Argentina introduces high quality, affordable wines
These are great and exciting times for Indonesian wine drinkers with the entrance of new players and brands into the local wine market.
Ten years ago, Indonesian wine drinkers’ options were limited to Australian Shiraz or Bordeaux and Sauvignon from France. These limited options also made wine prices quiet high and only affordable for people with deep pockets.
However, the emergence of South American wines in recent years has brought a new excitement to the market and consumers. More options are now available and wine has become more and more affordable.
Wine expert Yohan Handoyo said at a recent wine tasting event in Jakarta that the emergence of South American wines also offered something refreshing for seasoned drinkers.
“People get tired drinking the same wine over and over again. People want to try something new,” Yohan said.
One of the latest South American varieties that has decided to plunge into the Indonesian wine market is Malbec from Argentina.
The Malbec variety was originally cultivated in the southwest of France thousands of years ago. The resulting wines, named “from Cahors” after their region, have enjoyed increasing recognition since the time of the Roman Empire. Their prestige was consolidated in the Middle Ages and they have gained full recognition in modern times.
When a phylloxera aphid blight destroyed French viticulture toward the end of the 19th century, the Malbec almost fell into oblivion. However, a culture of appreciation for Malbec had already been formed, which laid the foundations for the development of Argentine Malbec sometime later.
Ten years ago, Indonesian wine drinkers’ options were limited to Australian Shiraz or Bordeaux and Sauvignon from France. These limited options also made wine prices quiet high and only affordable for people with deep pockets.
However, the emergence of South American wines in recent years has brought a new excitement to the market and consumers. More options are now available and wine has become more and more affordable.
Wine expert Yohan Handoyo said at a recent wine tasting event in Jakarta that the emergence of South American wines also offered something refreshing for seasoned drinkers.
“People get tired drinking the same wine over and over again. People want to try something new,” Yohan said.
One of the latest South American varieties that has decided to plunge into the Indonesian wine market is Malbec from Argentina.
The Malbec variety was originally cultivated in the southwest of France thousands of years ago. The resulting wines, named “from Cahors” after their region, have enjoyed increasing recognition since the time of the Roman Empire. Their prestige was consolidated in the Middle Ages and they have gained full recognition in modern times.
When a phylloxera aphid blight destroyed French viticulture toward the end of the 19th century, the Malbec almost fell into oblivion. However, a culture of appreciation for Malbec had already been formed, which laid the foundations for the development of Argentine Malbec sometime later.
Malbec was then brought to Argentina from France in 1853 by Michel Aimé Pouget, a French agronomist who was hired by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, an Argentinian politician who later became the seventh president of the country, to run the Quinta Agronómica de Mendoza.
Yohan, who recently visited Argentina to see the country’s wine industry, said that despite the fact that the Malbec grape variety originated from France, the particular variety developed in Argentina had special and one-of-a-kind characteristics that were molded through the unique nature of Argentinian vineyards.
“What I find interesting about Argentinian wine is the quality of the grapes. They are very healthy and are absolutely amazing. A lot of wine producers in Argentina use very little pesticide in growing their grapes and the water they use is natural pristine water coming from the melting ice of Mount Andes,” he said.
In addition, Yohan said that Argentinian vineyards grew their grapes at higher altitudes compared to those in Europe or other Western wine-producing countries.
“In Europe, the highest peak for a vineyard is at 900 meters above sea level. In Argentina, the altitude is between 600 meters and 3,000 meters above sea level. The higher a vineyard is in Argentina, the better prestige and reputation it has for its wines,” Yohan said.
“What happens to grapes that are being grown at such high altitude? They will receive high exposure of ultraviolet that, in a way, makes them mutate. They will produce a lot of anthocyanin, a substance that will give that reddish color to grapes and function to prevent them from sunburn.”
“The anthocyanin is also responsible for giving stronger flavor to the grapes. So, wine products from Argentina have a very beautiful and dark color along with a very strong and highly concentrated flavor in every sip.”
Yohan, who recently visited Argentina to see the country’s wine industry, said that despite the fact that the Malbec grape variety originated from France, the particular variety developed in Argentina had special and one-of-a-kind characteristics that were molded through the unique nature of Argentinian vineyards.
“What I find interesting about Argentinian wine is the quality of the grapes. They are very healthy and are absolutely amazing. A lot of wine producers in Argentina use very little pesticide in growing their grapes and the water they use is natural pristine water coming from the melting ice of Mount Andes,” he said.
In addition, Yohan said that Argentinian vineyards grew their grapes at higher altitudes compared to those in Europe or other Western wine-producing countries.
“In Europe, the highest peak for a vineyard is at 900 meters above sea level. In Argentina, the altitude is between 600 meters and 3,000 meters above sea level. The higher a vineyard is in Argentina, the better prestige and reputation it has for its wines,” Yohan said.
“What happens to grapes that are being grown at such high altitude? They will receive high exposure of ultraviolet that, in a way, makes them mutate. They will produce a lot of anthocyanin, a substance that will give that reddish color to grapes and function to prevent them from sunburn.”
“The anthocyanin is also responsible for giving stronger flavor to the grapes. So, wine products from Argentina have a very beautiful and dark color along with a very strong and highly concentrated flavor in every sip.”
