Mendoza wine

History

In the mid-19th century the French agronomist Michel Pouget, working at the request of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, brought vine cuttings to Argentina, including the country's first Malbec. The arrival of the Buenos Aires to Mendoza railway in 1885 replaced slow cart transport and opened national markets, and by 1910 Mendoza's vineyards had grown to about 45,000 ha. Malbec later became Argentina's signature, and by 2003 it was the country's most planted red grape. Luján de Cuyo received Argentina's first official appellation. Its icon wines include Cheval des Andes in Luján de Cuyo.

Terroir and appellations

Mendoza's vineyards lie in the eastern foothills of the Andes, at high altitude, in a continental, semi-arid climate. Rain is scarce, so vines depend on irrigation channels fed by mountain rivers and glacial meltwater from the Andes. The traditional heart is the Primera Zona south of the city, with Luján de Cuyo and Maipú. The Uco Valley, higher and cooler to the south-west, includes Tupungato, with Gualtallary, and Paraje Altamira in San Carlos, and is gaining recognition for premium wines, including whites. San Rafael is the main southern zone. In 2023 Mendoza held 71% of Argentina's 204,847 ha of vineyards.

Grapes and wine styles

Malbec is Mendoza's most important grape for quality wine; the high-altitude areas of Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley produce Argentina's most highly rated examples. Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Tempranillo and Cabernet Franc are other important reds. Chardonnay is the leading quality white, grown notably in Tupungato. The pink-skinned Criolla Grande and Cereza remain widely planted for bulk wine. Mendoza accounts for nearly two-thirds of Argentina's wine production. See the Argentina page for the other regions.

Mendoza wine: questions and answers