Across the Atlantic, New World wines have been gaining in quality year on year for the past 20 years. Argentina is the main wine producer in South America. Today, Argentina is the fifth largest wine producer in the world.
Argentina's wine heritage is almost half a millennium old and was built up gradually when the Spanish conquistadors and Italian settlers arrived in the 16th century. The arrival of the Jesuits in 1580 led to the introduction of Bonarda, one of the country's emblematic grape varieties, representing 18,000 hectares of vines.
A mountainous region at the foot of the Andes mountains, Argentina is home to the highest vineyard in the world. Located between 1,000 and 3,000 metres above sea level, the Cafayate region benefits from an amazing microclimate with very large temperature ranges and adequate irrigation. Although Cafayate is the highest vineyard in the world, it is not the largest producer. The vineyards of Mendoza take this accolade, producing nearly three-quarters of Argentina's wines.
Originally from Cahors, Malbec has become the emblematic grape variety of Argentina. The sandy and clay-limestone soils of its arid regions also allow the cultivation of various grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, but also Torrontés and Pinot Noir.