicy, and the Syrah is fresh, peppery, and packed with vibrant fruit.
Salta: up in Argentina’s far north, Salta is home to some of the highest vineyards in the world – soaring up to 3,100m. The extreme altitude and intense sunlight here give white grapes in particular a serious boost. Torrontés, a uniquely aromatic native white, thrives in this environment, producing wines that smell like a tropical flower shop and taste like citrus sorbet.
📍Top tip: Torrontés grows beautifully across Argentina. Look out for its perfume and zing – a dream with grilled halloumi.
Patagonia: head way down south and you’ll find the cool, windswept plains of Patagonia. A world away from Mendoza’s intense desert heat, the climate here is ideal for finesse-first grapes like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
📍Top tip: if you like your reds silky and your whites citrusy and lean, keep an eye out for this southern gem. It’s the closest you’ll get to Burgundy in South America.
Grab your Argentinian wines – and taste what the Andes do best
José wants to make you fall in love with Argentina's wines, after all his family has over 100 years of winemaking experience. All that experience means you get access to his Reserve Gualtallary Cabernet Sauvignon, made from grapes grown in an insider-secret microregion inside Mendoza's famed hills.
Chile: a little bit of Bordeaux down south
Flanked by the Andes on one side and the Pacific on the other, Chile’s vines enjoy lots of the same high-altitude benefits as Argentina (long sunshine hours, cool nights) while also benefitting from cool sea breezes of the Pacific.
It’s the spiritual home of Carmenère, a grape once thought extinct in Bordeaux that Chile adopted as a local specialty. It’s rich and plush with a real herbaceous note. A genuine must-try.
Add in world-class Cabernet, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc, and you’ve got something for every palate. And in case you’re noticing… yes, Chile is full of Bordeaux’s best grapes. Who does them better? Honestly, it’s a close call.
Chile, at a glance:
🗺️ Wine regions: divided into 6 main wine regions, each with sub-regions often named after their defining valleys (like Maipo, Colchagua, Rapel)
🍇 Top grapes: Carmenère, Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot lead the charge
🤓 Wine fact: Chile’s natural borders act as a barrier against pests like phylloxera – meaning many vines still grow ungrafted, which is rare these days
🥂 Say cheers: ¡Salud! (sensing a theme here…)
🍷 Must-try wine: Carmenère – rich and velvety with black fruit, spice, and a leafy, peppery lift. Like Merlot with a master's degree in herbology.
Chile’s got a thing for valleys. Colchagua, Casablanca, Maipo, Maule… if there’s a dip in the land, they've probably planted vines in it. Sun above, breeze below, and Bordeaux grapes living their best life.
Explore – the hotspots:
Central Valley: this is the engine room of Chilean wine – stretching from Santiago southward and encompassing star regions like Maipo, Rapel, Cachapoal and Colchagua. Picture a patchwork of river valleys and rolling hills, where vineyard altitude and proximity to the ocean vary wildly, creating a rich tapestry of (don’t say it) terroirs.
Bordeaux grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are king here. The region’s warm days and cool nights are especially great for Cabernet, helping to build ripe fruit with nice, firm tannins.
📍 Top tip: Bordeaux-born JP Lacaze has made wine in both hemispheres, but Chile is where he found his fame. His vineyards near Peumo in the Cachapoal Valley craft Cabernets with serious structure and depth.
Casablanca and Coquimbo: further north, Chile’s coastal regions specialize in crisp, aromatic whites. Here, ocean breezes and morning fog keep things cool, preserving acidity and building complex flavor.
In Casablanca, the focus is on zesty, mineral Sauvignon Blancs – a must for fans of Marlborough style, but with a Chilean twist. Meanwhile, places like the Limarí Valley (in Coquimbo) benefit from limestone-rich soils and a semi-desert climate – ideal for delicate, floral whites like Pedro Jimenez.
Maule Valley: one for the history fans – Maule is the oldest winemaking region in Chile, where European settlers first planted vines back in the 16th century. It’s a place of tradition, but also of innovation – thanks to a new wave of low-intervention winemakers.
The climate here is more Mediterranean – hot summers, cool nights – with granitic soils and old, dry-farmed bush vines that produce low yields and intensely flavored fruit. So expect less Bordeaux grapes and more fresh, soft reds, often made from Carignan, Garnacha or Pais.
Explore all Chilean wines – from smooth Cabernets, to spicy Carmenères and zesty whites
Carmenère 101? Start here. Irene Paiva’s a legend down in Chile – and this bottle shows exactly why. Smooth, smoky, a bit special... and a total crowd-pleaser.
Hasta la vino, baby!
And that’s a wrap on your South American tour. A continent that saw Bordeaux’s greatest hits (and hidden gems alike), said “hold my Malbec” and made them dance a whole new tango.
So whether you're after a smooth red for steak night, a zippy white for summer sipping, or something wild and smoky for your next BBQ – there’s a world of flavor waiting at your doorstep.
Plus, if you're lucky enough to visit in person, don’t miss a visit to the Cellar Door of winemaking legends like JH Toso in Mendoza or JP Lacaze down in Cachapoal Valley. Their wines travel well – but you might not want to come home.
Salud!
PS. Keep an eye out for more travel tips (and bottles worth booking a flight for).
