Argentina has done a marvelous job in making Malbec its own.
Like most wine grape varietals, Malbec originated in wine mecca France.
There it is a component, but not the star, in most red Bordeaux blends that also include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
However, bring Malbec to Argentina and it is the star.
In fact, Malbec is Argentina’s signature red wine and many wine lovers now associate Malbec with Argentina more than they do France.
With such momentum, Wines of Argentina, the organization that promotes the Vino Argentino brand across the globe, declared in 2011 that Malbec World Day would be celebrated annually on April 17.
April 17 was chosen because that’s the day — in 1853 — that President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento asked experts to bring French grape vines to Argentina to modernize the wine industry.
Liquor stores in BC spotlight Malbec World Day with special displays of wine and discounted prices on some bottles.
Most Malbec in Argentina is grown and made in the renowned Mendoza wine region on higher-altitude foothills and terraces of the Andes Mountains.
It’s a cool climate that helps produce grapes with bold fruit flavours, smooth tannins and fresh acidity.
As a result, the best Malbecs from Argentina have a velvety texture with aromas and flavours of blackberry, plum and black cherry, vanilla, chocolate, violet flowers, tanned leather and sweet tobacco.
This is the bold, but refined, wine you drink with a barbecued steak or burger, roast beef and even pizza or with cheese from a mild gouda to a heady gorgonzola.
And, Argentinian Malbecs tend to be very affordable, from $13 to $32, as you’ll see from the list here:
– Trapiche Reserve 2023 ($13)
– Dona Paula High Altitude 2023 ($15)
– Don David Reserve 2023 ($22.50)
– Luigi Bosca 2022 ($25)
– Decero 2021 Remolinos Vineyard ($30)
– Terrazas de los Andes Reserva 2021 ($32)
As we’re in the Okanagan, we just have to throw a bottle of Malbec from the Valley into the mix.
The Culmina 2021 Malbec from Oliver ($42) has all the hallmarks of an Argentinian Malbec with some extra nuanced depth, richness, elegance and finesse.
Culmina’s winemaker Jean-marc Enixon, who just happens to be from France, likes to sip his Malbec with his favourite childhood dessert — cherry clafoutis, a French-style, custard-like flan baked with fresh cherries.
Osoyoos Oyster Festival
Hurry!
Get last-minute tickets to Saturday’s Black Pearl Gala that wraps up the Osoyoos Oyster Festival.
From 6 to 9:30 pm at Pointe 49 Kitchen & Bar at Walnut Beach Resort you can down freshly shucked oysters, canapes and pasta with wines from Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country members Kismet, Gold Hill, Intersection, Noble Ridge, Nostalgia, Nk’Mip and burrowing Owl.
Tickets are $125 each at: https://osoyoosoysterfestival.ca/
Destination Osoyoos and Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country also want you to know about a bunch of other upcoming foodie and wine-soaked events from Pig Out Festival Weekend May 2-4 and the Osoyoos Farmers’ Market starting May 3 to the Primavera Party at Over the Fence Winery on May 30 and the Sunset Soiree en Blanc at the District Wine Village on June 14.
More info and tickets at: https://oliverosoyoos.com/
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.