World Malbec Day
Last Friday, April 17th, was World Malbec Day. It was the fifth year of this recognition that was instituted in Argentina to celebrate and bring recognition to this varietal. The grape was first grown in the Southwest of France and brought to Argentina in1853. In this new environment, the varietal grew and flourished and has become the flagship varietal of the country. The celebration this year was marked by more than 70 events in 64 cities in 44 different countries around the world. That is a big deal for a grape!
What makes and has Malbec be so distinctive and attract such attention? At its best, Malbec has a dark purple color with plum and violet aromas. On the palate, you have lush, rich fruit with a ripe tannic structure. Typical of the varietal are flavors of plum, raisin, and hints of tobacco.
Malbec — A Great Value Wine
Dining out can be a great experience with food and friends. In a restaurant, the challenge can be finding an excellent wine that is well-crafted and ready, but which won’t break the bank. We all know that while food margins may be small, the margins on wine can be quite big. Some restaurants may charge twice the retail cost — sometimes more. What then is a good choice in those situations??
A good option many times is Malbec. It’s grown in France (the grape’s birthplace is in Bordeaux), Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina. It’s growing in popularity, and South America is leading the way in production and quality. At its best, perhaps in Argentina, it has a dark purple color and violet aromas. It has been described as lush, with a rich fruit flavor and a soothing, ripe tannic structure.