Argentina. A country famous for its mountains, beaches, tango and, happily for wine lovers, its Malbec.
Deep Roots from Afar
In fact, Argentina is the largest producer of Malbec in the world, a success that can be traced back to another country, and another century. Originally from South West France, Malbec, known as “Cot” in French, was a well established wine enjoyed as far back as the middle ages. Luckily it was brought to Argentina in1852; lucky because at the end of the 19th century, phylloxera destroyed French viticulture and “Cot” fell into oblivion in France. But not in Argentina, the only country to still have original Malbec vines of true French heritage today.
At Home in the New World
Not only have these vines adapted to Argentina’s different environments and growing conditions, they have thrived and are producing wines of exceptional quality. One of the wineries famous for its Malbecs is Trapiche. Established in 1883, Trapiche is Argentina’s oldest continually producing winery and one that realized, early on, that the original Malbec vines were producing grapes superior to vines being brought in new from France. As head winemaker at Trapiche, Daniel Pi, explains “Our native Malbec vines produce smaller berries, which means better overall extraction for us. We stopped bringing in French material and began propagating our own vines.”
Elevated Quality and Enjoyment
The heritage of the original vines may be the number one reason for the quality of Trapiche Malbecs, but its not the only secret to its success. Mendoza, the region in Argentina home to the Trapiche vineyards and winery, has the added benefit of elevation. Being closer to the mountains creates a big spread between day and nighttime temperatures. The cold and extra height results in thicker skins on the grapes which adds up to wine with more colour, acidity and chalky tannins and translates into the unique and high quality of Trapiche. As Pi puts it “These wines provide a sense of place when you taste them.”
A Latin Love Affair
Malbecs are known for their deep red colour and plum, cherry and red fruit flavours. They look rich and powerful but are actually soft and appealing as well as versatile, perfect for pairing with everything from pasta to beef. It’s no wonder that Argentinian Malbecs are loved worldwide. We invite you to begin your own love affair with a Latin superstar, Trapiche.