Why Is Malbec So Famous And Fashionable? (2023)

FAQs

What is Malbec known for? ›

Malbec is a full-bodied red wine that grows mostly in Argentina. Known for its plump, dark fruit flavors and smoky finish, Malbec wine offers a great alternative to higher priced Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

Malbec came to Argentina's largest wine region Mendoza in the mid-19th century. It came from France and had to adapt to the warmer and drier climate. It did so with gusto. Argentina is today by far the world's largest malbec country.

Although malbec originated in France, it's more likely to be associated with Argentina, the country that produces the lion's share of the world's malbec and is credited with its resurging popularity.

Malbec is a full-bodied red wine that originated in France but grows mostly in Argentina. While French Malbec is more savory and tart, with firm tannins and flavors of plum and leather, Argentinian Malbec is more fruit forward, with a velvet texture and flavors of cocoa and plum.

As an especially thick-skinned variety, Malbec claims higher antioxidant levels than other red wines especially in terms of resveratrol. This variety has two to four times the amount of anti-inflammatory, health boosting antioxidants than other popular red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Malbec wines are best served in a traditional red wine glass, slightly chilled, somewhere in the realm of 60-65 degrees.

After Prohibition, the grape was a minor variety until it experienced a surge of interest as a component of "Meritage" Bordeaux-style blends in the mid-1990s. Between 1995 and 2003, plantings of Malbec in California increased from 404 hectares (1,000 acres) to more than 2,830 hectares (7000 acres).

It was in the late 1990s when affordable Argentinian Malbec showed on the European and North American markets. Until then, the Australian Shiraz was the undisputed king of inexpensive, yet very popular, easy-drinking red wines.

The warm, dry climate of Argentina makes the country an ideal location for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. They ripen easily and feature notes of cherry, blackberry, pepper, vanilla, and mint. Like Malbec, the Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Argentina are rich and full-bodied.

Merlot and malbec are similar easy-drinking reds and both are used in Bordeaux blends, but they have certain differences as well: Malbec is more tangy and fruity than merlot and therefore tastes thinner, where Merlot is more full-bodied and smooth. Malbec is more commonly paired with spicy foods.

Is Malbec a cheap wine? ›

Malbec is so popular because not only is it affordable but it's easy to drink, it's a perfect pair to many different types of food, and it's a crowd pleaser. If you're looking an affordable, delicious alternative to the usual Merlot of Cabernet Sauvignon you should give Malbec a try!

Malbec is the meatier of the two varieties, offering structure and tannin to the blend. Conversely, Pinot Noir is more aromatic, giving perfume to the wines. When properly balanced, Malbec and Pinot Noir blends can exhibit plums and violets on the nose, with classic red-berry and dark-raspberry flavors.

Syrah is more similar to Old World Malbec with its notes of olive, black pepper spice, smoke, and even bacon fat in some instances. It is commonly seen as a single variety wine or can be blended with other grape varieties such as Grenache and Mourvedre in Côtes du Rhône blends.

While malbec as a grape is often touted for tannins (the components in wine that add structure but dry out your mouth), I don't encounter strong tannins in many malbecs. This makes malbec a good red wine for beginners.

Malbec is a French variety that was widely planted throughout the Middle Ages in different regions in France, where it was so common that it had over 1,000 synonyms. Local growers would give Malbec a local name – Auxerrois, Pressac, Doux Noir, Quercy and Plant du Lot were just a few.

Full-flavoured foods pair best because Malbec is a fuller-bodied wine. Malbec produces red wines with medium acidity and medium tannins. Through the full flavours, and medium acidity, Malbec is less overwhelming or niche on the palette, making this flavour more popular.

Malbec: An Argentinian wine that has plum and cherry flavors. It is medium to full-bodied wine is higher alcohol content and, because of that, is low in sugar. Very close to being almost entirely fermented, Malbecs are a dry wine that offers fewer than 1.5 grams of sugar per glass of red wine.

Pinot noir: This is the healthiest red wine due to its high concentration of resveratrol, an antioxidant compound that lowers bad cholesterol and high blood pressure. Some studies also suggest that it can improve brain health, kill cancer cells, and increase insulin sensitivity.

Serve Malbec wines at room temperature. The ideal temperature is about 18°C (65°F). Cooler temperatures risk preventing Malbec wines from releasing their aromas. Thus, do not put the bottle in the fridge.

Pinot Noir is best served between 55-60°F, while Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon are best served between 60-65°F. If you're storing your wine in a warm area, such as your kitchen, put a bottle of red in the fridge about 30 minutes before you're ready to serve it.

What is the best food to pair with Malbec? ›

You'll find Malbec a great match for steak, pork, and lamb, as well as fattier fish like salmon and poultry with dark meat. Game meat—like bison, ostrich, and venison—are also a safe bet. In addition to meat pairings, consider foods with richer sauces or more vibrant flavors.

Definition of 'Malbec'

1. a black grape originally grown in the Bordeaux region of France and now in Argentina and Chile, used for making wine. 2. a rustic mid-bodied red wine made from this grape.

The analysis revealed that Malbec and Merlot share the same female parent, a long-forgotten cultivar recently renamed Magdeleine Noire des Charentes. The male parent of Malbec is Prunelard, an old and endangered cultivar from southwest France.

Malbec is Generally an Affordable Red Wine

You don't have to break the bank to enjoy a tasty glass of Malbec. This wine grape is well-known for leaning toward the more affordable end of the spectrum.

While Malbec is a globally loved wine, it's nowhere near as popular or well-known as Merlot or Pinot Noir — but that won't stop us from loving it. Famous for its deep purple color and spicy, savory flavors, Malbec wine is a perfect option for those who love strong flavored wine with plenty of body.

Malbec. Made from purple grape variety, Malbec is full-bodied, dry red wine is rich with dark fruit flavors. It's a juicy one, with notes of tobacco and dark chocolate. If you're a pizza fan, perfect; enjoy a bottle of Malbec and a pizza for a deliciously good time.

They both go very well with beef and cheese, although Merlot has a slightly larger range than that of Malbec. Malbec is also lower in acidity than Merlot, and has softer tannins than Merlot, even as a young wine.

Merlot is a bluish variety of grape used to create varietal wines while working as a blending grape. Malbec is a deeper inky coloured grape offering full-bodied tannins and is listed as one of the six grape varieties approved in the mix of Bordeaux wine.