Wednesday, April 9, 2025
When you think of wine and Argentina, one word comes to mind: malbec. Even though the grape has a long history in France, it’s most often associated with the land of Lionel Messi and Eva Perón.??
Malbec’s superiority in Argentina is due to the fact that the grape thrives in the country’s characteristic climate and terroir, especially in the Mendoza region. The vineyards here are planted at some of the highest altitudes in the world, at an average of 2,000 to 3,600 feet above sea level.??
The rich, inky and deep purple vino has a vivid flavor with notes of plum, coffee, leather, black cherry and pepper. It’s the perfect accompaniment for?another Argentinian culinary claim to fame: beef. This varietal is so beloved that a holiday was created in its honor.?
Malbec World Day, celebrated annually on April 17, commemorates the day in 1853 when President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento officially made it his mission to transform Argentina’s wine industry. According to the Oxford Companion to Wine, the president tasked?a French soil expert with bringing new vines to Argentina. The malbec grape flourished, creating wines that outshined those of France, its country of origin.??
Earlier this year, when I found myself in Buenos Aires, I decided that a visit to wine country was a must-do. I was eager to drink my way through the region, the capital of which, also called Mendoza, was a quick flight away. It’s easy to arrange day trips to the provincial vineyards nearby and the city is teeming with bistros and wine bars.??
I visited a variety of wineries, including one of the oldest in the territory, a completely organic operation that doubled as a museum. I sampled wine on its own and paired with savory hors d’oeuvres, multicourse dinners and another Argentinian delicacy, alfajores, a chocolate pastry with luxurious fillings. Flavors ranged from bold and brave to sweet and sexy.?? ?
While Mendoza is also a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, with trekking, mountaineering and horseback tours, I was ecstatic to focus only on the oenophile?pursuits. I waltzed through rows of fertile vines filled with bunches of brilliant purple grapes, explored cellars where wines were fermenting and learned about the history and process of making this stellar varietal.??
However, my cocktail-writer gene eventually kicked in. In the city, I discovered that malbec can be used as a component for some unique drinks. The most obvious application is sangria, mixed with juice from oranges and limes. In one bar, I savored a glass with a sublime hint of cinnamon.??
Malbec can also be substituted for whiskey in a classic whiskey sour with lemon, simple syrup and egg white. If you prefer something on the more potent side, the New York Sour features a float of red wine on top. The wine creates a tart tipple with a bright smack.?
Since the midsummer temperatures were in the 90s in the Southern Hemisphere during my January holiday, one summery concoction grabbed my attention: the Malbec Margarita.?
Traditionally called the Devil’s Margarita, possible due to its red hue, I discovered it in another part of Argentina, Puerto Iguazú, the gateway to the enormous and magical Iguazú Falls on the border with Brazil. Here the “demon” moniker comes from the Devil’s Throat, a?colossal U-shaped waterfall, the largest and most formidable in the Iguazú system.?
After long days of hiking the paths around the falls — which are higher and basically three times as large as Niagara Falls — I was delighted to find this refreshing thirst-quencher, since temperatures remained scalding even after the sun went down.?
The agave zest from the white Tequila mingled flawlessly with the lively malbec, while the lime tang added a refreshing edge. The dark fruit nuances from the wine enhanced the beachy feel to this cocktail, giving it a distinctly sultry South American personality.?
When April 17 arrives, raise a glass of malbec or a rosy margarita. And if you want more, remember that Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner.?
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The Malbec Margarita?
1 1/2?oz.?white Tequila?
1 oz. malbec wine?
1?oz.?lime juice, freshly squeezed?
3/4?oz. agave syrup?
Add the Tequila, wine, lime juice and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Garnish with a ?lime wheel.?
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