As wintertime draws ever nearer, the urge to curl up in front of the fire with a good book and a glass of wine becomes harder to resist. What makes the perfect wine for such an occasion? Of course, we could turn to familiar favourites – a bold and juicy Barossa Shiraz, or a delicate and layered Pinot Noir… but there is always the thrill of the unexplored.
The shelves at your local bottle shop can seem overwhelming, filled with bottles whose labels often don’t give much away. Sometimes with nothing but the grape variety and location to give you clues about the taste, it is often much simpler and safer to choose the good old Shiraz or Cab Merlot.
However, it’s never too late to broaden your horizons and take on the wine aisle. So, why not start with a Malbec?
This grape variety is originally from Southwest France but has since made its way all over the world. It could be argued that Argentina actually ‘saved’ Malbec from extinction – it didn’t thrive in the south of France where there was disease and pests galore, moreover, it was cursed to the fate of a ‘blending grape’. But in Argentina, at the foothills of the Andes mountains, the high elevation and drier environment allowed the grape to produce the acidity and complexity any wine needs in order to taste great and last a long time.
Argentina still leads the world in production of Malbec, but now seven other countries also grow it – meaning you can taste seven different variations of the same grape! From the US, to France, and even to Australia, Malbec is a rich and tannic wine with beautiful flavours of blackberry, plum and cherry. See if you can taste the chocolate and sweet tobacco finish of an Argentinian Malbec, or the pepper and spice notes from a French.
Either way, a Malbec is an exciting new grape to try very similar to a Shiraz, and its velvety tannins, juicy flavours, and robust structure make it perfect for your next night by the fire (or the heater as the case may be!). This is a wine which needs no accompaniment… but a mushroom risotto or blue cheese wouldn’t go awry.
On your next visit to the bottle shop, confidently walk to the international section and put on your best perusal face, as you tell the shop assistant, ‘I know what I’m looking for.’ Try the 2018 Alamos Malbec straight from Mendoza, Argentina. For only $25 at Vintage Cellars, it’s a steal. Happy drinking!