Argentinian Malbec

France is the place of origin of Malbec, but Argentina is now home to nearly 70% of the Malbec vineyards of the world. Thus, your very first taste of Malbec could have been from Mendoza, Argentina. There is a dramatic difference in taste between the two regions, and this is because Malbec shows how terroir affects the wine.

This uber-popular varietal is a household name thanks to Argentina, but it still has a foothold in southwest France where it originated. Same grape, two very different wines. A Malbec from Argentina tends to be plummy and fruit-forward, with a soft velvety texture. In France, Malbec tends to have more structure, firmer tannins, and an inky dark, brooding quality.