Five Fun Facts About the Argentinean Favourite
Today (17th April) marks World Malbec Day, so let’s raise a toast to the rich and bold delight with some fun facts about one of Argentina’s most famous tipples:
1. It’s a descendant of the French
Malbec originated in the Sud-Ouest of France. However, in 1852, the French brought the Malbec vine to Argentina in hopes of finding a more suitable climate for the grape to flourish.
In fact, the original name for Malbec was ‘cot’. While this all changed when Sieur Malbek brought the wine over from the right bank of the Bordeaux region, the name ‘cot’ is still used for many bottlings of French Malbec.
2. Argentina grows the most Malbec grapes of any country in the world
Today, Argentina leads production of the Malbec grape. In fact, Argentina now has more than 136,000 acres of Malbec vines – that’s the equivalent to 75% of all the acres of Malbec in the world.
3. Malbec is synonymous with the Mendoza region
The desert-like environment of the Mendoza region, situated in the foothills of the snow-capped Andes mountain range, translates to highly aromatic grapes with a thicker skin, leading to a more flavourful and delicious wine!
4. It’s a great alternative to a Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah
Known for its plump, dark fruit flavours and smoky finish, Malbec is a wonderful alternative to higher priced Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah. While the main fruit flavours in Argentine Malbec are blackberry, plum, and black cherry, the nuanced flavours offer milk chocolate, cocoa powder, violet flowers, leather, and a sweet tobacco finish.
5. The Argentinean star has a perfect flavour profile for food pairing
The fruit flavours in Malbec, combined with the natural acidity and oak, make Malbec a highly versatile wine. Pizza, ripe cheeses and pasta in tomato-based sauces are all great candidates for a light and fruity Malbec while a more full-bodied Malbec is the perfect accompaniment for richer foods such as steak or blue cheese.
One to try: i heart Malbec Mendoza ♥ The bold & rich one
The i heart Malbec Mendoza is produced the foot of the Andes in Mendoza, one of the highest altitude wine growing regions in the world.
Spicily rich, it has bold flavours of plum and black cherry, complemented by hints of cocoa and sweet tobacco on the nose, while smooth tannins add a luxurious texture and a silky round finish.
Serve with: adopt the traditions of Argentina and serve with cured meats, cheeses and olives followed with an Asado – meal from the grill.
Stockist: Nisa and McColl’s
For more information about i heart Wines please visit www.iheartwines.co.uk or join the conversation at Facebook.com/iheartwines, Twitter @iheartwines, and Instagram @iheartwines.
