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Cuisine, Latin America

10 Award-Winning Argentinian Wines You Must Try on Your Next Trip

April 17, 2024 by Luxury Gold No Comments
Vineyard in Argentina with mountains in background

Argentinian wine making may not be an ancient practice, but what the local industry lacks in experience, they’ve more than made up for in technique. The best wineries in Argentina are often recognized around the world for Malbec, with both red and white varieties produced in the country. 

But your wine tasting in Argentina isn’t limited to a single stem glass of Malbec; Cabernet Sauvignons, Chardonnays, and more are produced in this part of South America. Keep an eye out for these award-winning Argentinian wines on your next trip to this sublime South American destination. 

Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2019

Sommeliers Choice Awards Gold Winner 2022

Producer: Aurelio Montes

Bottled in: Uco Valley

Price: $23.00

Kaiken Ultra Malbec wine bottle

A dry red wine with fruity flavors as rich as its deep ruby color, the Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2019 took home the Gold Sommeliers Choice Award in 2022. Produced in Argentina, it was bottled by Aurelio Montes in the Mendoza region’s Uco Valley, where altitudes reach as high as 1100 meters above sea level. This Argentinian wine region is newer when it comes to its production of medium-bodied bottles, though the Kaiken Ultra proves that the organic grapes of the area are nevertheless top notch. Critics love fruit flavor blended with earthy tones. The light smokiness and oak notes end every sip with a mild tannic finish. 

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Alpasión Grand Chardonnay 2021

London Wine Competition Bronze 2023

Producer: Alpasión Wines

Bottled in: Uco Valley

Price: $30.00

Alpasión Grand Chardonnay 2021 wine bottle

Another award-winner from the Uco Valley, the Alpasión Grand Chardonnay 2021 won a Bronze award in 2023’s London Wine Competition, adding another award to Alpasión’s growing portfolio. This bottle is the only white wine in the producer’s Grand line, joining a number of exceptional Malbecs, Cabernet Francs, and Pinot Noirs. The Grand Chardonnay stands out for more than just its still white color. A partial malolactic fermentation and a year spent in French oak barrels yields both fruity notes of pineapple and lemon curd and an earthy notes of toasted oak and sea-shell minerality. And while Grand Chardonnay is available at your local spirits store, we urge you to consider uncorking it in situ. Alpasión Lodge is limited to 7 luxury rooms and 6 luxury glamping tents. With the Alpasión Restaurant on-site to let you drink in their wines and views of the Andes, it’s one of the best wineries in Argentina to spend your vacation at.

Cien por Ciento Torrontés 2021

USA Wine Ratings Gold 2022

Producer: Cien por Ciento

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $26.00

Cien por Ciento Torrontés 2021 wine bottle

Ask a local what they’re drinking at a casual wine tasting in Argentina and they’ll likely show you a bottle of Cien por Ciento Torrontés on the table. For the uninitiated, the Torrontés wine is the other signature Argentinian wine. These light-skinned grapes grow near rows of Malbec in Mendoza’s high-altitude vineyards. The 2021 bottle is highly aromatic, matured in American oak barrels and sings a refrain of fruity notes. Its creamy texture is complex yet has an accessible taste that makes this white wine a favorite for Argentine locals and a gold medal winner in the USA Wine Ratings.  

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Origen Los Chacayes Malbec 2021

Decanter World Wine Awards Best in Show 2023

Producer: Terrazas De Los Andes

Bottled in: Uco Valley

Price: $14.00

Origen Los Chacayes Malbec 2021 wine bottle

You can never have too many Malbec options when wine tasting in Argentina, particularly when one includes Origen Los Chacayes’s 2021 Malbec. This Uco Valley wine earned a Best in Show rating in the latest Decanter World Wine Awards. It’s a show stealer: its character is as intense as its color is deep. Decanter’s tasters noted its meaty aromatic depth and definitive fruity strength characteristic of Argentina’s best Malbecs.

Elixio Cabernet Sauvignon

Berliner Wein Trophy 2023 Gold Winner 

Producer: Viña San Pedro Tarapacá 

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $9.00

Elixio Cabernet Sauvignon wine bottle

A fitting Argentinian wine fitting for an asado dinner, the Elixio Cabernet Sauvignon by Graffigna is a classic addition to any wine cellar. Blackberry notes reign supreme in every deep red sip, with the occasional oak or spice slipping across your palate ever so subtly. Its ripe tannins endure a swirl around your mouth and its robust, rich flavors linger on the tongue long after it’s spat or swallowed. 

