By Adriana Krstic
I ventured to Argentina in June of 2024, just as the temperatures started to drop and the mild winter was beginning there. This was my second visit to this South American country, which has in recent years emerged as one of the world’s most exciting wine-producing areas. It is renowned for its bold reds, high-altitude vineyards, and a winemaking heritage that combines Old World techniques with New World innovation.
While my first trip, a few years earlier, was all about discovery of the natural beauty of this fascinating country, this one was centered on finding the best experiences for international wine and food lovers wanting to travel to this fantastic region with a sommelier’s guidance.
I arrived in Mendoza ready to be wowed by its signature malbec, grass-fed beef, and parillas — typical Argentine barbecue. A parrilla Argentina can be anything from two bricks supporting a flimsy metal grill made from rebar, to a complete outdoor kitchen grill with all the amenities. It’s a cultural symbol, revered across Argentina for its ability to bring people together.
And so is their wine.
Mendoza is considered the heart of Argentine wine and the epicenter of its wine industry. The region accounts for more than 70 percent of Argentina’s wine production. Located at the foothills of the beautiful Andes, Mendoza’s vineyards are situated at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 feet above sea level. These high elevations, the intense sunlight, dry climate, and a wide diurnal temperature range create ideal conditions for grape growing.
Malbec thrives here, producing rich wines with flavors of plum, blackberry, and spice. Mendoza’s Luján de Cuyo subregion offers elegant, fruit-forward malbecs, while the Uco Valley yields more structured, mineral-driven wines. You can also find excellent quality cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and white varietals like chardonnay and torrontés.
I next travelled to the Salta region in Argentina’s northwest. Home to some of the highest vineyards in the world, with some reaching elevations above 10,000 feet, the conditions produce highly concentrated wines with high acidity and intense aromatics. Salta is particularly famous for torrontés, a native white grape that produces perfumed wines with floral and citrus notes. The best expressions come from the Cafayate Valley, where warm days and cool nights preserve freshness and complexity. Red varietals like Malbec, bonarda, and cabernet sauvignon are also grown here and tend to have bold tannins and deep color.
The natural beauty of the region stunned me and I was impressed at the impulse to grow vines in some of the harshest, most desert-like environment. It was surreal to see vineyards nestled among some of the tallest cacti I have ever seen.
At the southern tip of Argentina lies Patagonia, encompassing the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro. While it is known for glaciers, nature, and world-class hiking, Patagonia has also been gaining recognition for its complex, elegant pinot noir, merlot, and chardonnay.
This region offers a stark contrast to the arid highlands of Mendoza and Salta. Here, the climate is much cooler, and strongly influenced by southern winds and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.
The wines produced here offer bright acidity, lower alcohol, and delicate fruit profiles, making them appealing to fans of European-style wines. The region’s relatively young wine industry is small but increasingly more focused on quality and sustainability.
I was blown away by some of these wines and I am happy to see many available for purchase locally. As you grill some steaks, consider enjoying it with a glass of delicious Argentine wine.
Tango is optional!
