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Passion in a glass: Wine country-Argentina
Bright and hearty Argentinean cuisine with an abundance of meat dishes, a carnival of vegetable variations and hot seasonings attracts many tourists. A separate item is the Argentine wines, which are gaining more and more fans every year.
Mendoza’s Wine Riches
The Mendoza Valley is considered the main wine region of the country, because 80% of all wine is produced here. Its pearl, without a doubt, is the most famous wine of Argentina – “Malbec”. And although this variety comes from France, it is in the South American lands that it ripens perfectly. Its wines are distinguished by plum and cherry accents with light shades of chocolate and dried fruits. It’s a perfect addition to grilled meats and aged cheeses. Wines based on the varieties “Criola Grande”, “criola chica” and “Ceresa”are also popular. They have a rich fruit bouquet with the finest notes of spices and liquorice. This wine is organically combined with fried poultry, pasta and mushroom dishes. For the production of white wines in Mendoza, European varieties of “chardonnay” and “Sauvignon Blanc”are chosen. Refreshing, slightly buttery wine is remembered for a long aftertaste, in which you can guess the spicy nuances. Most often it is served with fish and white meat.
The Seductive Charms of San Juan
In the unofficial classification of wines of Argentina, the drinks of the San Juan region occupy a separate place. Mainly Italian grape varieties are grown here, among which “bonarda” enjoys constant love. Local red wines combine accents of wild berries, delicate creamy nuances and a delicate vanilla aftertaste. Red meat and game dishes, as well as hard cheeses, will help you discover it. Excellent wines are created from the French “shiraz”. The juicy fruit taste smoothly turns into spicy shades and ends with a long pleasant aftertaste. This wine is in harmony with pasta, vegetable snacks and thick soups. White wines of San Juan from the varieties “Chardonnay” and “Chenin Blanc” fascinate with a deep taste with spicy notes and exciting tropical echoes. The best gastronomic pair for this wine is white meat, poultry and seafood.
Symphony of Salta Flavors
Salta is the most fertile province in the north of the country. Its hallmark is the “torrontes” grape, which produces some of the best wines in Argentina. Their rich bouquet is dominated by notes of mountain herbs and flowers with nuances of citrus, peach and rose. And the taste is remembered by the play of apricot, jasmine and honey shades. This wine is perfectly combined with meat pates, fish and soft cheeses. White wines based on “Sauvignon Blanc” also received high ratings from experts. They have a harmonious taste with interesting fruit accents and a spicy aftertaste. It is best emphasized by spicy meat snacks and seafood in a spicy sauce. Red wines in Salta are made from the famous “cabernet sauvignon”. Their expressive taste with a silky texture is full of fruit and berry tones with whimsical nuances of nutmeg. The choice of dishes here is classic-grilled meat and game on the grill.
A gourmet paradise
The wine province of La Rioja, in the western part of the country, is also famous for the best wines in Argentina. Favorable climatic conditions allow you to grow here selected grapes “tempranillo”, brought once by the Spaniards. The wines from it are distinguished by a perfectly balanced taste with rich cherry, apple and currant notes. They go well with red meat, pasta with mushroom sauce and hard cheeses. Red wines from Malbec in La Rioja are also not uncommon. Their velvety taste is dominated by tones of dark fruit, chocolate and burnt wood. The bouquet is most fully revealed in a duet with pork chops or grilled lamb. White wines “Chardonnay” will delight their connoisseurs with a delicate taste with nuances of citrus and spices, as well as an unusually light vanilla aftertaste. They can be served as fish dishes and seafood, as well as fruit desserts.
Sky-high fairy tale of Patagonia
The province of Patagonia deserves special attention, because it grows the highest mountain grapes in the world, mainly “semillon” and “torrontes”. The wines from them have a beautiful structure and a rich bouquet with mineral notes. A win — win choice for them is seafood in a creamy sauce and snacks made from white meat. Dry red wines of Argentina from here are originally obtained from mature varieties of “pinot noir”. They are distinguished by a multi-faceted taste, which combines berry accents, floral tones and nuances of licorice. In addition to these wines, you can prepare homemade and wild poultry with berry sauce. Refined drinks based on the French “merlot” — quite a worthy analogue of European wines. They are characterized by a bright bouquet with juicy fruit aromas and hints of vanilla, as well as a long refreshing aftertaste. Grilled dishes, especially veal and lamb, are perfectly combined with them.
White and red wines of Argentina are deservedly among the top five in the world. They will perfectly fit into any festive menu and will be a great gift for your family and friends.
See also:
Travel across the ocean: discovering Chilean wines
Wine Guide to Spain
Exploring the wine list of Italy
France-the wine treasury of the world