Mention Malbec wine and the Argentinian Wine industry comes into sharp focus. Argentina has captured the Malbec market and makes some excellent wines.
Originally European wines were introduced some seven hundred years ago, but the terroir proved ideal for Malbec, and this variety dominates the wine-growing industry of Argentina.
The country has the spectacular Andes Mountains as a backdrop to beautiful wineries.
Here we are going to highlight some of the very best tours of the wineries of this beautiful country.
At the outset, I must say that I find it challenging to taste more than three or four wines in one sitting and remember the individual tastes of each wine, so I prefer only visiting two wineries on the same day.
The Catena Zapata Wine tour from Mandosa
This eight tour is an excellent introduction to some of the most famous wines of Argentina.
The first stop is the world-famous Catena Zapata winery, just under an hour from the Airport in Mandoza. With over a century of family history deeply embedded in the vineyard is the proud producer of some of the best wines in Argentina. Let’s quickly look at some wines to taste at this vineyard.
Catena Zapata ArgentinoMalbec 2019
This Malbec comes with an average rating of 96, so you will know that you are dealing with an outstanding wine. The grapes are grown at the foothills of the Andes, some one thousand meters above sea level.
The hand-tended wines produce a low yield that results in a delightful intensity of flavors. The wine is matured in new French Oak barrels for twenty-four months.
The rich dark fruits are delicately balanced with the smooth tannins with a substantial aftertaste. The wine will age well for at least ten years but can be drunk now, and there is no need to decant.
It is worthwhile to also try some other wine varieties from this vineyard, like the Catena Zapata Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon
Catena Zapata Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Here is a robust wine that can quietly rest in the cellar for the next ten to fifteen years. The grapes are carefully hand-selected from various small plots in Mendoza before being aged in French Oak for eighteen months.
This dark, almost purple wine is a beautiful blend of rich dark fruits, nuances of herbs, and sweet spices matched by creamy tannins—a firm favorite for rich meat dishes and Game.
The second wine estate on the Itenary is the Casa El Enemigo
El Enemigon Gran Enemigo 2017
Here the trailblazing winemaker El Enemigo has created a Bordeaux blend with grapes sourced from high-altitude plots of up to fifteen hundred meters. The grapes undergo a process beginning in French Oak Barriques (sometimes called Bordeaux Barrels) and finish in gigantic three thousand liter barrels.
The process produces an Argentinian take on the famous Bordeaux Blend. The blend is faithful to the Bordeaux mix of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Malbec
The wine is a great companion to red meat dishes with its smooth tannins and long finish nicely matched by the dark berries and fruits.
The El Enemigo Chardonnay 2019
This is a welcome addition to the variety of wines available for tasting.
Harvested for vineyards between fourteen and fifteen-hundred meters above sea level results in a wine with a lovely balance between rich tropical fruit and dried fruit and almonds
The high altitude means the nights are cold, but the days are clear with bright sunshine.
The maturation process involves the young wine being covered with a thin layer of flour and yeast and then allowed to develop in old oak barrels for ten months.
The Chardonnay is a welcome companion to fish dishes like salmon or tuna or perhaps a herb-infused roast chicken.
A tour of Clos de los Siete
Celebrated as one of the most successful collaborations of world-class winemakers, the Clos de Los Siete wineries provide the opportunity to explore the two-thousand acres of vines and five wineries situated in the Uca Valley
Clos de Los Siete 2018
Shiraz is the predominant wine in this blend, supported by Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot
Born of the passion of Michel Rolland, this blend embraces the cold of the Andes nights with the bright sunshine of the days.
The wine is smooth as blends should be, with an impressive intensity of dark berries, plum fruits, and rounded tannins. The wine will benefit from a resting period of up to seven years in the cellar.
A splendid wine to enjoy with hearty steaks and meaty stews.
Conclusion
Argentina has a multitude of Wine tours on offer. You can start your tour in Buenos Aires and then travel over the Andes to Mendoza, or you can start your tour in Mendoza.Gyde and Seek offers a range of tours, so have a lookhttps://buenosaires.gydeandseek.com/
For tours to some of the top Mendosa Wineries, have a look at:https://www.viator.com/tours/Mendoza/The-Enemy-with-Lunch-and-Trapiche-Winery/d931-160130P7
Joining a tour is a great way to start your exploration of the area. Once you have picked up on the lay of the land, you can choose your destinations and enjoy the sites you prefer in your own time.
