Argentina, Malbec and diversity

What has been happening in Argentina in recent years? Which are the new wine trends that are beginning to grow in popularity? What is going on with Malbec? Are there other varieties on the way up?

 

At VinEsence we know about Argentine wines: its categories, styles, prices, markets and channels. We know because we are Argentines, because we have been dedicated to wine for more than 15 years and because we are aware of local and international trends. In this article, we will share with you what we have been monitoring in the last few years.

 

More and better Malbec

Malbec is Argentina’s flagship, it represents the red grape variety with the largest number of planted hectares (45,657 Ha.) and it is the most popular and exported grape variety to the world (USA is its main consumer).

Let’s take a look at some interesting aspects of what is currently happening with Malbec in Argentina:

 

• The deepening of the variety
  Not only has Argentina kept the uniform and standardized Malbec, but, in recent years, it has also witnessed an attractive diversity, especially in the middle and high segments with more precise and pure wines. What does this mean? Wines that reflect greater finesse, higher levels of freshness, gentleness in the use of oak and a clear identity of the place where they come from. These new traits coexist with the powerful style that made Malbec famous and that it is still chosen by many consumers today.
• The diversity of styles
  The colored, fruity and woody Malbec that conquered the world (the so-called big bold), although still present, is no longer the only and absolute style; what we are observing lately is in line with the search for greater freshness, sustained by more precise harvesting points and with a gentleness in the use of wood, so that it can reflect the place where it comes from, without the wood being the protagonist. they are more fluid, gentle, fresh, agile and fruity wines that do not detract from the quality. How is this achieved? In addition to the work in the vineyard, more innovative winemaking processes or more favorable climates for these styles are taken into consideration.
• Improvements in natural freshness levels, resulting from a cooler climate (Uco Valley), a lower latitude (Patagonia) or even in temperate or warm regions (Salta or Northwest Argentina) by planting at high altitude together with specific work in the vineyard.
• The interaction of factors within the same terroir
  In this approach, it is important to understand terroir in its maximum expression. That is to say, to understand the necessary interplay of variables for a variety to fully express itself, such as the impact that the Andes Mountains have on the regions that are established on their slopes. Depending on the altitude and proximity to it, soils behave differently and define a new image known as “micro terroir” or “Cru” that includes the interrelation of several elements such as water use, native flora and fauna.

 

Diversity of varieties

We are really excited about the diversity of varieties that we are identifying more frequently in the local market and it is progressively reaching the export markets. Unlike a few years ago, when most of the Argentine wineries’ portfolios and sales were completely monopolized by Malbec, today, in certain mid and high range segments, other varieties are growing in importance, some are well-known and some others are non-traditional.

 

The most outstanding are the following:

• Cabernet Franc
  Recent rising star and the second most important red grape variety in the Trade. Although it covers only a few hectares (1,352 hectares), its wines – mostly made as varietals – are showing excellent quality. Its freshness and natural acidity, the good scores obtained from several producers, its diversity of styles and its winemaking practices such as co-fermentation with Malbec are the Argentine Cabernet Franc leading factors to its recognition and sustained growth over time.
• Light-bodied or light varieties
  Such as Pinot Noir, Criollas (grape varieties found in Argentina) or Grenache, which are gradually beginning to explore a style that allows them to show more finesse, tension and agility than the well-known Malbec. These varieties and their styles represent another path that shows the diversity that Argentina is currently going through.
• Varieties of old vineyards
  Argentina has large extensions of old vineyards that today are being revalued, in some cases through Malbec, but we also want to highlight varieties such as Semillón (in the Uco Valley and Patagonia), Chenin Blanc and the different Criollas (Mendoza, San Juan).

 

More elegant styles

The search for more elegant styles is aimed at high altitude in order to settle the vineyards in increasingly cooler climates, where the relationship with temperature provides levels of natural acidity and finer and deeper tannins. In addition to that, the correlation in the winery to break the mold in terms of past winemaking practices and thus define a more sensitive work with regular decisions is key to ensuring that each brand has its well-defined character.

 

Revaluation of Criollas varieties

Criollas are a family of vines native to the Americas that were formed by crossbreeding other European grapes with each other or combined with their descendants. The Criollas were introduced to Argentina centuries ago and for a long time were hidden under the cloak of bulk wines, of low quality wines or because they were in isolated regions of the territory. One of the most famous is Torrontés; although in recent years, many local producers have started a movement of revaluation and rescue of their Criolla’s vineyards – Pedro Ximénez white grape or Criolla Chica or Grande red grape varieties – to start making their wines, guaranteeing quality. The result?  Wines with a very different profile from what Argentina has historically offered: being agile, crisp and fresh with soft and angular tannins that bring with them a beautiful story of centuries to tell.

 

Organic wine trend

As in international markets, this category is also in full growth in Argentina, especially in the western region of our country where the absolutely dry climate is key to maintaining many of the necessary conditions for the production of organic wines. In recent years, the number of certified hectares in our country has increased and everything seems to indicate that there is an increasing number of vineyards in the process of obtaining the certification. There has also been a considerable increase in the supply of natural, orange and even high-flying white wines  in a country that was not known for them until recently. Therefore, this trend in Argentina is a reality that encourages the production of wines that are in great demand in markets such as the North American or Scandinavian markets.

 

 

We trust we have been clear in sharing with you everything we are experiencing now in the Argentine wine industry; aspects that help us to broaden our own vision and, from there, to think strategically about our business plans.

 

At VinEsence, we are experts in foreign trade, opening international markets for our clients and positioning their brands with the right pricing according to the dynamics of each country.

 

 

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Business Partners Matías Prezioso / Sebastián Maggi