Malbec

Often used in the making of red Bordeaux wine, Malbec is a thin-skinned, purple grape that originates from France. Today, Malbec is found throughout many winemaking regions across the world, but is most notably grown in Argentina.

Malbec produces an inky, dark, full-bodied red wine. Expect rich flavours of black cherry, raspberry, blackberry and blueberry. Malbec wines typically have an aroma of leather, spice and herbs. As with all wines, the characteristics of Malbec can be unique to the area in which it’s grown, but it typically has medium ripe tannins with rich acidity and a smoky finish.

Malbec is very susceptible to various grape diseases and cannot survive with harsh growing conditions that foster frost or mildew. In Canada, Malbec can be found in British Columbia and Ontario. There is approximately 100,000 acres of Malbec planted worldwide.

Malbec pairs wonderfully with smoky flavoured dishes that incorporate black pepper and grilled red meats. Serve Malbec slightly cooler than room temperature for the best tasting experience.

In summary, Malbec has the following characteristics:

• Thin-skinned red wine grape
• Origins come from France
• Most notably grown in Argentina
• Often used in Bordeaux wine
• Inky, dark colour
• Full-bodied with rich dark fruit flavours
• Leather spice and herb aromas
• Medium ripe tannins with rich acidity and smoky finish
• Susceptible to various grape diseases
• Inability to survive in harsh growing conditions
• Found in British Columbia and Ontario
• Serve slightly cool for best experience
• Pair with smoky flavoured dishes and red meat