P15

Patagonia

The southernmost tip of Argentina is perfecto for growing cool-climate grapes. Patagonia's altitude, arid conditions and Antarctic influence result in wines with uniquely intense color and flavor. Pinot Noir is the standout variety, creating vibrant wines with glorious red fruit characters. Argentina's ever-reliable Malbec is a stalwart here, too, channeling the long, slow ripening season into gloriously bold yet elegant wines. But it was the early European-style Rieslings and Cabernet Sauvignons from the Rio Negro and Neuquen area in the north that initially put Patagonia on the wine map. These unspoiled valleys with their mineral-rich rivers produce wines as distinctive as the unique terroir that creates them.