Experiences Wine

The first vines arrived with the European immigrants 200 years ago. These vines have been carefully cultivated over the years and the results can be seen today in the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, Salta, Catamarca, Neuquén and Río Negro. Although historically Mendoza has been the province with the biggest concentration of vineyards, these days Argentina’s wine routes are extensive and varied. Many vineyards, differing in size and style, open their doors to tourists and offer guided tours, wine tasting, cuisine, wine related activities and in some cases, accommodation.

Argentina’s famous grape is the intense and characterful Malbec.  Other wines to try include Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Torrontés – produced in the world’s highest altitude vineyards in the Calchaquí Valleys.

In the last few years, Argentina has experienced a wine boom. This is mainly due to significant investment over the last two decades and a subsequent improvement in the Argentine wine offering in the national and international wine market. Adding to this is the enthusiasm in Argentina’s younger generations in wine culture and essentially, the ideal climatic conditions of the Andes for wine making.

The country’s best restaurants and hotels have their own wine cellars. Some offer wine tasting sessions, which can be a useful and interactive introduction to the broad world of Argentine wines.