MALBEC, ITS ORIGIN AND HISTORY
FRENCH BACKGROUND
It is believed Malbec had its origin in Cahors, Quercy or Touraine, in South-West France. There, Malbec is mainly known as Cot, but it has several other names, such as Auxerrois, Cot de Bordeaux and Cahors, among others (7).
In its place of origin, it was known as the "black wine of Cahors." Malbec was a major grapevine until phylloxera - a disease from which it could not escape - came along; since then it was left aside until 1940, when they started to cultivate it again. The wines elaborated in this region are a blend of 70% Malbec, completed by varietals such as Tannat and Merlot. It is also part of some of the well known Bordeaux wines, blended with Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
ARGENTINE BACKGROUND
It is believed that Luis Pouget introduced this grapevine in Argentina by the mid-nineteenth century. It rapidly spread across the province of Mendoza, covering over 50.000 hectares. It was known as “the French grape”, although this name was also given to other grapevines from the same origin, like Tannat and Petit Verdot, and they constituted the base for the red wines of the region. Malbec, the name that identifies this grapevine in Argentina, comes from Malbeck, which is believed to be the name of the man who introduced the vine in some location in France. Regretfully, the cultivation of some high-yield, low-quality native grapevines favored with tax benefits, put this limited-yield vine in a disadvantage and this resulted in a high rate of eradication of Malbec vineyards.
Eventually, Malbec was used to improve the quality of the wines produced from these native grapevines. In most cases, these procedures affected some very old vineyards, which represented the significant wine legacy of our country. This is how the 57.690 hectares that existed in 1960 became only 9.740 hectares in 1995.
The 90s was the breaking point: the value of Malbec started to be appreciated again, and the cultivated surface climbed to today’s 16.000 hectares, according to some provisional data. Malbec was positioned again at the top of red grapes, above Bonarda (14.800 hectares) and Cabernet Sauvignon (12.290 hectares).
Malbec leaves, bunches and berries.
The Malbec variety has orbicular, soft, irregular, wrinkled leaves, with three small lobes and a very long central lobe. In autumn, Malbec leaves turn peculiarly reddish, and they are part of the typical Mendoza landscape during this beautiful season.
Bunches are medium to large in size, very loose and well-defined, with one or two wings. Berries are small, with a thick skin of an intense black color, which produces strong tannins and distinctive flavors.
WINEGROWING REGIONS
Malbec has spread all over the wine regions of Argentina, at the foothills of The Andes.
The vineyards are cultivated from Cafayate, in the province of Salta at latitude 25° and an altitude of 1.600 meters above sea level, to the valleys of the province of Río Negro
at latitude 40° and an altitude of 300 meters above sea level, right in the middle of the Argentine Patagonia.
MENDOZA
The cultivation of Malbec is distributed in several oases located in different districts of the province: Northern Mendoza, Eastern Mendoza, High Area of the Mendoza River, Valle de Uco and Southern Mendoza.
But the High Area of the Mendoza River is undoubtedly the most traditional region in terms of Malbec growing. Close to 50% of the Malbec vineyards of the province are located there. This place is located at the foothills of The Andes mountains, at latitude 33° South. This region is home to the oldest vineyards of Mendoza.
It is a great slope, irrigated by the Mendoza River. This oasis covers most of the cultivated areas of Luján,
and Maipú, and part of Guaymallén and Las Heras. The soils, alluvial and perfectly drained, are located at 700 meters above sea level in the lowest
areas, and up to 1.067 meters in the highest ones. At greater altitudes, the extremely cold weather and mostly the spring frosts do not allow winegrowing.
The second most traditional Malbec growing region is La Consulta, in San Carlos, Valle de Uco. This is the coldest oasis of the province, where the new winegrowing culture of Argentina thrives. (Picture 5). The rest of the wine regions of the province are located in Rivadavia and Junín, around Cuchillas de Lunlunta, and in the Southern region of Mendoza.
ARGENTINE MALBEC AND MODERN VITICULTURE AND WINEMAKING
At the beginning of the last decade of the past century, changes in global and local economy and the need to enter in foreign markets caused significant quality and quantity changes in Argentina’s winemaking and viticulture. Studies on the influence of vineyard management over the quality of wines were carried out, state-of-the-art technology was introduced to vineyards and wineries, wines were elaborated aiming to meet international requirements, and marketing systems came into focus.
