Malbec Wine

This robust, thick-skinned, sun-loving varietal has become hugely popular in the UK for the rich, luscious, darkly-fruited wines it produces. And as the majority of these reds will more often originate in Argentina (its Mendoza region, more specifically), Malbec red wine has since become synonymous with the country's viniculture. These are deeply colored, opulent, tannic reds, bursting with blackberry, plum, and blueberry flavors and usually accompanied by aromas of leather, smoke, and game. Which goes far in explaining its consummate popularity at the barbecue and in the steakhouse. Despite Argentina's dominance, however, Malbec red wine's original heartland is France, where these days its presence is rarely seen beyond Bordeaux and the Cahors appellation. Here, if not used as a blending agent, Malbec finds a fresher, more rustic, and less tannic expression, yet still producing full-bodied wines that pair quite deliciously with all manner of grilled red meats and charcuterie.