(Note: this blog post is written by Kris Thomas, Zephyr Adventures’ Customer Care Czar, Tour Operations Specialist, and Veteran Guide.)
I am by no means an expert (yet) on wine, but I know what I like! And I like South American wines, particularly Carmeneres and Malbecs, more than wines from anywhere else in the world! Malbec is a Bordeaux grape that produces an intense wine that resembles most closely a Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Although it is produced elsewhere in the world, it is quickly becoming Argentina’s “signature” wine. On the most recent trip I guided (our Chile & Argentina Wine & Multisport Adventure in November) I was given an early Christmas present by our Mendoza, Argentina-based guides, Lorena and Luis: a list of their favorite Mendoza “Excellent Wineries” that produce Malbecs. (The photo below of me, Lorena and Luis was taken during our bike ride through the Uco Valley before we had any wine, incidentally!)
Here is a little introduction to the list below. Luis and Lorena compiled it last month upon request for those of us who love Malbecs. Argentina is the fifth-largest wine producing country in the world, and there are, by some estimates, roughly 1000 wineries in the region of Mendoza, which produces roughly 70% of Argentina’s wine. Imagine what Lorena and Luis must have had to do to create this list for us! These wines should all be available in the U.S. (the U.S. is the number one market for wines from Argentina) and the parenthetical notation indicates the sub-region of Mendoza where the wine is produced. Many wine experts recognize that Argentina Malbecs provide a quality to price ratio that is one of the best in the world. If you have a favorite Malbec that is not listed below, I’d love to hear about it. Cheers!
Our Favorite Malbecs:
- Catena Zapata (Lujan de Cuyo)
- Vina Cobos (Lujan de Cuyo)
- Luigi Bosca (Lujan de Cuyo)
- Alta Vista (Lujan de Cuyo)
- Kaiken (Lujan de Cuyo)
- Tempus Alba (Maipu)
- Zuccardi (Maipu)
- Trapiche (Maipu)
- Norton (Lujan de Cuyo)
- Lagarde (Lujan de Cuyo)
- Andeluna (Tupungato)
- Bonfanti (Lujan de Cuyo)
- Clos de los Siete (Valle de Uco)
- Salentein (Valle de Uco)
- Lurton (Valle de Uco)
- Bodegas Atamisque (Valle de Uco)
A couple of my personal favorites are shown below. I had my first Catena Zapata while watching Luis’ father do the tango at dinner the last night of our tour. Our tasting at Tempus Alba included their excellent Vero, one of the group’s unanimous favorites.
I LOVE Malbecs. They were actually the first red that I really enjoyed, and it opened up my interest in other reds. That Malbec I tried that you had picked out was definitely delicious! I’d say you’re quick on your way to becoming a seasoned wine blogger (:
I like (and have tried many on your list), but stroke funny not seen Luca, a Malbec from a winery of the same name and owned by Laura Zapata. Truly one of the greatest Malbec, and at an incredible price…
Thanks for the recommendation, Hector! We welcome additional suggestions 🙂