Holiday Cheer! Our (Informal and Subjective) Wine Guide for Toasting this Season

Ah, the holiday season is upon us - time to deck the halls and bring out the holiday cheer. Wine is the primary choice of 'cheer' here in Argentina, so we thought we'd add our two pesos on brands to try and buy while visiting this part of the New World. (Note: this is a fully subjective list!)

Inspira was quite happy to see a recent November Wine Spectator article that recognized Malbec as an emerging grape in the wine industry, but also noted Argentina's other rising stars, such as the reds Bonarda (considered by many wine experts to follow Malbec as Argentina's next big boom) and Pinot Noir as well as the white, fruity Torrontes (a Salta specialty, and perfect for the area's arid clime). We suggest branching out beyond Malbec (if only to say you did), though if taking bottles home, you may want to stick with this forerunner.

But back to our brands. For "Best Buys at Argentine Supermarkets" - great for purchase and taste in your apartment or hotel room with some cheese - we like Colome's Amalaya (around US $10), Norton (around US $7) and Quara (around US $5!). Under "Restaurant Values," to accompany some great tenderloins at an Argentine parrilla, try the classic brands Salentein, Rutini, or Luigi Bosca or even slightly lower-priced wines from Escorihuela Gascon or Trapiche. To "Impress the Folks Back Home," experts count the Renacer Punto Final Malbec 2006 among the highest scorers (see Wine Spectator or Wine Enthusiastic). We also happen to like wines from powerhouse producers Catena and Achaval Ferrer; the "restaurant value" brands are also good bets.

Salud! and much holiday cheer from the team here at Inspira Travel.....