Argentina's winemaking tradition spans over 200 years, offering a remarkable diversity of styles from a continent that encompasses nearly every possible growing climate. This comprehensive guide explores the distinctive regions, classic and emerging grape varieties, and standout producers that make Australian wine one of the world's most exciting and value-driven wine categories.

Argentina's wines are among the best in the world, and its reputation is gathering pace as quickly as Maradona running at the English back four—unstoppable, distinctive, and impossible to ignore. I've been following Argentine wines for over a decade now, and the evolution has been nothing short of remarkable. Bottles that once offered straightforward fruit-bomb pleasure have transformed into complex, terroir-driven expressions that can stand proudly alongside the finest wines from anywhere in the world.

As the eighth largest country in the world, Argentina encompasses a multitude of different climates and varying landscapes, from subtropical northern reaches to the windswept deserts of Patagonia in the south. Thanks to its bountiful terrain—meandering its way towards the towering Andes—Argentina has become one of the top six wine producers in the world by volume and has been producing "juice" (as the locals sometimes call it) for more than 400 years.

What makes Argentine wine so distinctive? It's largely about altitude. While European vineyards typically sit at 200-500 metres above sea level, many Argentine vines grow at a dizzying 1,000-3,000 metres elevation. This extreme altitude creates a magical combination of intense sunlight, dramatic day-night temperature swings, and naturally stressed vines that together produce wines of remarkable concentration, freshness, and character.

Argentine viticulture has Spanish roots dating back to the mid-16th century, when conquistadors and missionaries brought vines to the region. The first documented vineyard was planted in 1557 by Jesuit missionaries, who needed wine for religious ceremonies. For centuries, Argentine wine remained a fairly rustic, local affair, with production focused on quantity rather than quality.

The 19th century brought significant change, as European immigrants—particularly from Italy and Spain—flooded into Argentina, bringing their winemaking traditions with them. Among the grape varieties they introduced was Malbec, a relatively minor Bordeaux grape that would later become Argentina's vinous calling card. The arrival of the railway connecting Mendoza to Buenos Aires further spurred development by making it economically viable to transport wine to population centres.

The 20th century brought challenges, including political instability that hampered investment. Until the 1990s, Argentine wine remained largely domestic in focus, with an emphasis on quantity over quality. Many vineyards were planted on fertile flatlands, producing prodigious yields of rather dilute wine, much of it consumed from large glass demijohns called damajuanas.

The real revolution began in the 1990s, when Argentina's wine industry modernised rapidly. Producers began planting at higher elevations, investing in temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation, and reducing yields for quality. The arrival of flying winemakers and international investment accelerated this transformation. Suddenly, Argentine wines began receiving international attention for their quality rather than just their value.

I find it fascinating that many of the old-guard producers were initially skeptical about high-altitude vineyards, viewing them as marginal sites where grapes would struggle to ripen. Pioneers like Nicolás Catena Zapata were considered slightly mad for pushing vineyards ever higher up the Andean foothills. History has proven them brilliantly right, of course—those once-marginal sites now produce Argentina's most celebrated wines.

The four major regions of wine production in Argentina are Salta in the far north, Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley in Mendoza province, and Patagonia in the south. Each region's terroir imparts a distinct character to the wines, creating a fascinating spectrum of styles despite often working with the same grape varieties.

Salta lies at the north of the country and comprises the San Juan and La Rioja regions, which are becoming more recognised areas for wine production globally. When I visited Salta a few years back, I was struck by how different it feels from the rest of Argentina—the indigenous influence is strong here, with many residents of Incan descent, and the cuisine has more in common with Peru than it does with Buenos Aires.

Cafayate, El Arenal, and Los Molinos are key sub-regions of the province and well worth keeping an eye out for on bottle labels. I'm particularly fond of the wines from Cafayate, where the combination of extreme altitude and relatively warmer climate creates wines of remarkable concentration and aromatic intensity.


Set against the arid Andes, Salta is home to some of the highest-altitude vineyards in the world, where elevation levels can reach as high as 3,111 metres, giving a unique, earthy character to the grapes. To put this in perspective, that's roughly three times the height of Screaming Eagle in Napa Valley or about ten times higher than Château Margaux!

Also known as the capital of the Northwest, the northern province is steeped in history, witnessed in the faces of the indigenous people who are of mostly Incan origin. The landscapes here are otherworldly—multicoloured mountains, giant cacti, and vineyards that appear to touch the clouds.

Salta has a subtropical highland climate, temperate year-round, which lends well to creating intense, rich, and powerful wine flavour profiles. The hotter temperatures allow the grapes to ripen at a faster rate compared to more southerly regions, and this in turn leads to fuller-bodied wines with softer and sweeter flavours, though the altitude ensures they retain sufficient acidity for balance.