Little by little, Malbec became Argentina’s flagship red wine. The exceptional characteristics that this variety developed at the foothills of The Andes contributed to this fact, generating unique wines which are hard to find in other wine producing countries.
Although the typical Argentine Malbec style has not yet been completely defined, there is no doubt that the focus is on very concentrated wines, with violet hues, soft tannins and a strong fruity aroma blended with good oak notes on the nose.
But different styles of Malbec can be found, depending on the training system used in the vineyard, the yield, the ripeness at the moment of harvest, the clones implanted, the type of yeasts used, the maceration techniques, the type of oak and bottle aging time.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to discuss the influence of these techniques on the characteristics of a wine.
Once this issue is settled, we will be able to find the style that will identify Argentina. In order to achieve this objective, enological and viticultural research must be carried out, covering several aspects.
Malbec is a grapevine that does not offer significant yields. Vineyards with yields over 10.000 kilos per hectare produce wines with strong herbal aromas and low concentration. In general terms, wine producers agree on this aspect.
CONCLUSIONS
Argentine Malbec meets all the requirements to become the country’s flagship wine. It has been grown in the country for over a century. It has spread all over Argentina’s wine regions, producing wines with different organoleptic features. Its body and aromatic potential make it suitable for aging. But in order to reach global positioning, it is still necessary to define the winegrowing and winemaking techniques that boost its qualities and will contribute to determine the style of Argentina’s Malbec.
FOOD PAIRING
Malbec is a wine that allow endless food combinations but without any doubt the typical Argentinean “asado” with “chimichurr” is a unique food pairing. The “bife de chorizo” is also an excellent companion as well as the stew made of game, lamb or wild boar.
TRAPICHE AND MALBEC
Trapiche is Malbec and it offers the best Malbec in each market segment and a Malbec for every occasion.
Trapiche:
Specialist in Malbec.
A Malbec at each prize level.
Main Malbec exporter of Argentina.
Argentina best-selling Malbec.
It works with over 90 independant premium Malbec growers.
Starts a project on Malbec clone selection.
TRAPICHE MALBEC SINGLE VINEYARD
Trapiche Malbec Single Vineyard is a selection of the three best Malbec wines from each harvest, produced separately in the winery, following the same winemaking process.
Trapiche elaborates ultra-premium Malbec wines coming from over 90 vineyards in different areas of Mendoza. Every year, Daniel Pi and his team choose out of this fantastic collection the three best Malbec wines from exceptional vineyards to communicate Trapiche´s foundations: the richness of diversity.
These three wines will conform each year the Trio Trapiche Malbec Single Vineyard.
This project aims to convey the extraordinary potential of the vast array of Argentina’s terroirs for the production of Malbec and its and its effect on the country’s flagship variety: the Malbec.
Each wine comes from a unique vineyard and it reflects the viticultural culture of Argentina through the independents grapeprowers in charge of them.
Trapiche Malbec Single Vineyard is also our way of expressing our appreciation for the grapegrowers who put their trust in us and provide us with their Premium grapes and give identity to our wines.
Three outstanding wines, three remarkable grapegrowers, one variety: Malbec. The essence of Trapiche Malbec Single Vineyard lies in the combination of these factors.
There are many places in Argentina, potential or existing ones, for the production of top quality Malbec. Our talent lies in spotting them. Our enologists and viticulturists work all year round in order to select the best agroecological areas to source the perfect grapes for the wines we produce. Nowadays there are over 100 grapegrowers working closely with our viticultural team to complement the production of our own vineyards. The possibility of taking our ultra premium grapes from such diverse places is our most valuable asset.
What makes this project different from any other? We have chosen Argentina’s emblematic variety to illustrate the diversity of our terroirs. Furthermore, in this project, the grapegrower, the man behind the grapes, shares central stage with his lifetime’s work: his vineyard.
Trapiche Malbec Single Vineyard gives wine lovers worldwide the possibility of enjoying a unique wine experience that combines hedonist pleasure and culture, satisfaction and emotion. This experience is new and different every single year and allows the consumer to get a bit closer to Argentina´s viticulture tradition. |