Read next: The perfect Australian grape by wine expert, Nick Williams of Hungerford Hill

2021 Norton 1895 Coleccion Chardonnay

New York International Wine Awards 2023 Mendoza Chardonnay Wine of the Year

Producer: Bodega Norton

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $15.00

2021 Norton 1895 Coleccion Chardonnay wine bottle

Produced in Argentina, Bodega Norton’s 1895 line celebrates the vineyard’s founding year. 126 years later, the 1895 Coleccion continues to honor Argentine vintner past while delivering an approachable, modern wine in the 2021 Chardonnay. Aroma strength takes a backseat to dry citrus and apple notes. It’s a Chardonnay that’s well-structured for an uncompromising pure showcase of the varietal’s characteristics, sourced from one of the finest terroirs in the country.

Bodegas Fabre Montmayou Reserva Cabernet Franc 2022

Argentinian Cabernet Franc Trophy winner at IWC 2023

Producer: Fabre Montmayou

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $18.00

On the outskirts of Mendoza is an area called Luján de Cuyo, where a host of old vineyards produce incredible wines. These old vines and extreme growing conditions provide grapes of unparalleled concentration. Produced by Argentine Winemaker of the Year Hervé Fabre, this wine is completely hand-harvested and 60% of the juice sees 12 months in French oak.

Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard Malbec

Decanter World Wine Awards Best in Show 2019

Producer: Catena Zapata

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $85.00

Described as possessing an aromatic spectrum of ripe red fruits such as cherries and plums, interwoven with a spicy note and vanilla, this powerful yet elegant Argentine red wine is a clear demonstration of the winemaking expertise and expressiveness of Mendoza’s terroir. Located in the far southerly growing region of Altamira in La Consulta, in this traditional area for Malbec, the Nicasia vineyard is the only place you can find a planting of the special Catena Selection of Malbec cuttings.

Cruz del Sur – Gran Austral 2021

Wine of the Year by Country: Sommeliers Wine Awards 2023

Producer: Fecovita

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $ details unavailable

Fecovita winery in Mendoza is one of the largest producers in the world, made up of over 5000 vineyard growers (with 25,000 hectares of vineyards between them). On nose this wine is described as ‘lush and full aromas of blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, cocoa and leather’. 2021 was a in interesting vintage in Argentina and although the cool growing season robbed the resulting wines slightly of alcohol, it blessed them in other ways with fine aromatics, acidity and elegance.

Alamos Red Blend 2021

USA Wine Ratings Gold 2023

Producer: Alamos

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $15

Alamos Red Blend displays ‘velvety, ripe notes of blackberry and plum, layered with hints of spice’ and is produced with Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bonarda. A smooth and balanced wine, it is said to be excellent with roasted chicken and tomato-based pasta dishes. Alamos has more than 100 years of passion and research behind its wines, cearly demonstrated through this award winning vintage.

Savor Argentinian wines with Luxury Gold

Uncork an unforgettable wine tasting experience in Argentina during Luxury Gold’s Classic South America 12 day tour. Not only will you spend time drinking up the sights of Chilean wine country, but you’ll also have ample opportunity for wine tasting in Argentina. 

Sip on award-winning wines during a private eight-course dinner in Buenos Aires. As you savor each glass, learn more about the best wineries in Argentina’s Mendoza region, why the Malbec is unlike any other grape varietal in the world and how to tell a vintage from La Rioja from your wines of San Juan.

Discover your favorite Argentinian wine with us. 

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Reading time: 8 min
Cuisine, Latin America

Raising the Steaks: This Buenos Aires Restaurant Makes Barbecue an Art Form

March 19, 2024 by Lucy Thackray No Comments
Dishes at Fogón Asado

Fogón Asado is no ordinary Buenos Aires restaurant. This petite parrilla (the name for this city’s expert steakhouses), with its exposed brick and leaping flames, is more like an immersive theatre experience melded with a supper club, all designed to introduce guests to the Argentinian art of asado. In an exclusive experience designed by the owners, Argentinian Alex Pels and his Danish wife Dani Jenster, the intimate space holds a maximum of 30 diners, who are given a ringside seat to this traditional, meat-focused feast.

Luxury Gold clients, visiting the Buenos Aires restaurant on the Argentinian leg of our Grand South America tour, are among the lucky few in attendance. Sitting at the polished countertop, you’ll watch the expert chefs smoke, sizzle and slice different cuts of meat, seasonal vegetables and the local provoleta cheese ‒ all on an elaborate, custom-made barbecue that executive chef José Gilberto Garcia calls “the Ferrari” of grills. We caught up with José to find out about this very particular style of South American cuisine.

Fogón Asado

A chef at Fogón Asado shows diners the way of the asado (Fogón Asado)

We think you’ll also like: Award-Winning Argentine Wines You Must Try on Your Next Trip

Your Buenos Aires restaurant describes itself as “asado for a fine dining audience”. Can you tell us a bit more about this?

