Wine flight to Argentina

Jason Clarke, Contributor

I hope that many of you enjoyed our last flight and tried a few Californian wines and enjoyed them! Time for our next flight - passport, check, now boarding flight #002 to Argentina. Please recline your seat in the most comfortable position, extend your feet and enjoy the flight. In the event of an emergency, keep calm and take a sip.

Argentina is home to some amazing wines and varietals. But one varietal stands alone; the flagship of Argentina - the mighty Malbec. Argentina is the world's largest producer of malbecs, with over 76,000 acres of vines compared to the second-largest producer, France, which has just about 13,000 acres. Now, that's dominance!

fruit forward

The best way I would describe Malbec is 'la belleza de una captura de la uva en una botella' - the beauty of a grape captured in a bottle. Malbecs are delicious, velvety, medium- to full-bodied wines with a deep plum-like colour, aka red wine. These beauties in a bottle generally tend to have aromas resembling black cherries, blueberries, strawberries and plums, and can definitely be described as fruit forward. When aged in oak, you might pick up nuances of chocolate and tobacco, and you will generally find reference to its oak ageing on the label. Malbecs are such an integral part of Argentinian life, that they have a World Malbec Day which is celebrated each year on April 17. Let's celebrate when it comes.

Malbec is very food-friendly and pairs well with a variety of dishes, but goes especially well with red meat. If you are a serious meat eater like I am, you will certainly enjoy a glass of Malbec with anything you whip up. So light up the grill and pop open a bottle and truly enjoy. It also works well with hard cheeses, although I tend to enjoy it most with stinky blue cheese.

Argentina also produces other varietals. Reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Tempranillo. Whites: Chardonnay, Chenin, and Semillon.

But I am really in love with Malbec and think that it is truly the standard for Argentinian wines. Great brands at excellent value to try: Trivento, Alamos, Trapiche, Catena, Terrazas, Alfred Roca, and Puta Final.

Catena Malbec

Although I thoroughly enjoy all these wine houses, I absolutely enjoy the Catena Malbec. It's like sitting in a brand new car with the fabric hugging your body, and that amazing new-car smell that makes the driving experience just phenomenal. That's the Catena Malbec - concentrated aromas of dark fruits and a medium body wine that drinks so well you will savour every drop. I definitively recommend it - have fun with it, and I look forward to our next flight next week.

I am not an expert, merely a wine enthusiast sharing my thoughts and experiences. Feel free to share your own experiences at wineenthusiastja@gmail.com.