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Martinez Wines, est. 1979

Country

Argentina

26 products · page 1 of 2

About Argentina ↓

Until recently Argentina produced more wine than any other New World country. America's output has since overtaken it, but Argentina remains probably the most important wine-producing country in South America. Its potential is yet to be fully realised, but Chile no longer dominates the market as it did a decade or so ago. A great deal of the wine made is for domestic consumption and is pretty rustic and of low quality compared to some of the superb examples we see in the UK.

The economic climate of the country over the last century or so has dictated what progress and setbacks the wine industry has experienced. In boom years the industry prospered but the problems caused by economic depression meant that foreign investment declined and the industry suffered. In contrast to most other wine drinking nations, the amount consumed per head is actually declining. It is this decline that has prompted the country's better producers to improve the overall quality of their wines in order to exploit the export market, without which it would struggle to survive. Probably the most significant development in Argentina is the care now taken in the vineyards. Previously it was considered that as long as the grapes ripened the skills practised in winemaking (as opposed to vine growing) were enough to produce decent wine. In the 1990s this skill was expanded to include viticulture, and the importance of Argentina as a major player has increased to the point where some truly outstanding wines are produced. Although some decent wine was produced in the past a scant regard for thinning and reducing crops restricted the industry's progress on what was becoming a booming world market. Much more care is taken over suitability of sites for certain grape varieties, vines are maintained properly, irrigation is extensively used as the average temperature is higher than in many wine-growing countries, and the quality of materials used, such as rootstocks, fertilisers and oak, is much better than two decades ago.

A large percentage of wine grapes grown in Argentina are domestic varieties: Criolla and Cereza. These are white wine grapes and although plantings are extensive their popularity is on the wane as better quality grapes become more fashionable, and export markets beckon for those willing to upgrade to internationally renowned varieties.

It was Spanish settlers who first planted Vitis Vinifera vines in Argentina in the sixteenth century, although early plantings were of somewhat inferior grape varieties compared to those around today. Attempts at irrigation made winemaking possible, and the industry was reasonably healthy. The key event which led to the industry's development was the rail link between Buenos Aires and Mendoza in the mid nineteenth century. As more settlers arrived the expanding wine industry embraced new methods of vine growing and wine making, with the newly imported European grape varieties establishing themselves into the market. The ever-growing Argentine wine industry was founded and its value in world wine markets has never been healthier. Classic grape varieties make up a hefty percentage of wine made in Argentina; Malbec has found a particular niche in such a way that the phrase 'Argentinean Malbec' is one commonly heard in wine shops and tasting rooms across the globe.
Vineyards stretch along the backbone of the Andes Mountains with Mendoza the most important region (responsible for over 80% of Argentina's wine production), but other areas of importance are La Rioja and Rio Negro.

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    La Gran Bestia MALBEC BONARDA 2025

    BonardaMalbec

    Body: Medium to Full · Ready to drink

    £13.99

    75 cl

    In Stock

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Tesoro de los Andes MALBEC BONARDA 2024

    BonardaMalbec

    Body: Medium to Full · Ready to drink

    £13.99

    75 cl

    In Stock

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Recoleta Malbec 2025

    Malbec

    Body: Medium · Ready to drink

    £14.99

    75 cl

    In Stock

  • Argentina

    Amalaya Vina Blanco De Altura 2025

    RieslingTorrontes

    Sweetness: Off Dry · Ready to drink

    £15.99

    75 cl

    In Stock

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Leticia Cabernet Cabernet 2024

    Cabernet FrancCabernet Sauvignon

    Body: Medium to Full · Ready to drink

    £17.49

    75 cl

    Only 11 left

  • Argentina

    El Esteco DON DAVID RESERVE MALBEC 2024

    Malbec

    Body: Medium to Full · Ready to drink

    £17.99

    75 cl

    In Stock

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Serbal CABERNET FRANC 2025

    Cabernet Franc

    Body: Medium · Ready to drink

    £17.99

    75 cl

    In Stock

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Serbal MALBEC 2025

    Malbec

    Body: Medium to Full · Ready to drink

    £17.99

    75 cl

    In Stock

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Serbal CHARDONNAY 2024

    Chardonnay

    Sweetness: Dry · Ready to drink

    £17.99

    75 cl

    Only 8 left

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Serbal PETIT VERDOT 2024

    Petit Verdot

    Body: Medium to Full · Drink now, but will keep

    £18.99

    75 cl

    Only 11 left

  • Argentina · Rio Negro

    Aniello 006 Riverside Estate PINOT NOIR 2024

    Pinot Noir

    Body: Light · Ready to drink

    £21.99

    75 cl

    In Stock

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Susana Balbo Signature Barrel Fermented TORRONTES 2021

    Torrontes

    Sweetness: Soft Dry · Drink now, but will keep

    £22.99

    75 cl

    In Stock

  • Argentina

    PUNA Estate MALBEC 2021

    Malbec

    Body: Full · Drink now, but will keep

    £24.99

    75 cl

    Only 4 left

  • Argentina

    Las Estelas PINOT NOIR 2022

    Pinot Noir

    Ready to drink

    £27.99

    75 cl

    Only 9 left

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    De Angeles MALBEC 2020

    Malbec

    Body: Full · Drink now, but will keep

    £32.99

    75 cl

    In Stock

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Atamisque Malbec 2023

    Malbec

    Body: Full · Drink now, but will keep

    £33.99

    75 cl

    Only 11 left

  • Argentina

    Ben Marco EXPRESIVO 2018

    Cabernet FrancCabernet SauvignonMalbec

    £41.99

    75 cl

    Only 1 left

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Cadus Single Vineyard 'Finca Las Torcazas' Malbec 2021

    Malbec

    Body: Full · Drink now, but will keep

    £46.99

    75 cl

    Only 8 left

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Trivento Eolo MALBEC 2018

    Malbec

    Body: Medium to Full · Drink now, but will keep

    £89.99

    75 cl

    Only 1 left

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Mauricio Lorca Late Harvest MOSCATEL 2023

    Muscat/MoscatelViognier

    Sweetness: Sweet · Ready to drink

    £21.49

    50 cl

    Only 3 left

  • Argentina

    Quilmes 4.9%

    £2.40

    34 cl

    In Stock

  • Argentina · Mendoza

    Recoleta BONARDA 2024

    Bonarda

    Body: Medium to Full · Ready to drink

    £15.49

    75 cl

    Out of stock

  • Argentina · Calchaquí Valley

    Occidente MALBEC 2021

    Malbec

    Body: Medium · Ready to drink

    £19.99

    75 cl

    Out of stock

  • Argentina · Cafayate

    Vallisto Torrontes 2022

    Torrontes

    Sweetness: Soft Dry · Ready to drink

    £19.99

    75 cl

    Out of stock

  • £22.99

    75 cl

    Out of stock