The Malbec grape, originating from Cahors in southwest France, is the most planted varietal in Argentina, and the grapes react well to each of the region's micro-climates. The Malbecs from this region hold the complex characteristics you would expect but will be more intense and fruitier than wines from the south. There's often a pronounced floral character to Salta Malbecs that I find particularly appealing—violets and lavender notes that add complexity to the rich fruit core.

But Salta isn't just about Malbec. The region produces what many consider to be Argentina's finest Torrontés, an aromatic white grape unique to Argentina. Grown at these extreme altitudes, Torrontés produces wines with explosive floral aromas (think roses and jasmine) alongside citrus notes, with a texture and acidity that balances the aromatic intensity. I recall tasting a Torrontés from Colomé that smelled sweet but finished bone dry—a captivating combination that makes this grape one of Argentina's most distinctive.


Gaucho features many incredible wines from this region on their wine list, such as the Piatelli Tannat (Bodega El Esteco), a powerful, structured red that showcases this robust French variety's adaptation to high-altitude conditions. The Laborum Torrontés (El Porvenir de Cafayate) brilliantly demonstrates the aromatic intensity and textural balance this grape can achieve in Salta's extreme environment. For a truly special experience, La Linterna Malbec (Bemberg Estate Wines) offers a fascinating high-altitude expression of Argentina's flagship grape, with remarkable complexity and elegance.


Other producers worth seeking out include Colomé (owned by the Hess family from California), whose Altura Maxima comes from what they claim is the world's highest commercial vineyard, and Bodega Tacuil, making extraordinary small-production wines from remote vineyards at over 2,500 metres elevation.

Slightly further south from Salta lies Mendoza, arguably the most renowned wine-production province of Argentina, and one of the most well-equipped landscapes in the world for a vintner. Responsible for roughly 70% of the country's wine production, Mendoza is the engine room of Argentine wine and home to most of its most celebrated producers.

The province sits in the rain shadow of the Andes, creating an arid, desert-like environment where viticulture would be impossible without irrigation from Andean snowmelt. This controlled water stress, combined with poor, rocky soils and significant elevation, creates ideal conditions for high-quality viticulture.

Mendoza itself contains several distinctive sub-regions, with Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley being the most significant for premium wine.

Luján de Cuyo, a valley just south of Mendoza City, was the first region in Argentina to be recognised for an appellation. Often called "the cradle of Malbec," this historic region is where Argentina's modern quality wine revolution began. I've always found Luján to offer a perfect middle ground between tradition and innovation—historic estates with modern winemaking, creating wines that offer immediate pleasure but can age gracefully.


Luján de Cuyo's Climate and Wine Profiles

Stretching over 30km between the Andes in the west and the Lunlunta hills in the east with altitudes of 1,000m above sea level, the positioning of Luján de Cuyo creates an intriguing terroir. The drastically cooler temperatures of the night contrast with the intense heat of the day to slow the ripening process and prolong the growing season. During one harvest visit, I recorded a daytime temperature of 35°C (95°F) that dropped to just 12°C (54°F) after sunset—a swing that preserves acidity and aromatic complexity while allowing full phenolic ripeness.


There is little rainfall due to the Andes blocking the clouds, which contributes to creating deliberately stressed vines that grow smaller grapes with more concentrated flavour. The soils here are primarily alluvial—the result of millennia of material washing down from the Andes—with varying compositions of sand, clay, and stone that create subtle variations in wine character even within short distances.

Luján de Cuyo Malbecs tend to be plush and velvety, with ripe black fruit flavours, often a hint of violet, and a chocolatey richness. The tannins are typically soft and integrated, making these wines approachable even when young, though the best examples can age beautifully for a decade or more. There's a generosity to these wines that's immensely appealing, coupled with a structure that prevents them from feeling heavy.


Luján de Cuyo is known for producing excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Torrontés, as well as Malbec. Gaucho lists many delicious wines from Luján de Cuyo, such as DV Catena 'Histórico' (Bodega Catena Zapata), a historic blend that pays homage to the region's winemaking traditions while incorporating modern precision. Viña Patricia (Lunlunta) offers a classic expression of Luján terroir through old-vine Malbec, while The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree showcases Bonarda, Argentina's second most planted red grape, which is experiencing a quality renaissance.

Other standout producers from the region include Achaval-Ferrer, whose single-vineyard Malbecs set new standards for the variety; Pulenta Estate, making elegantly balanced wines from Italian varieties; and Viña Cobos, the project of renowned winemaker Paul Hobbs, producing some of Argentina's most polished and sophisticated wines.

