Celebrate Malbec World Day

I don’t know about you, but I quite like when these global drink wine days come along. It’s the perfect excuse to open a bottle and play along. This Friday the 17^th is “Malbec World Day”, celebrated on the same date every year. And no, we didn't get our words mixed up. The name, "Malbec World Day", translates from the Spanish "Día Mundial del Malbec" meaning "Malbec throughout the world". Somehow, the name stuck and confuses English speakers, so most of us just end up calling it "World Malbec Day”. This particular holiday was created by Wines of Argentina back in 2011 and unlike some of the other grape varietal days, it does have a bit of a back story.

The Story

Malbec World Day is celebrated on April 17 to commemorate the day that Argentinian president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento of Argentina officially made it his mission to transform Argentina's wine industry. On that day back in 1853 he commissioned a French soil expert, Michel Aime Pouget, to bring some new vines from France to Argentina. One of these varietals was Malbec. Once these vines arrived in Argentina, they showed a huge affinity with the terroirs and Malbec began to flourish in Argentina, creating wines widely superior to those of its country of origin. It is now the undisputed heavyweight grape of Argentina.

Malbec World Day was celebrated for the first time on April 17^th 2011. This holiday or global drink wine day was an initiative created by Lis Clement, the head of marketing and communications for Wines of Argentina. The goal was to communicate the Argentine wine brand around the world, celebrate the success of the national wine industry and to position Argentinian Malbec as one of the most prominent wines in the world. I think it’s safe to say it was a job very well done. When I think of Malbec, Argentina comes to mind.

Malbec

Malbec's lush ripe fruit, distinct spiciness and velvety texture make this varietal hugely appealing. It is much more than just a wine. It is elegant, versatile and incredibly diverse, each bottle expressing the characteristics of terroir and region. While most would suggest to pair it with red meats, it’s versatile enough to stand up to spicy Indian, Mexican or Thai food, but a medium bodied wine like Malbec will make a Kit-Kat taste like a chocolate dipped blackberry. There are many reasons to explain why Malbec continues to transcend borders and is chosen more and more, but there is one that is unanimous, it’s delicious and you don’t have to break the bank to get a decent drop. See our selection below.

Under €15: Andean Vineyards Malbec

Was €14.95 MWD Price €13.50

Deep red-violet colour. Rich, concentrated scents of plums and cherries with notes of vanilla and chocolate.In the mouth it is juicy, with layers of ripe red fruit, coffee and toasted flavours. Tannins are velvety and sweet, ending with a long fruity aftertaste

Under €30: Pascual Toso “Selected Vines” Malbec

Was €22.95 MWD Price €18.95

Unctuous but delicate. An elegant, deeply fruity and long finish is the right balance between the natural expression of the grapes and the ageing in oak barrels.

Under €50: Catena Alta Malbec

Was €42.95 MWD Price €38.95

Catena Alta Malbec shows a saturated dark violet colour. The nose offers freshly ground, ripe berry fruits with layers of wild flowers, mocha and tobacco. The mouthfeel is full with excellent weight and concentration with a soft and silky texture. The mid palate offers rich cassis and black currant fruit flavours interwoven with hints of chocolate, vanilla and black pepper. It finishes with a wonderful minerality, finely grained tannins and lively acidity.

Under €100: Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard Malbec

Was €95 MWD Price €85

"This has to be one of their finest. This has the intensity of the Catena Alta Cabernet and the verticality and austerity of the Adrianna Malbec. It has very good acidity and intensity, while it has some velvety tannins... A superb bottle of wine... Drink 2016-2023. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate"