Argentinian wine is best known for Malbec: deep, plummy reds with soft tannins, grown mostly in Mendoza at the foot of the Andes. High, sunny desert vineyards give ripe fruit that keeps its freshness. Beyond Malbec, look for aromatic dry Torrontés from Salta, juicy Bonarda and fresh high-altitude Chardonnay. For a first bottle from our shop, start with Kaiken Clásico Malbec.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
In this guide
Argentinian wine at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vineyard area | 199,946 hectares (end of 2024) |
| Most planted grape | Malbec: 47,064 ha, almost a quarter of all vines |
| Signature white grape | Torrontés Riojano |
| Key regions | Mendoza (Luján de Cuyo, Uco Valley), Salta (Calchaquí Valleys), Patagonia |
| Vineyard altitude | Mostly 600–2,000 metres above sea level |
| Climate | Dry, sunny high desert; almost all vineyards are irrigated with Andes meltwater |
| Main styles | Full, fruity reds; aromatic dry whites; fresh Chardonnay; traditional-method sparkling |
| UK connection | The UK was the largest export market for Argentinian Malbec in 2024 |
| Best with | Steak, lamb and barbecue; spicy food with Torrontés; pizza and pasta with Bonarda |
What makes Argentinian wine distinctive
Three things shape almost every bottle from Argentina: altitude, desert and history.
Altitude. Most of Argentina's vineyards sit between 600 and 2,000 metres, along a 1,500 km line of oases at the foot of the Andes. Average temperature falls by about 1°C for every 150 metres of climb. That is why good wine can be made from the tropical north to around 45° south in Patagonia. Higher vineyards give the same ripe fruit but more freshness.
Desert. Almost all vineyards are irrigated oases in dry, sunny country. Steady sunshine gives deep colour. Warm days and cold nights give reds structure and body. Lower, warmer areas make softer, aromatic reds; high areas such as the Uco Valley, Luján de Cuyo and the Calchaquí Valleys make fruity reds with more grip.
History. Western Argentina has made wine for around 300 years, and Torrontés has been grown there since the early 1700s. Between 1860 and 1930 more than five million immigrants arrived, mainly from Italy, Spain and France. They brought grapes such as Bonarda and the habit of drinking wine with every meal. Argentina began exporting seriously in the 1990s.
Malbec came originally from Bordeaux, but in Argentina it took on its own character: deep purple colour, plum, blackberry and cherry fruit, and a violet scent.
Grapes to know
Malbec leads, but six grapes cover almost everything worth buying from Argentina.
Malbec
Argentina's most planted grape, with 47,064 hectares and over 40% of all red vines; 85% of it grows in Mendoza. Expect deep purple colour, plum, blackberry and violet, with soft, round tannins. Lower vineyards give plush, generous wines; higher ones give fresher, more structured wines.
Our pick: Kaiken Clásico Malbec for everyday drinking. To taste altitude, try Kaiken Aventura Los Chacayes Norte Malbec.
Bonarda
Argentina's second most planted red grape. It came from Savoie in France with 19th-century immigrants and was long used to add colour to blends. Today it makes juicy, vivid reds with red and black berry fruit and soft, velvety tannins.
Our pick: Bodega Colomé Lote Especial Bonarda, a concentrated high-altitude Bonarda from Salta. For a Malbec–Bonarda blend, try Kaiken Terroir Series Malbec Bonarda Petit Verdot.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Firmer and darker than Malbec, with blackcurrant, cedar and more grip. Malbec–Cabernet Sauvignon is Argentina's most popular Malbec blend.
Our pick: Kaiken Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon, from 80-year-old vines in Vistalba.
Torrontés
Argentina's own white grape and its signature white wine. It is a natural cross of Muscat of Alexandria and an old local grape, which explains the scent of roses, orange blossom and grapes. It smells sweet but tastes dry and fresh. The best comes from high vineyards in Salta.
Our pick: Kaiken Terroir Series Cafayate Torrontés, from vineyards at 1,600–2,400 metres.
Chardonnay
High vineyards keep Chardonnay fresh, with citrus and apple rather than heavy tropical fruit. Styles run from crisp and unoaked to rich and toasty.
Our pick: Finca Flichman Tanguero Unoaked Chardonnay for crisp and fresh; Finca Flichman Dedicado Tupungato Vineyard Chardonnay for elegant and lightly oaked; Kaiken Ultra Chardonnay for rich and textured.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir needs cool sites, which Argentina finds in Patagonia and in its very highest vineyards. It also goes into Argentina's traditional-method sparkling wines.
Our pick: Kaiken Método Tradicional Brut, a Chardonnay–Pinot Noir sparkling wine aged two years on its lees. For a still Pinot Noir, try Otronia Pinot Noir from Patagonia.
Also worth knowing
- Red blends: Malbec with Cabernet, Merlot or Petit Verdot. Try Kaiken Disobedience by Francis Mallmann or Finca Flichman Dedicado Gran Corte.
