Argentina is well known for its wines from Mendoza, but its variety of altitude and soils provide a rich ground for a diverse range of wines. Read on to discover exciting wines from a region on the rise. Use the index below to navigate the sections of this article.
Facts from Argentina
Argentina has a surface area of ~2.8 million km2. To put it in context, this is roughly 4 times the size of France. The flagship black grape variety from Argentina is Malbec and the white one is Torrontés, and you can find an assortment of other varieties like Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Bonarda, Petit Verdot, Syrah, etc.
Argentina has a continental climate and it is on the dry side. In certain areas of the country, access to water is a challenge, hence they employ various irrigation techniques.
As a result of these challenges, Argentina is continuously searching to innovate and to commit to sustainable practices.
In Pursuit of New Heights
Vineyards in Argentina have extended to high altitudes in search of cooler temperatures, which allows them to create wines with good acidity, essential to balance Malbec’s tannins and to help Torrontés reach its maximum expression.
It is precisely the high altitude that is the main topic of this article, and I would like to focus on the area of the country that has the vineyards with the highest altitude in the country, the North Region.
Map of Argentina Wine Regions
This gorgeous map that presents the Argentina Wine regions is from Amble Wine. They sell fantastic books about wine. (If you want a discount, use the code THEWINESNUG at checkout. Disclaimer: We might get a commission from this).
The North Region of Argentina
This region includes 4 sub-regions: Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca & Tucumán. The wines produced in the North Region show a strong influence of terroir, varietal character and effect of the altitude.
This region has vineyards ranging from 750m to 3,329 metres above sea level.
And although Torrontés is the flagship grape variety in the region (some say this is where it reaches its peak expression), around 62% of the wines produced here are red.
In terms of size, this region represents 3.44% of the cultivated surface in Argentina. So not huge but very important in terms of quality of wines.
Calchaquí Valleys
Within the North Region, we can find several geographic indications (or GIs), one of them is the Calchaquí Valleys in the Northwest of Argentina. This GI is considered the most prolific wine area within the North region of the country and it expands through three Argentinian provinces: Tucumán, Catamarca and Salta. Within Salta, we find Cafayate, a well-known subregion for old vines. Actually, Cafayate houses the oldest vines in the country that still produce wine.
The Highest of Them All
The wines produced in the Calchaquí Valleys are wines with altitudes ranging from 1,650m to 3,111m above sea level. In fact, six of the highest altitude vineyards in Argentina are located here.
Working the vines at this high altitude comes with several challenges and makes the whole operation expensive. This area has lower yields and a mix of traditional flood irrigation and drip irrigation. The Calchaquí Valley has a continental climate with a hefty diurnal range. That, plus the vineyards' altitude, results in low yielding grapes with good acidity and concentration of flavours.
According to Wine Searcher, the Calchaquí Valleys produce around 2% of all the wine production from Argentina. And what can you expect? Wines with balanced acidity and high concentration of flavours (plus several awards, never hurts, right?).
My Top 3 Wines from the North Region
I attended a trade tasting organised by the Embassy of Argentina in Ireland. We tasted wines from several wine regions from Argentina. Since today I am shining the spotlight on the North Region, let me introduce you to my top 3 wines from this place.
Colomé Estate 2022. Malbec
This wine is made from Malbec grapes sourced from 4 different vineyards that are planted at different altitudes:
La Brava vineyard in Cafayate is at an altitude of 1,700m above sea level. It is the hottest vineyard in the blend and produces intense ripe fruit.
The Colomé vineyard is planted at 2,300m above sea level and is home to some of the oldest vines in the country, giving complexity and weight to the blend.
El Arenal vineyard is located at 2,600m above sea level and provides elegance and freshness to the blend.
The Altura Máxima vineyard is very high, planted at 3,111m above the sea. The altitude in this vineyard gives floral and mineral notes and fine grain tannins
This wine has 15 months in French oak and 6 months of bottle ageing. With notes of black fruit, floral and spice. The fruit is juicy and there's a herbal note as well. It has powerful tannins that are well balanced.
Colomé Torrontés 2023
The grapes for this wine come from La Brava vineyard, which is planted at 1,700m above sea level. This altitude, along with a large diurnal range, produces a wine that is fresh, aromatic and with nice acidity. To preserve the aromatics, this wine sees no oak. It is floral with a pleasant oily texture, well balanced with notes of grapefruit, rose and a hint of spice.
Colomé Auténtico 2022. Malbec
This wine aims to express the authenticity of the terroir, hence the name Auténtico (authentic). This is a single vineyard wine and the grapes come from a vineyard planted at 2,300m above sea level, no wonder why it is surprisingly fresh! This wine is vinified in stainless steel and has a minimum ageing of 10 months in bottle.
It has notes of green bell pepper, juicy black fruit and a herbal edge. It is savoury, earthy and meaty with bright acidity and round tannins, a true delight.
The wines are all from the same winery, Bodega Colomé. This winery is one of the oldest in Argentina, founded in 1831 and is nestled in the Calchaquí Valley. For more information about the winery, you can visit their website here. Note: Opinions on the wines are my own, this post is not sponsored.
If you are searching for a distinctive type of wine from Argentina, I strongly recommend tasting the wines from the North Region. And if you want to know more about these wines or get food pairing tips, follow us on Instagram or leave a message here.
Thank you to Wines of Argentina, the Madam Ambassador Ana Laura Cachaza & the whole Embassy team for the hospitality and the fierce promotion of Argentine Wines in Ireland.
Brilliant! Well Done Ara 🍷