Argentina

The Argentine wine industry is the fifth biggest manufacturer of wine in the globe. Argentine wine, as with several features of Argentine cuisine, has its roots in Spain. During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, vine cuttings were brought to Santiago del Estero in 1557, and the cultivation of the grape and wine production extended foremost to adjacent regions, and then to other parts of the country.

In olden times, Argentine winemakers were by tradition more interested in quantity than quality with the country consuming 90% of the wine it produces (12 gallons/45 liters a year per capita according to 2006 figures). Until the early 1990s, Argentina produced more wine than any other nation outside Europe, though the bulk of it was considered unexportable. Nevertheless, the craving to boost exports fueled momentous advances in excellence. Argentine wines started being exported during the 1990s, and at present growing in recognition, making it now the biggest wine exporter in South America. The depreciation of the Argentine peso in 2002 further boosted the industry as production costs decreased and tourism considerably increased, giving way to a entire new notion of enotourism in Argentina.

Argentine winemaking districts are frequently located in wide valleys or sloping plains and offer perfect conditions for grape growing. The truth that the Argentine wine area develops amidst the dryness and desiccation of its landscape leads one to refer to them as oases. These oases can be divided into regions and sub regions. Some stick out for their elevation, such as the Calchaquíes Valleys, in the North; others for the dryness of the land, such as the valleys in the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan and La Rioja; and there are also low altitude oases in Patagonia, with passionate ripening periods.  

1. Bodega Norton 'Reserva' Cabernet Sauvignon
2. Bodega Norton 'Reserva' Malbce
3. Bodega Norton 'Reserva'chardonnay
4. Bodega Norton Malbec
5. Bodega Norton Merlot