Mendoza Wine Region Guide
Mendoza Magic: Discover the Heart of Argentina's Wine Heritage
EXPLORE ALL OUR GUIDES TO ARGENTINA'S WINE REGIONS
Last updated: October 5, 2024
Introduction
Welcome to the beating heart of Argentina’s wine industry. Mendoza, centered on a very attractive, tree-lined city (1050 km west of Buenos Aires), has always been the country’s most important ‘vineyard,’ with many different regions and terroirs. This is where the most exciting developments in viticulture have occurred and where international companies typically decide to invest their dollars. Mendoza’s tourism sector, meanwhile, is currently running at full throttle. It has become the Napa Valley of South America: chic tasting rooms, superlative restaurants, and luxury hotels abound.
Yet, while the region’s investors are experts at marketing and hospitality, in the end, it all comes down to quality – many of Argentina’s finest wines are produced in Mendoza. The signature export, voluptuous, perfumed, and gloriously hedonistic Malbec, is just the beginning. Since the Spanish planted vines in the 16th century, Mendoza’s wine industry has gone from strength to strength, and the country has an international reputation to rival Chile. And, like its close neighbor, Mendoza has embraced viticultural diversity, planting a broad range of varieties at ever-higher altitudes.
Whisper it: some of the world’s best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are now made in the vertiginous landscapes of the Uco Valley. Just don’t tell the Burgundians!
Winemaking and regional classifications
Mendoza has a long and proud tradition of wine growing, dating back to the Spanish conquest and the arrival of Jesuit missionaries. However, it was not until the late 1990s that the region became associated with quality: a large domestic market tolerated oxidized whites and dilute reds, produced using old-fashioned methods and equipment. Of course, it all looks very different today – a high percentage of Argentina’s most renowned and respected wineries are based here.
What’s more, the talent that continues to flow into central Mendoza is remarkable, coupled with an increasing emphasis on matching a specific variety to a place and a greater understanding of the region’s complex mosaic of terroirs. Vineyards line both sides of the avenues that radiate southwest from the city in the Luján de Cuyo appellation, forming what is perhaps Mendoza’s most important subregion for exceptional Malbec wine.
Some of the country’s leading wineries are based here, including Pulenta, Luigi Bosca, Catena Zapata, and Trapiche. One of its most impressive labels, Trapiche Melodias, uses hand-harvested Malbec fruit that is destemmed and crushed before fermentation. A fairly lengthy vinification and maceration will then follow (about 25 days), extracting good amounts of color, tannin, and fruit from the berries. Maturation in wood will then take place for nine months in a mix of French and American oak barrels.
Mendoza Malbec: A Benchmark of Quality and Elegance
The result is a poster child for Mendoza Malbec. Due to abundant sunlight and high elevation, rich concentration is usually balanced by invigorating freshness – a hallmark of Argentine wine. Lesser examples from low-lying areas can be a jammy concoction of ripe fruit; however, the best labels, such as the single-vineyard expressions made by Catena Zapata, merge intensity and elegance. Plum, cassis, and black cherry on the nose lead into a rich and supple palate, revealing intense mocha, damson, and vanilla notes. The texture, meanwhile, is pure velvet: suave and elegant. It is rare to encounter astringent tannin and undernourished fruit in the vineyards of Mendoza.
That is also true of the excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah that thrive in the well-drained gravel soils of Maipu. The Uco Valley, too, is producing some very impressive Rhone imitations – La Cayetana Syrah is a standout example of the grape’s potential. It is made by Emilia Soler, a rising star in Uco Valley winemaking.
Using old parcels of Syrah vines planted at 1100m above sea level, Soler vinifies the must in French barrique for a month, using a mixture of crushed grapes and whole bunches. Maturation in barrel for 12 months (and an additional eight months in bottle) yields a stylish red, bursting with aromas of black olive, black pepper, and blackberry – more Côte-Rôtie than Hermitage.
The wine is something of an Argentine game changer; it signals that the new generation of producers is keen to explore new varieties and move away from the voluptuous Malbec cliché. On a similar theme, does anyone think of crisp, dry whites when they think of Mendoza? They should: high-altitude vineyards yield Sauvignon Blancs of breathtaking intensity and freshness, reminiscent of Marlborough Sauvignon. The best Torrontes is likewise excellent: super-pungent and elegant at the same time.
