How winemaking came to Argentina

Grape vines are not native to Argentina, they were brought to Argentina by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 16th century. Other European immigrants (the French, the Italians) also brought vines from their native lands and a thriving winemaking industry developed.

Argentina is the fifth largest wine producer in the world and is famous for it's organic wines (the lack of humidity in the Argentinian wine regions means that the grapes are rarely attacked by fungus and grape diseases, which reduces the need for pesticides and enables organic growing).

The main wine region is Mendoza, which is near the Andes mountains. Most of the grapes grown are red wine grapes of the Malbec variety, which originated in France, as well as Cabernet Sauvignion, Tempranilo, and white wine grapes of the Ceriza and Criolla Grande varieties.

The San Juan region is the second largest producer growing red wine grapes such as Syrah and Bonarda and white wine grapes such as Ceriza.

The La Rioja region grows a local white wine grape called Torrontés Riojano as well Moscatel de Alexandrias (also a white grape).

The Northwestern regions produce red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and white wines from the Torrontés Riojano grape.