Cheers! It’s Malbec World Day!

According to Wikipedia, Malbec World Day is celebrated on April 17 because that is the day in 1853 when “president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento officially made it his mission to transform Argentina’s wine industry” by inviting  French soil expert Michel Aimé Pouget to adapt French varietals, including Malbec, to Argentina.

The whole month of April is Malbec month, so if you missed giving a toast to Malbec tonight, you have about two more weeks! Of course, the Wines of Argentina folk hope it will be a Malbec from Argentina but as the largest production of this wine is from Argentina, chances are pretty good that’s where the wine in your glass will be coming from!

Recently, I traveled to LA to the official residence of the Argentine Consulate to taste wines that are seeking importers or distributers in the US. There I learned more about the wines of Argentina, including of course, Malbec.

A few facts about Malbec and Argentina from Marcelo Pelleriti’s presentation:

• Malbec is the most planted varietal in Argentina
• Argentina is the main producer in the world of Malbec
• Malbec was first brought to Argentina in 1853
• The oldest Malbec vines in Argentina were planted in 1861
• Malbec and Malbec blends account for almost half of the entire Argentinean wine category in the U.S.
• Malbec is grown in three regions in Argentina, in various elevations, and with great variability.

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