Tupungato: The Pinnacle of Argentine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
At the top of the hierarchy – literally and figuratively – are the mountain vineyards in the Tupungato subregion, where much of Argentina’s fine Chardonnay is grown, in addition to sublime Bordeaux red varieties. However, the single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines have no parallel in Argentine winemaking – their closest rivals are Burgundy varietals grown in Chile’s Aconcagua region.
A combination of spectacularly high altitude, calcareous soils, and low yields produce sublime Chardonnay in the Uco Valley, noted for its excellent aromatics, structure, and fruit flavors. In all sincerity, they have the complexity of Premier Cru Meursault allied to the intensity of New World Chardonnay. A wine that will age beautifully, with much to tempt the impatient oenophile.
Geography and terroir
The center of Argentina’s wine industry has always been Mendoza, near the Chilean border, west of Buenos Aires. The mesmerizing landscape, an oasis of green vineyards flanked by the snow-capped Andes, encompasses a complex and diverse region with several important subzones and individual climats (vineyard sites) that have earned their own appellations. Today, there are approximately 146,000 hectares under vine, with over 880 estates producing wine. In every sense of the word, this is Argentina’s wine capital, a region rich in unique terroirs and subregions.
It is also a very heterogeneous vineyard: Mendoza has several distinct terroirs and subregions, including Luján de Cuyo and Maipu. Located in central Mendoza, they are easily accessible from the city itself—Maipu is on its southern doorstep. A combination of old vines, gravelly soils (especially in Maipu), and intense sunlight yields some of the country’s best wines: powerfully structured reds and super-elegant dry whites.
Climate and Soil Diversity Impacting Viticulture
Moreover, while new plantings are on rootstocks (phylloxera is not absent from Argentine vineyards), vineyard diseases are relatively uncommon due to the hot, dry climate. However, a great deal of Mendoza’s terroir is based on alluvial soils, with quite a high proportion of sand in many areas.
These free-draining terroirs can produce very fruity and attractive reds, although it is noticeable that Burgundy varieties tend to excel when there is clay-limestone in the substratum. Due to the stony topsoils and hot growing season, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc find a natural home in Maipu.
Meanwhile, not every grower focuses on premium quality. East and north of Mendoza, sandy terrain and sweltering heat, where the cooling influence of the Andes is largely negated, produce gallons of alcoholic dross, serving as the mainstay of supermarket private labels and distillate. At the same time, quality is improving, and an emerging generation of growers are realizing that there is a shrinking global market for bad wine.
Nevertheless, most of the region’s top labels rely on low-yielding vines planted at high elevations—this focus on high-altitude viticulture unifies Argentina’s premium winemakers.
Indeed, the altitudes at which Mendoza’s vineyards flourish would be unthinkably high in Europe. For example, the average elevation of Maipu vineyards is 800 meters above sea level. At this height, overnight temperatures are regularly low enough to give an attractive combination of potent flavors, good freshness, and acidity. That being said, the fearsome hot, dry wind from the northeast, called La Zonda, poses a real liability, particularly during flowering.
Conditions here are far from perfect, and the weather is unpredictable. Winters are cold at these high altitudes, but spring frosts can present a real danger during bud burst. Moreover, even in this seemingly arid landscape, it has a nasty tendency to hail, which can devastate an entire year’s crop. As a result, some growers have invested in special hail nets, which can also usefully reduce the risk of sunburn in Argentina’s powerful and abundant sunlight.
A Hidden Gem Producing Notable Whites
The risk of hail is equally problematic in the vineyards of San Rafael, located 235 km southeast of Mendoza city. This is one of the region’s more ‘discrete’ subzones, lacking the renown of central Mendoza and the achingly trendy Uco Valley. Yet it is producing some excellent white wines, often based on Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay – both single-varietal styles and blends are popular in San Rafael. Sandwiched between the Diamante and Atuel rivers, the vines have no shortage of irrigation water.
One key to successful winemaking in Mendoza is controlling irrigation: sophisticated drip-feed systems prevent overwatering and crop inflation. Thus, thanks to fresh snowmelt off the Andes and a complex system of water channels, land that was once desert now supports 70 percent of Argentina’s wine production.
Mendoza’s vineyards have another advantage – diurnal temperature variation. This significant difference between day and night-time temperature is most pronounced in the Uco Valley, located 95 kilometers south of Mendoza city.