“Certainly. Asado describes the grilling technique – over a wood fire and its embers, but for Argentinians it’s also a kind of ritual, a traditional experience. It’s a very special moment to share with friends or with family. We usually gather at weekends for an asado, where we grill different cuts of meat for many hours. Everyone stands around the grill, enjoying wine and tasting the different cuts. At Fogón, we’ve tried to recreate that feeling for a fine dining audience. We like to incorporate innovative techniques and presentations to elevate the experience. Our tasting menu is designed based on the Argentine asado, but has a modern and unique approach.” 

What’s the origin of the cooking style, and how do you engage with that?

“The history of asado in Argentina dates back to the 19th century, evolving from the cooking practices of gauchos – Argentinian cowboys. As they roamed the vast pampas herding cattle, they developed simple, yet flavorful ways to cook meat over open fires. This method became ingrained in Argentine culture, blending indigenous techniques with Spanish influences. The gauchos had their tools, like the gaucho knife, the facón, which are very sharp. They used it for fighting, they used it for cooking and that’s really all they needed. We really wanted to include these tools in our dining experience. So a selection of these knives are presented to diners during the meal in a handmade wooden box, and each person can kind of choose their weapon. That’s our way of including a little bit of the culture and the history.”

Fogón Asado

Meat is grilled at Buenos Aires restaurant Fogón Asado (Fogón Asado)

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Can you tell me about the technical aspects of the fire cooking process?

“At Fogón we use two different types of wood that are typical here in Argentina; there’s one in particular called quebracho, which is one of the hardest woods in the world. The Spanish name for it actually comes from the phrase “to break the axe”. The white kind, quebracho blanco, is what we use to start the fire on our parrilla (grill) for the bigger cuts of meat to hang over; then we add the red kind (rojo), and once there are glowing embers from that wood, we cook smaller items like the rib eye or the bife el chorizo. It really adds a special flavour to the meat.”

How do you ensure the quality of ingredients?

“Quality is key at Fogón. We meticulously source our ingredients, prioritizing local, organic, and sustainably raised meats and produce. Our partnerships with local farmers and suppliers ensure that we receive the freshest and highest quality ingredients available. Each piece of meat is carefully selected for its marbling, age, and origin, ensuring that only the best makes it to our grill. This commitment to quality extends to every aspect of our dishes, from the vegetables and herbs to the specialty condiments. Unlike other restaurants, we only do one sitting per night, ensuring that each product is treated with respect and care.”

What are some of your favourite dishes on the menu?

“One of mine is the rib-eye cap, what we call the ceja (eyebrow), which we smoke with pine cones for an hour or so, something like that. Then we chargrill it over a strong fire for six or seven minutes more, until it’s rare to medium-rare. The flavour is very smoky and we serve it with a creamy cauliflower puree and corn cooked with a local technique called rescoldo, where we cook the vegetables over the fire. It’s smoky, salty, creamy, and even a little acidic because we add a little rice-vinegar to the cauliflower. It’s like a hug for your tongue.

“Another very typical street food here is choripan, which is usually local chorizo or morcilla sausage served in a baguette. This is something we eat at concerts, at the market or football games. But because we’re taking asado to a fine-dining experience, we reimagined the choripan for our menu. We put the two types of sausage on open-face, grilled breads, with a delicious apple and quince chutney on top, and flame-grilled pepper. In Spanish we call the combination “un matrimonio” (the marriage) because it goes so well together.”

Dishes at Fogón Asado

Dishes at Fogón Asado, Buenos Aires (Fogón Asado)

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What else can guests expect from the experience?

“Guests are greeted with a cocktail, a Negroni but crafted from Argentine ingredients, like mate (a caffeinated herbal drink), Patagonian elderflower, vermouth and Viognier wine. From there it’s a three-hour fireside dining experience; you sit at the bar and all the preparations are done in front of you, right on the fire. I’ll explain each cut of meat, and show you them on a big wooden board before we begin. It’s a very interactive experience, inspired by the fact that Argentinians often gather around the asado when cooking at home.

We also have wine pairings of regional and national wines; our owners don’t believe in set glasses of wine, so we are very generous with refills! You’ll try every classic asado dish that you would usually try, but in a fine-dining presentation: they’re smaller, lighter plates and a bit more creative. It’s a real performance: our team loves to work in front of people and answer questions.” 

Experience the art of Argentinian asado on our Grand South America journey

Fogon Asado has two Buenos Aires restaurants ‒ one in Palermo Soho and one in Palermo Viejo. Tasting menus from $60 for lunch and $80 for dinner; wine pairings available (fogonasado.com)

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Reading time: 6 min
Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Luxury Journeys, USA and Canada

Five best National Parks in the world you can discover with Luxury Gold

February 19, 2020 by Luxury Gold No Comments

If, like us, you’re in search of more mindful travel in 2020, look no further. A journey to one of the world’s conserved National Parks is not only educational but will allow you to enjoy your destination’s true essence.

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