Mendoza wine (181)

Malbec: the famous Mendoza wine

The warm and dry climate in the rain shadow of the Andes makes the Mendoza wine region an ideal cultivation area for red wines. The originally French red grape variety Malbec is the undisputed queen of the vines among the wines from Mendoza. The cultivation is diversely complemented by varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay.

Mendoza wine with tradition since 1550

It is generally believed that the first Spanish missionaries arrived in the current Mendoza wine region around 1550 and spread the cultural beverage of the Old World in the west of South America. Then as now, the region was characterized by warm to hot, and especially dry summers. 

Agriculture in any form is not possible here without artificial irrigation. Even before the arrival of the Europeans, the Incas had created sophisticated canal systems in today's Mendoza wine region, which then benefited viticulture. The winters in Mendoza are cool, but thanks to the location around the 33rd parallel, they are not so cold that the vines would freeze.

The French variety Malbec arrived in Mendoza in 1853. Today, Malbec is considered the main red variety of the cultivation region. The purple-black wine berries find the ideal conditions in the dry-warm climate with about 300 sunny days a year to unfold their complex, spicy aroma. 

Wine from Mendoza: The quality arrow clearly points upwards

Forty years ago, the cultivation area for wine in Mendoza reached a quantitative all-time high of 260,000 hectares, which remains unbroken to this day. The then-dominant light red variety Criolla Grande probably descends from the very first vines in Argentina. Criolla Grande was and is almost exclusively cultivated for the domestic market and is considered internationally to be less competitive. 

While the total cultivation area decreased significantly due to intensive clearing in the 80s and 90s, the stock of noble varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, and above all Malbec continuously increased. This rising quality trend continues to this day and goes far beyond the selection of grape varieties. 

An increasing change in awareness has led to a focus on the peculiarities of the individual altitudes as well as the predominantly sandy calcareous soils of Mendoza. The differences are so significant that behind a single keyword like "Malbec from Mendoza," there is a whole world of exquisite red wines.

Another important indicator of the high quality of Mendoza wine is the widespread introduction of drip irrigation. It releases water in the smallest doses continuously. A uniform and stress-free growth of the wine berries is the result.

Mendoza wine from the respective subregions

Lujan de Cuyo is the most important and intensively developed vineyard area in Mendoza. Here, a large part of the Malbec cultivation focuses on elevations of about 650 to 1,100 meters. In this cultivation area is also Agrelo, where Dieter Meier's winery has its vineyards. 

Dieter Meier is internationally known for his excellent Puro in organic quality. At VINELLO, you will find a wide selection of Puro wine by Dieter Meier, such as the Mendoza red wine Puro Malbec Cabernet and the Puro Corte d'Oro. Directly to the west of Lujan de Cuyo lies Maipu, the oldest wine-growing region in all of Argentina. 

In addition to Malbec, Merlot, and Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon is primarily cultivated on the clay soils of the area. The further south San Rafael is characterized by its special awareness of tradition. Here, wines are still partially grown and produced just as they were 100 years ago.

Valle de Uco - the versatile newcomer among Mendoza's wine valleys

Valle de Uco in the central south of the Mendoza wine region is the youngest of the major cultivation areas, aside from wine production for local consumption. Malbec, which occupies about 45% of the vineyard area in Valle de Uco, has only been cultivated at altitudes of 900 to 1100 meters since the 1990s. The sun shines here for about 360 days, even more frequently than in other parts of Mendoza. 

The soils in Valle de Uco are so diverse even in a small space that sometimes, neighboring rows of vines reach maturity at different times. To illustrate these variations: 60 different soil types have been identified so far in Valle de Uco. If Mendoza is already regarded as a synonym for diversity, then this diversity finds its crowning achievement in Valle de Uco.

Interesting facts about Mendoza

What red wines are grown in the Mendoza wine region?

In addition to the main red variety Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah (Shiraz) as well as Cabernet Franc, Bonarda, and Pinot Noir are grown in Mendoza.

What white wine varieties are grown in the Mendoza wine region?

The most important white Mendoza wine is Chardonnay. In addition, there are also vineyards planted with Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Torrontés, and Viognier.

How large is the wine cultivation area in Mendoza?

In the Argentine wine region of Mendoza, wine is currently cultivated on about 150,000 hectares.

Order Mendoza wines online at VINELLO

Have you become interested in creating your own exploration tour through Mendoza? Just browse through our selection - VINELLO has numerous wonderful classics and exciting new discoveries in its program. Discover the diversity of wines and also benefit from our sommelier advice. Secure shopping and guaranteed prompt delivery ensure that your journey of enjoyment can begin quickly and lead you directly into wine pleasure.