It has become a major viticultural celebrity over the past 15 years, named after a pre-Columbian Indian chief reputed to have introduced irrigation here. High altitude is king here, and producers such as Catena and Terrazas de Los Andes specify precise altitudes on their front labels. It’s perhaps the most vital ‘terroir-modifier,’ and the most critical ingredient in fine wine production in the valley.
Facts & Figures
Key wine styles
- Full-bodied red and white wines; a small volume of sparkling and dessert wine
Appellation structure
- Thirty GIs (Indicaciones Geográficas), including Godoy Cruz, Valle de Tupungato and Vista Flores
Hectares under vine
- 146,000
Average annual production
- 5.8 million hectoliters per annum
Approximate number of producers
- 880 wineries
Sub Regions of Mendoza
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Discover Luján de Cuyo, the Napa Valley of South America, and its diverse, high-quality wines just 20km from Mendoza. Explore more today! Read more
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Discover Maipu, Mendoza's treasure trove of fine wines. Explore its rich terroir and diverse vineyards for an unrivaled wine experience. Read more
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Explore Uco Valley, Argentina—home to premium wineries, organic viticulture, and Malbec, nestled in the Andes' foothills Read more
Key Grape Varietals
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Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape varietal native to the Burgundy wine region in France and one of the most popular varieties worldwide.
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Sauvignon Blanc
The sauvignon blanc grape varietal, originally from the Bordeaux region of France, is now one of the world's most loved white varieties.
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Riesling
Discover Riesling's charm, a white grape from Germany's Rhine region, cherished in Alsace, France. Unveil its secrets and delights
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Torrontés
Discover Torrontés grape: Captivating aromas, unique flavors. Argentina's shining star in wine production is also cultivated in Galicia, Spain. Floral, citrus, and herbal notes create a refreshing, medium-bodied white wine. Perfect with global cuisines. A sensory journey awaits.
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Bonarda
Croatina: Italy's hidden gem in red wine. Explore its unique characteristics and the challenge of crafting single-varietal expressions.
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Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc grape is a close relative of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and is the principal blending grape used in Bordeaux.
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Cabernet Sauvignon
Discover the irresistible allure of Cabernet Sauvignon—a worldwide favorite with robust, dark-bodied flavor. Unleash your wine journey today!
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Cereza
Cereza, a pink-skinned grape cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Listan Negro, is widely grown in Chile and Argentina, primarily for low-quality white wines and some rosé blends. Named "cherry" in Spanish, it lacks distinctive flavors. Originally from Spain, it's often blended with Criolla Chica (Listan Negro or Mission) for basic jug wines. Although valued for high yields, a shift towards higher quality has reduced its cultivation.
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Malbec
Delve into Malbec, a dark, small grape native to France, cherished for its thick skin and exceptional flavors. 🍇🍷
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Merlot
Merlot is the most cultivated grape in Bordeaux and closely related to Cabernet Franc
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Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a light-bodied red wine varietal closely related to the Vitis vinifera grape and produces the most sought-after red wines in the world.
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Syrah
Syrah is dark-skinned and perhaps the most underrated of the 'noble' red grape varieties.
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Tempranillo
Discover Tempranillo: Spain's iconic red grape. From Ribera del Duero to Toro, it yields concentrated wines. Explore its synonyms and unleash its prowess.
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Mendoza gastronomy
An enduring culinary icon, the traditional parrillas (steak restaurants) form an essential part of any trip to Argentina. Mendoza abounds with these fabulous institutions, serving sizzling steaks in all shapes and sizes (including goat), and offering house wine in classical pinguinos – ceramic penguin-shaped jugs. Yet Mendoza’s restaurant scene extends beyond beef: excellent Italian osterie and tapas bars provide a delightful alternative to the ubiquitous meat-heavy menus. Best of all, the city’s pedestrianized streets are full of pavement cafes with outdoor seating. Order a glass of wine and a tasty plate of empanadas, and watch the world go by. This is Mendoza at its most beguiling.
Wineries Recommended by Cellar Tours
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Achaval Ferrer
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Bodegas Bianchi
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Catena Zapata
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Clos de los Siete
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Cobos
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DiamAndes
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Domaine Bousquet
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Kaiken
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Luigi Bosca
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Mendel
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Pulenta
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Susana Balbo
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Trapiche
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Zuccardi
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Further Reading: Discover More Related Blog Content
More information
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