The initial vine cuttings were planted in Santiago. After Spain recognised Chile’s independence in the 1840s, authorities sought French expertise on viticulture and winemaking to prop up the economy. Some wine historians say that it was the Chileans who first propagated Malbec before the Argentinians. Resveratrol helps with heart disease protection as it can fight plaque build-up in the veins. Their thickness makes them a rich source of resveratrol, a natural antibiotic and antioxidant found in plants. Today, Argentine Malbecs are among the world’s thick-skinned grapes. The country celebrates April 17 as World Malbec Day. This large diurnal range led to the growth of the national wine industry, with Malbec making up over 60% of Argentina’s annual wine exports. Sugar builds up during the dry daytime while the acidity level balances out at night as the temperature cools. More importantly, the grapes enjoyed the warm days and cold nights of high-altitude Argentinian regions, ripening in a more balanced way. The two other top-growing Malbec provinces include San Juan in the mountainous Cuyo region in the upper west and Salta in the north, which borders Bolivia, Chile, and Paraguay.Ĭompared to the French landscape, the sand and clay soils of the Andes allow the grapevines’ roots to soak up more minerals. It’s currently home to 85% of the country’s Malbec plantations. The first cuttings were planted in the western Mendoza province, at the foot of the Andes Mountains. The Malbec reportedly reached Argentina in the mid-19th century when French agronomist Michel Pouget recommended the grape variety to the country’s winemakers, who consulted him at that time. In Cahors, plantation owners affected by the same frost replanted the Malbec, giving winemakers something to add to Merlot and Tannat for a more full-bodied flavour. A killer frost in 1956 destroyed 75% of Bordeaux’s crops, forcing its growers to go for the more resilient Cabernet and Merlot. This forced them to focus on Cabernet and Merlot. The Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, and Petit Verdot are the other grape varieties allowed for red Bordeaux blends.ĭuring the height of Malbec’s popularity in the region in the 1850s, phylloxera-a microscopic aphid that attacks grapes-wiped out local vineyards. Due to King Francis I’s (1515–1547) fondness for the Malbec, the variety reached the Bordeaux region, where its wineries currently use it as a blending grape for its red wines. There are also accounts saying that Malbec is the surname of a Hungarian peasant who was responsible for the spread of these grapes in France by being among its first growers.Īs a financial centre in the 13th century, Cahors drew moneyed people from across Europe, many of whom tasted Malbec wine. The grapes were also known by the same name in Loire Valley in northern France, where they’re also cultivated.ĭue to its inky hue, people then referred to Malbec wine as “black wine” or “black wine of Lot,” which is the name of the river that runs through Cahors and through which the sales of the wine became possible. The fruits’ dark colour is attributed to the region’s limestone soil. The grape variety was first cultivated by the Romans from Italy in the south-western town of Cahors some 2,000 years ago (or around circa 150 A.D.), where it’s called Côt, Côt Noir, or Auxerrois. History and OriginsĪlthough the Malbec grape is associated with Argentina nowadays, its roots can be traced to France. Malbec wines can contain up to 15% alcohol, which is on par with Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay-the most popular of the red and white wine varieties, respectively-as well as Merlot, another red wine made from blue-coloured grapes. This results in a generally deep reddish-purple and opaque drink with soft to medium tannin levels. It comes from a dark and thick-skinned grape variety called Malbec, which is mainly grown in South America and France. Malbec wine is a great red wine for beginners and a favourite among red wine lovers.
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