Question 1

What is Malbec and why is it so associated with Argentina?

Accepted Answer

Malbec is a red grape variety originally from southwest France (Cahors, where it is the main variety in the local appellation), which found its adopted home in Argentina — specifically the Mendoza region in the foothills of the Andes. While French Malbec tends toward rustic, tannic and dark-fruited styles, Argentine Malbec in Mendoza develops a distinctive profile: deep purple colour, intense plum and blackberry fruit, violet florals, velvety tannins, and a smooth, generous texture. The combination of high altitude (most Mendoza vineyards sit between 600 and 1,500 metres), intense UV radiation, and the cool nights produced by Andean air creates exceptional phenolic ripeness alongside retained freshness. Argentina now produces the world's finest and most internationally recognised Malbec. See cool and warm climate styles for how altitude affects flavour.

Question 2

What is Carménère and why is it unique to Chile?

Accepted Answer

Carménère is a red variety originally from Bordeaux, where it was one of the six permitted varieties but was largely abandoned after the phylloxera outbreak in the late nineteenth century due to chronic coulure (poor fruit set). Vines taken to Chile before phylloxera survived, but were misidentified as Merlot for over a century. DNA analysis in 1994 confirmed that many Chilean 'Merlot' vineyards were actually Carménère. The variety has since been embraced as Chile's signature red — it produces wines with deep colour, dark fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry), distinctive herbal and green pepper notes (from pyrazines), and a velvety texture. The pyrazine character is prominent in cool vintages or unripe fruit but softens in warmer, riper examples. See phenolic ripeness for why harvest timing matters for this variety.

Question 3

What is Torrontés and what does it taste like?

Accepted Answer

Torrontés is Argentina's signature white variety — an aromatic grape grown principally in the high-altitude valleys of Salta province (Cafayate, at around 1,700 metres), and also in Mendoza and La Rioja. It is a cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Criolla Chica (a variety brought to South America by Spanish colonists). Torrontés produces intensely aromatic wines with floral notes (rose, jasmine, geranium) and bright citrus fruit — peach, lemon, grapefruit — but crucially is typically dry or just off-dry on the palate, making it less sweet than Muscat despite the aromatic intensity. The high altitude of Salta produces particularly refined, fresh examples with lively acidity. It is an excellent aperitif wine and pairs well with spiced Asian and South American food.

Question 4

How do Argentina and Chile differ as wine countries?

Accepted Answer

Despite sharing the Andes, Argentina and Chile produce quite different wines. Argentina sits in the rain shadow of the Andes on the continental east side — hot, dry and high, with intense UV radiation and significant diurnal temperature variation. The key varieties are Malbec and Torrontés. Chile is on the Pacific side: a long, narrow country with enormous climatic variation from north (Atacama, hyper-arid) to south (Patagonia, cool and wet). Chilean viticulture benefits from cold Pacific Ocean influence and is shaped by valley orientation — Casablanca and Leyda for cool-climate whites and Pinot Noir, Maipo for classic Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua and Rapel for Carménère and Syrah. For more context, see the wine regions by country guide.

South American Wines Masterclass: Argentina and Chile

The line-up

What the session covers

About South American wine.