Argentina’s Relationship with Wine & Fire

Settled by both the Spanish and the Italians, Argentina is a country that has a unique culture built on food, wine, family and passion. Gatherings in Argentina always involve a great glass of wine and a roaring asado (or barbecue) no matter what time of year. In Argentina, all types of foods Can be prepared over a wood fire – from breads, to vegetables to meat. So it comes as no surprise that Argentina’s wines also have an intimate relationship with fire.

Cutting Edge

Argentina is a region that is filled with sunshine, mountains, fire and ice (not to mention dinosaur bones). It is one of the few continental viticultural areas in the world where the majority of vineyards are planted at high altitudes. Wines – at friendly prices – are made from grapes grown in the foothills of the Andes mountains. In Mendoza, Argentina’s largest wine-producing region, vines are planted at elevations between 800 and 1,500 metres above sea level (2,800 to 5,000 feet) in a semi-desert climate. Vines are watered with pure snow melt from the Andes and under the stressed conditions of high-altitude, intense sunlight, they produce more complex fruit giving the final wines a distinctive character.

Courtesy of ARgentina Wines – Andes Mountains snow capped

Wood-Fire Grilling

One cannot talk about wine without talking about its forever partner – food. According to Argentinians, there’s an intimate relationship between what’s in your wine glass and the burning fire of a barbecue. Almost every family in Argentina has a grill. Known as a ‘parrilla’ in Spanish, wood-fire grilling is one of Argentina’s oldest and most traditional cooking methods. Meats are seasoned simply and can also be brined. They cook slowly for hours while friends and family sip and savour regional Malbec wines together around the fire. Traditional asado fare can include lamb, pork ribs or various cuts of beef like skirt steak (entrana), short ribs (asado) and flank (vacio).

Superstar Grape

The Malbec grape is Argentina’s superstar wine. This grape demands sunshine and a dry climate, more so than Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. High altitude regions (like the Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo) tend to have cooler climates even though the UV is intensified. These cooler climate areas offer a longer growing season and produce wines with elegance and finesse. Malbec, like Pinot Noir, can offer a full range of styles. Sometimes aged in stainless steel, concrete and even oak barrels, Malbec offers a plethora of pairings within its various personalities.

Courtesy of ARgentina Wines – Pure snowmelt water from the Andes mountains

The rustic, fruit-forward and floral aromas of Argentina’s high-altitude wines are also an ideal pairing with vegetables prepared over wood-fire coals. All available veggies can be buried in the fire with a little bit of olive oil on top and the end result is a rich, rustic, smokey and delicious taste profile that complements the regional wines.

One might even say that a winemaker and barbecue grill master have similar roles. One works with fermented grapes and the other with protein, starch and vegetables. Together they take a raw natural element and enhance its final taste for our pleasure.