- Cabernet Franc and Tannat: rising stars in Mendoza and Salta. Try Pacheco Pereda Estirpe Cabernet Franc or Bodega Colomé Lote Especial Tannat.
Regions to know
Mendoza makes most of Argentina's wine, but Salta and Patagonia make some of its most distinctive. Names on labels are often official Geographical Indications (GIs), which tell you exactly where the grapes grew.
Mendoza
Mendoza has 142,785 hectares of vines, about 70% of the country's total. It sits on a high plain below the Andes, and its best vineyards climb towards the mountains.
Luján de Cuyo
The classic heart of Mendoza Malbec and the department with the most Malbec in the country. Look for the sub-regions Agrelo and Vistalba on labels. Wines are typically violet-scented and fruity.
Our pick: Kaiken Clásico Malbec, from Agrelo at 950 metres.
Maipú
A district close to Mendoza city. Its Barrancas sub-region has rocky, well-drained soils.
Our pick: Finca Flichman Caballero de la Cepa Malbec Reserve, from Barrancas.
Uco Valley
The high valley south-west of Mendoza city, made up of Tupungato, Tunuyán and San Carlos. It holds over 40% of Mendoza's Malbec. Wines are deep violet, floral and structured, with fresher acidity. Sub-regions to look for: Los Chacayes, Vista Flores, Paraje Altamira and Gualtallary.
Our pick: Kaiken Aventura Los Chacayes Norte Malbec for a single-place Malbec; Kaiken Ultra Malbec for a classic Uco style; Kaiken Método Tradicional Brut from Gualtallary for sparkling.
Valle de Canota
A small GI in Las Heras, north of Mendoza city, recognised in 2020.
Our pick: Kaiken Aventura Valle de Canota Malbec. Taste it next to the Los Chacayes bottling to see how place changes Malbec.
Salta and the Calchaquí Valleys
In Argentina's far north-west, the Calchaquí Valleys have vineyards from about 1,600 to 2,600 metres. Cafayate is the best-known area. Almost half of Salta's vineyards are Malbec, which here tastes spicy and powerful. Salta is also home of the best Torrontés.
Our pick: Kaiken Terroir Series Cafayate Torrontés and Bodega Colomé Lote Especial Bonarda, from the Upper Calchaquí Valley.
Patagonia
Argentina's southern wine region relies on latitude rather than altitude for cool conditions. Vineyards reach as far as Chubut, around 45° south. Expect fresh Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with bright acidity.
Our pick: Otronia Pinot Noir and Otronia Chardonnay, organic wines from Chubut.
How to choose by style and budget
Start with style, then choose a tier. Ask yourself: do you want ripe and comforting, or fresh and precise? Ripe styles come from warmer, lower vineyards; fresh styles come from higher ones such as the Uco Valley and Salta. Moving up a tier usually buys a more specific place, older vines or longer ageing.
| Tier | What you get | Our wines |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday | Fruity, easy-drinking wines for weeknight meals | Finca Flichman Tanguero Malbec, Kaiken Clásico Malbec, Finca Flichman Misterio Malbec, Kaiken Terroir Series Vistaflores, Kaiken Cafayate Torrontés, Finca Flichman Tanguero Unoaked Chardonnay |
| Step up | More depth and oak ageing; good for dinner with friends | Kaiken Ultra Malbec, Kaiken Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon, Kaiken Ultra Chardonnay, Kaiken Método Tradicional Brut, Kaiken Disobedience |
| Special occasion | Single-place wines and top blends; ideal as gifts | Kaiken Aventura Valle de Canota Malbec, Kaiken Aventura Los Chacayes Norte Malbec, Finca Flichman Dedicado Tupungato Chardonnay, Bodega Colomé Lote Especial Bonarda, Finca Flichman Dedicado Gran Corte |
Our tip: buy two bottles at once, one classic Malbec and one non-Malbec wine. Tasting them side by side is the fastest way to understand what Argentina offers.
Food pairing
Argentinian wine was made to go with food: grilled meat, but also pizza, pasta and empanadas.
| Dish | Style to choose | Our wine |
|---|---|---|
| Grilled steak | Structured Malbec | Kaiken Ultra Malbec |
| Burgers, sausages, barbecue | Fruity Malbec | Finca Flichman Tanguero Malbec |
| Roast lamb | Cabernet Sauvignon or a red blend | Kaiken Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Empanadas, cottage pie | Easy-going Malbec | Kaiken Clásico Malbec |
| Pizza, tomato pasta | Bonarda or a Malbec–Bonarda blend | Kaiken Terroir Series Malbec Bonarda Petit Verdot |
| Duck, mushroom dishes | Concentrated Bonarda | Bodega Colomé Lote Especial Bonarda |
| Thai curry, spicy or fragrant food | Dry Torrontés | Kaiken Cafayate Torrontés |
| Roast chicken, creamy pasta | Oaked Chardonnay | Kaiken Ultra Chardonnay |
| Fish and chips, canapés | Traditional-method sparkling | Kaiken Método Tradicional Brut |
Serving and storage
Most Argentinian reds taste best slightly cooler than a warm room, and the whites need proper chilling.
| Wine | Serve at | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Malbec, Cabernet, red blends | 16–18°C | 15 minutes in the fridge on a warm day |
| Bonarda | 14–16°C | Slightly cool brings out the juicy fruit |
| Torrontés, unoaked Chardonnay | 8–10°C | Straight from the fridge |
| Oaked Chardonnay | 10–12°C | Take out of the fridge 10 minutes before serving |
| Sparkling | 6–8°C | Well chilled, in a white-wine glass |
- Decanting: give structured Malbecs and blends such as Kaiken Ultra or Finca Flichman Dedicado 30–60 minutes in a decanter or a large glass.
