Celebrating Malbec World Day

Argentine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Corina Sarli hosted the recent “8th Malbec World Day in Manila” celebration.

Held at the Buddha Bar in Makati City, the event highlighted the iconic Malbec that has given Argentina’s winemaking industry a distinct character in the past two decades.

Malbec World Day, which started in 2011, is a global initiative that seeks to highlight the flagship wine of the Latin American nation and toast the success of the Argentine winemaking industry. Themed “Malbec Argentino: You Know Me and You Don’t,” the celebrations this year also showcased over 50 varieties of Argentine wines for guests to enjoy.

Honorary Consul General of Ivory Coast Vince Carlos and Corina Sarli.

Wine aficionados and connoisseurs know that Malbec is the grape variety that originated in Southwest France and was brought to Argentina in 1853 by French agronomist Michel Aimé Pouget, who was hired by Argentine President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento to help transform and reinvigorate the country’s wine industry.

Malbec has since evolved into a world-class wine, with acres and acres of vineyards planted with the grape variety in many parts of Argentina. In the province of Mendoza, which is acknowledged as the main producer of Malbec in Argentina, rivers in the southern part of the province surround and nourish the vineyards, with tourists visiting the wineries to have a taste of the excellent sparkling wines that are produced there.

French Consul Christian Hue, Ed Tekeli and Belarus Consul Anna Marie Ablan.

A lesser known wine region is the province of Catamarca — described by some as “the wild, wild west” — that is practically isolated because it is surrounded by many mountains. The arid climate, however, is suitable for producing healthy, concentrated fruits. The winemaking area in Catamarca is in Tinogasta Valley where wineries follow the old traditional methods of production.

No doubt, Argentina is one of the most exciting wine producing countries today, with Malbec as the most popular grape variety that comprises over 62 percent of the nation’s total wine exports to more than 120 countries. According to Argentina’s Ministry of Agribusiness, Malbec production in 2017 reached 300 million liters. 

Let’s toast to Malbec! Photos by Ramon Joseph J. Ruiz