More than Malbec: the other grapes showing promise in Argentina
Malbec may reign supreme in Argentina, but the country is a hotbed of innovation, with other wines and styles coming to the fore. Eloise Feilden reports.
Enotria & Coe buyer Rachael Pogmore is witnessing winemakers in Argentina “really starting to branch out with focuses on other grape varieties”.
From a red perspective, she says that in Argentina “Cabernet Franc is probably going to be the next big grape variety aside from Malbec”.
Magdelena Pesce, CEO of Wines of Argentina, agrees that the variety is “gaining traction”, particularly in high-altitude regions like the Uco Valley. “It offers a unique expression with its aromatic complexity and ageing potential,” she says.
Domaine Bousquet has announced the launch of its Finca Lalande Cabernet Franc, described by Anne Bousquet, CEO and co-owner of the winery, as a “distinctive Uco Valley expression”, made from a grape which “thrives in our high-altitude vineyards”.
White wines are also seeing growing potential, and not only white Malbec. “Argentinian Chardonnay is undergoing a renaissance”, says Pesce, adding: “producers are crafting exciting new styles, from elegant, cool-climate versions in Patagonia to complex, high-altitude wines in Mendoza.”
Pesce also argues that Argentinian Semillon is “making a comeback”, particularly in traditional regions such as Luján de Cuyo and Maipú.
Ana Lovaglio Balbo is marketing director at Susana Balbo Wines, an Argentinian producer which has always put its faith in whites. “We firmly believe that white wines will play a crucial role in the future of Argentine viticulture,” she says.
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Pogmore says that, while winemakers like Susana Balbo, who “has always been known for her whites”, continue to thrive, so too will the other wineries just catching on to the category’s potential.
“We’re starting to see a lot of other wineries starting to push their Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs and even Pinot Grigio. Pinots seem to be a lot more fruit-forward than what we see in Europe, which is quite a desired style,” she says.
Adrian Brice, fine wine buyer at Berry Bros. & Rudd, says the diversity of Argentinian wine will guarantee the country’s future success.
“Argentinian wine needs to show its breadth, so that customers do not feel that, having bought one wine, they have no need to consider others,” he says.
Versatility is key, and promoting wines which can be enjoyed in different contexts and with different foods will enable consumers to “consider Argentinian wine in a broader range of situations”, Brice says.
Information from this article first appeared in a wider feature on Argentine wine published in the February issue of The Drinks Business. Read more at our website.
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