Just south of Luján de Cuyo, the Uco Valley represents the cutting edge of Argentine winemaking. If Luján is the traditional heart of Mendoza wine, the Uco Valley is its progressive soul—a region where the boundaries of quality and site expression are constantly being pushed. Twenty years ago, much of this area was considered too high and cool for quality viticulture. Today, it's home to many of Argentina's most celebrated and sought-after wines.

Vineyard altitudes range from 1,100 to a staggering 2,000m above sea level, and while sunny for most of the year, the climate is cool compared to the north. This terroir allows for a longer growing season, which wine producers simply adore for the complexity and balance it brings to their wines.

Important sub-regions to the valley include Tupungato, Tunuyán, and San Carlos, where Syrah and Malbec grape varietals are grown for red wines as well as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Torrontés for white wines. Within these areas, even more specific appellations like Gualtallary, Vista Flores, and Paraje Altamira have emerged as distinctive terroirs producing wines with unique characters.


The Uco Valley is a relative newcomer to the wine production scene, having only started producing significant quantities of wine from the 1990s; before that, the valley was predominantly used for fruit and vegetable cultivation. Sitting in the foothills of the Andes, the soil in this area is a mix of clay and sand, often with significant calcium carbonate (limestone) deposits that contribute mineral complexity to the wines. These soils are great for retaining water and allowing the roots of the grapevines to absorb nutrients while maintaining the stress necessary for quality.

The combination of high altitude, poor soils, and significant day-night temperature variation creates wines that somehow manage to be both intense and fresh—ripe and concentrated from the abundant sunshine, yet vibrant and balanced from the cool nights. Uco Valley Malbecs tend to show more red fruit character (rather than the black fruit typical of Luján), often with floral notes and a distinctive mineral undertone that reflects the complex soils. The structure tends to be firmer than in Luján, with more pronounced acidity and slightly grippier tannins that suggest good ageing potential.

One aspect of the Uco Valley I find particularly fascinating is how quickly producers have moved from broad regional designations to increasingly specific site expressions. Wines that a decade ago would have been simply labelled "Uco Valley" are now identified by sub-region, commune, and even individual parcel—a rapid development of terroir classification that parallels what took centuries in regions like Burgundy.


White wines are especially good from this region for their freshness, purity, and elegant flavour profiles. Some popular and truly excellent white wines Gaucho offers include Terrazas De Los Andes Chardonnay (Gualtallary), which showcases the mineral tension this high-altitude sub-region can bring to Chardonnay. Susana Balbo Barrel Fermented 'Signature' (Paraje Altamira) demonstrates how judicious oak can complement the fruit purity of the region, while What About Me? Sauvignon Blanc (Bodega Alpasion) offers vibrant, aromatic freshness that reflects the cool nights of the Uco Valley.

Other producers crafting exceptional wines in the Uco Valley include Zuccardi, whose Piedra Infinita from Paraje Altamira is one of Argentina's most profound wines; Catena Zapata, whose Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary is often called "the Grand Cru of South America"; and Clos de los Siete, Michel Rolland's ambitious multi-winery project in Vista Flores.

Patagonia is the southernmost wine region of Argentina, with two main wine-growing areas: Río Negro and Neuquén. This feels like yet another Argentina entirely—a stark, windswept landscape that seems an unlikely place for viticulture, yet produces wines of remarkable elegance and purity.


This desert region, covering an area of roughly 300km, provides an unexpectedly great terroir for producing wines in a much lighter style compared to the rest of the country. The cool, moderate climate of the vineyards here extends the length of the growing season and in turn makes the whole ripening process for the grapes slower, allowing the fruits to develop rich character while retaining acidity.


For those who favour more tart and bright flavours and aromas—perhaps those more accustomed to European wine styles—the wines of this region are the perfect pour. Expect more acidity, less sweetness, lighter body, lower alcohol percentage, and a grippier overall tannin profile compared to wines from Mendoza or Salta.

As Patagonia is officially classified as a desert due to its lack of rainfall, viticulture is only possible near the rivers, where run-off from the Andes is used for irrigation. Out of the two wine producing areas, Río Negro is more established, with some vineyards dating back to the early 20th century. Both regions follow more traditional European styles of winemaking due to the starkly different climate in comparison to the rest of the country.


While Malbec is popular all over Argentina, here Pinot Noir is a widely used varietal, producing wines that combine the fruit purity of New World examples with the structure and complexity associated with the Old World. Many white wine grape varieties are grown as they are well-suited to the terroir, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon, which develops beautiful texture and complexity in these conditions.


I've always found Patagonian wines to offer a fascinating contrast to those from further north. Where Mendoza wines speak of sunshine and power, Patagonian wines whisper of wind and elegance. They're proof of Argentina's remarkable diversity and its capacity to produce world-class wines in a variety of styles.

Discover Argentina's wine regions, grape varieties, and producers in this expert guide.