‘Tis the season and whether you’re toasting with a table full of friends and family or simply taking a breather at the end of a long day, a perfectly paired charcuterie board is an easy and tasty accompaniment to any glass of wine. While there are tons of wines to choose from, it’s easy to fall into the habit of grabbing the same old bottles time and again. Surprisingly enough, South American wines are still something of a hidden treasure despite their high quality and comparably low price point. Chile is the fifth largest exporter of wines in the world, and the ninth largest producer with a climate that is considered a fusion of California and France’s growing conditions. Mendoza, located in Argentina, on the other hand, boasts ideal weather for red and white wine production with variations in altitude and bracing winds from the nearby Andes mountain range. The majority of grapes grown found there include malbec, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and bonarda which is known as charbono when grown in Napa Valley.
The view of the vineyards from Bodega Norton Vineyards
Bodega Norton
Over the past decade, Mendoza and Chile have both been increasingly recognized all over the world for producing high quality and high value wines. Mendoza’s elevations clock in at around 3,280 feet and intense sunlight from the semi-arid climate paired with strong winds from the Andes make for a perfect storm providing optimal wine growing conditions. The terroir in Mendoza, which is mostly limestone, clay, gravel and sand, is just right for healthy vines and therefor healthy and robust grapes. The higher percentage of sand helped stop phylloxera, a pest which wiped out many of the oldest root stocks in Europe and abroad in the 20th century, from spreading. Because of this, wineries like Alta Vista were able to maintain their old vines with original rootstocks, no grafting necessary. Those old vines also mean mature growing patterns and excellent fruit. Norton, another well known winery, was founded in 1895 and currently makes wine from vines that range between 35-80 years old.
Malbec is considered the signature grape of Argentina and is the most important varietal planted in Mendoza. Malbec, which means bad mouth, was named malbeck for years. They lost the “k” in 1971 and realized that over time, the Argentinian climate was changing the grape to have softer, more complex tannins. Age, altitude and soil are everything and that calcareous soil, heat and high altitude lead to thicker, darker skins and these wines tend to deliver lots of bold and lush flavors.
Vineyards at Bodega Norton
Bodega Norton
Chile, located between the Pacific ocean and the Andes mountain range, also claims a very unique climate and excellent growing conditions. The most widely planted grape in Chile is cabernet sauvignon mostly because it thrives all over the country. Chilean wines are known for their deep and robust flavor as well as high alcohol content and the Chilean cabernet sauvignon is a great example. Expect a rich color and full body with tons of currant and black cherry with a hint of green bell pepper. Other popular varieties include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, syrah, and carmenère.
Want to know more? See below for pairing suggestions from three stellar wineries with a great way to start the journey with Chilean and Argentinian wines to help you figure out what to drink and what charcuterie to pair it with.
The rolling hills of Montes landscape outside of Santiago
Viña Montes
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Vina Montes, one of the World’s Best Wineries, is located in the mountains outside of Santiago. The grounds are stunning, the wine is award winning and the restaurant on property serves the best Francis Malman live fire cooked empanada around. Malman himself loves the winery so much that he built a house on the property. They championed the growth of syrah as well as cabernet sauvignon, a red grape that’s been cultivated in Chile for almost 150 years. They won best winery in South America in 2022 and are the fifth largest wine exporter in the country.
Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon- SRP $22.99
“This Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of figs and blackberries, accompanied by notes of spicy black pepper set against a backdrop of tobacco. For a charcuterie night, it pairs wonderfully with chorizo, enhancing the wine’s spicy peppery notes. An aged gouda, with its caramel notes and subtle crunch enhances the wines ripe berry flavors.”
Founded in 1895, Bodega Norton is one of the most well regarded and certainly most awarded Argentine wine brands to export to the US. Located in the foothills of the Andes mountain range, the average vine is between 30-80 years old with five vineyards. These older vines help to drive richness and depth across the all of their available wines. The estate is significant and considered one of the largest in Mendoza with over 3,000 acres of land. With over 1,750 acres of vineyards, Bodega Norton can easily monitor and conduct quality control from the vineyard all the way to the bottle. Their modern, state-of-the-art facility effortlessly marries their rich wine-making heritage with a splash of old world charm. The five estate vineyards of Bodega Norton give the winemaking team access to a broad palette of varietals and terroirs to create a unique portfolio of wines.
Malbec D.O.C.- SRP $16.99
“This Malbec is crafted from grapes grown exclusively in the Lujan de Cuyo appellation. Aged for 12 months in French Oak barrels, followed by another 12 months of bottle aging, it produces a deep red color with violet hues. The Norton Malbec pairs well with sharp nutty cheeses like Comte, which offers a complex, nutty flavor with buttery, fruity undertones. Comte enhances the wines aromas of ripe red fruits. For a cured meat pairing, the rich and fatty texture of salami, with its savory spices, complements the wines tannins and fruit-forward profile.”
Vineyards at Alta Vista Wines
Alta Vista Wines
Alta Vista
Established in 1998, Alta Vista is rooted in French technique helmed by a winemaking family who are driven by their desire to fuse their knowledge and passion together to highlight the best of France and Argentina. The winery focuses on high altitude and site-specific wines with vineyards located above 3,200 feet elevation. With vineyards in the best growing regions of Mendoza, specifically Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco and Cafayate or Salta, and handpicked grapes, they brought the concept of “single vineyard” to Argentina. Their single vineyard malbec wines, in particular, are exceptional and their use of chardonnay is quite versatile from smooth and buttery to crisp and un-oaked. The goal is to produce wines with freshness and complexity and the most fruitful and harmonious expressions of terroir.
Brut Nature – SRP $16.99
“The Alta Vista Brut Nature is crafted entirely from Chardonnay grapes sourced from the Albaneve estate vineyard in the Uco Valley. Its intense and fresh aromas feature hints of white peaches and fresh herbs. This Brut is an ideal pair with cheese and nuts, a perfect sparkling bottle to pair with charcuterie. Its crisp acidity and bright citrus notes complement a soft, creamy and mildly rich cheese, like a Brie or Camembert. For cured meat, the Alta Vista Brut Nature pairs beautifully with lighter, well-balanced options like a thin and delicate Prosciutto. Its saltiness perfectly enhances the wines bubbly freshness.”
Estate Malbec- SRP $18.99
“The Alta Vista Estate, made from Malbec grapes grown in Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley in Mendoza, offers aromas of ripe red fruit and spicy notes. It pairs beautifully with dry-cured meats like salami, soppressata or a Spanish chorizo, which enhance the wines earthy and spicy characteristics. For cheese, an aged sharp cheddar or creamy Fontina would highlight the wines red fruit aromas and its deep flavor profile.”