- Ageing: everyday wines are made to drink young. Single-vineyard and reserve wines can develop for several years.
- Storage: keep bottles somewhere cool, dark and at a steady temperature, away from radiators and kitchens.
The producers we stock
We choose producers who show a clear sense of place, from Mendoza's classic vineyards to Salta's high valleys and Patagonia's far south. Browse all our Argentinian wines.
Kaiken
A Mendoza winery that explores the province sub-region by sub-region, from Agrelo and Vistalba to Los Chacayes, Gualtallary and Valle de Canota. The range runs from the easy Clásico to single-place Aventura Malbecs and a traditional-method sparkling wine, plus a Torrontés from Cafayate and a red blend made with Argentine chef Francis Mallmann. Shop Kaiken.
Finca Flichman
A Mendoza producer with vineyards in Barrancas, Maipú, and in the Uco Valley. Its Tanguero wines are fresh and made to drink young; Caballero de la Cepa and Misterio add oak and depth; the Dedicado range is its top tier from the Uco Valley. Shop Finca Flichman.
Bodega Colomé
A high-altitude estate in the Upper Calchaquí Valley in Salta, with vineyards from 1,700 to 2,600 metres. Its wines are concentrated and intense, shaped by strong sunlight and cold nights. Try the Colomé Bonarda or the Colomé Tannat.
Altos Las Hormigas
A Mendoza producer focused on Malbec, from an easy-drinking Clásico to single-place wines from Paraje Altamira and Gualtallary in the Uco Valley. Its wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in concrete or large untoasted oak casks, which keeps the fruit fresh, and several are certified organic. Try the Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Clásico or the Appellation Altamira Malbec.
Amalaya
A winery in Salta's Calchaquí Valley making high-altitude reds and whites. Its Malbec is blended with a little Tannat and Petit Verdot, and its white pairs Torrontés with Riesling. Try the Amalaya Malbec.
Pacheco Pereda
A Luján de Cuyo producer with a certified organic range, several wines also Fairtrade, from Malbec and Cabernet Franc to Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. Try the Pacheco Pereda Organic Malbec.
Otronia
An estate in Chubut, in Argentina's far south, making organic Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a white blend, aged in concrete and large untoasted French oak casks. Try the Otronia Pinot Noir.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous wine from Argentina?
Malbec. It is Argentina's most planted grape, covering 47,064 hectares, almost a quarter of all the country's vines. Most of it grows in Mendoza.
Is Argentinian Malbec sweet or dry?
Dry. Malbec tastes of ripe plum and blackberry, which can seem sweet, but nearly all Argentinian Malbec is a dry red wine.
What does Torrontés taste like?
Torrontés smells of roses, orange blossom and fresh grapes, but most versions are dry and refreshing. It is Argentina's signature white grape and is at its best from high vineyards in Salta.
What is the difference between Mendoza and Uco Valley Malbec?
The Uco Valley is part of Mendoza but higher and cooler. Malbec from Luján de Cuyo tends to be violet-scented and generous; Uco Valley Malbec is usually more floral, fresher and more structured.
Why does altitude matter in Argentinian wine?
Temperature drops by about 1°C for every 150 metres of altitude. Higher vineyards have cooler nights, so grapes ripen fully but keep their freshness.
What is the best Argentinian wine for beginners?
Start with a fruity, unoaked or lightly oaked Malbec such as Kaiken Clásico Malbec or Finca Flichman Tanguero Malbec. For a white, try Kaiken Cafayate Torrontés.
What food goes best with Malbec?
Grilled steak, lamb, burgers and barbecue are classic matches. Fruitier Malbecs also work with empanadas, cottage pie and pizza.
How much should I spend on a good Argentinian wine?
In our shop, everyday Argentinian wines cost under £15, step-up wines with more depth and oak ageing cost around £15–£21, and single-place wines from specific vineyards start at about £22.
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (INV), Anuario Superficie 2024: total vineyard area
- INV, Informe de Variedades: Malbec (April 2025): Malbec area, regions and export markets
- INV, Informe de variedad: Torrontés: Torrontés types, origin and area
- INV, Informe de variedad: Bonarda: Bonarda's origin and ranking
- INV, Geographical Indications and Designations of Origin of Argentina: official region names
- Wines of Argentina, What do you need to know about Argentina, to know its wines?: altitude, desert climate and history