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Mendoza

Argentina

Mendoza

SaltaSaltaSan JuanSan JuanPatagoniaPatagoniaMendozaMendoza

Argentina wine regions

About Mendoza

Argentina's wine heartland sits in the rain shadow of the Andes, a high desert where vineyards climb from 650 to over 1,500 metres and snowmelt feeds irrigation canals older than the country itself. Malbec, brought from France in 1853, became something entirely new here: dark, plush, violet-scented, with the freshness that only altitude brings. Luján de Cuyo's century-old vines and the Uco Valley's stony high-altitude sites give the region two distinct faces, one velvety and generous, the other taut and mineral. Producers like Catena Zapata, Zuccardi, and Achaval-Ferrer turned a workhorse province into one of the world's great wine destinations.

Vintages

36 · 1990–2025

Rating:
95+
90-94
85-89
80-84
<80
PeakReadyHold
Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990
Red

Outstanding Mendoza Vintages

The best recent vintages rated excellent or exceptional.

Red

2025

Almost ready
92Excellent

A vintage of two halves that finished strong: deeply colored, aromatic reds with a good acid line and above-average balance. The best Malbecs pair power with freshness.

2027Peak 2029–20382042

2024

Ready
93Excellent

High quality reminiscent of the extraordinary 2021 vintage. Well-balanced wines from slow ripening, with good acidity retention.

2026Peak 2028–20362040

2023

Ready
91Excellent

Classic year for Mendoza Malbec with smooth tannins and fresh natural acid. Among the most ageworthy wines in years.

2025Peak 2028–20402045

2021

At peak
95Exceptional

Exceptional vintage, possibly the grandest in recent memory. Cool year accentuating finesse, freshness, and elegance.

2023Peak 2026–20382042

2020

At peak
93Excellent

Hot, dry, and early vintage. Many outstanding Malbecs showed better natural freshness than expected.

2022Peak 2025–20322035

2019

At peak
94Excellent

Tim Atkin called it the "best I've tasted" from Argentina in nearly 30 years. Modest alcohol with fresh acidity.

2021Peak 2025–20382042

2018

At peak
94Excellent

Classic vintage, good for both value and collectible wines. Incredibly ripe, healthy fruit across all varietals.

2020Peak 2024–20352038

2017

At peak
95Exceptional

Low yields but excellent quality. Impressive concentration of tannins and very intense colour.

2019Peak 2023–20342037

2016

At peak
91Excellent

Reduced harvest, unlikely to be remembered as a great year overall, but some truly superb individual wines. Fresher, more cellar-worthy wines with slightly reduced temperatures.

2018Peak 2022–20322034

2015

At peak
93Excellent

Called "el ano Bordelais" for its cool summer and early autumn rains. Low alcohols and high acidities.

2017Peak 2020–20302032

2013

At peak
92Excellent

Exceptional quality after three years of low yields. Average crop size returned.

2015Peak 2019–20302035

2012

At peak
91Excellent

All about low yields and resulting depth and concentration. Deep, concentrated wines.

2014Peak 2018–20282032

2011

At peak
93Excellent

Great vintage due to the long growing season. Coolest growing season of the decade.

2013Peak 2017–20282032

2010

Drink up
94Excellent

Cool and dry vintage. Slightly reduced alcohol levels and fresher acidity than average.

2012Peak 2016–20252028

2009

At peak
92Excellent

One of the best vintages of the decade. Healthy, dry, and abundant harvest.

2011Peak 2015–20272030

2007

Past window
90Excellent

Underpowered vintage. Excessive heat led to below-optimal freshness.

2009Peak 2013–20212024

2006

Drink up
95Exceptional

Very good to outstanding. Warm vintage producing rich, powerful reds.

2008Peak 2012–20222026

2005

Past window
96Exceptional

Regular to good quality from a cool vintage.

2007Peak 2011–20192022

2002

Past window
92Excellent

Very good to outstanding vintage. Strong quality across all sub-regions.

2004Peak 2008–20182022

Zones, Departments & GIs

Classification System

Argentina uses a DOC and GI system, with Mendoza pioneering altitude-based classification. High-elevation vineyards (above 1,000m) produce the most concentrated wines.

Single Vineyard

Named vineyard site, often high altitude

Sub-region

Specific area like Luján de Cuyo or Uco Valley

DOC / GI

Controlled designation of origin

What Mendoza produces

Red

Malbec at altitude, from juicy and generous to profound and age-worthy.

White

High-altitude Chardonnay and Semillon with real tension from the Uco Valley's cooler sites.

Regional appellations

IG Mendoza

The province-wide designation behind roughly seven of every ten Argentine wines. It lets producers blend across zones, from warm Este fruit to high Uco structure, and is the workhorse label of Malbec worldwide.

Grapes of Mendoza

Chardonnay

Body
Sweetness
Acidity
green applelemonpearnectarine

High-altitude sites like Gualtallary and Tupungato give taut, saline Chardonnay with real mountain freshness.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
blackcurrantgreen bell peppermintcedar

Structured, cassis-driven Cabernet with fine dusty tannins, often at its best from high Uco sites or blended with Malbec.

Bonarda

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
red plumblack cherryraspberryviolet

Old vines in Mendoza's warm Este give juicy, deep-colored reds with soft tannins, the everyday heart of Argentine wine.

Malbec

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
blackberryplumblack cherryviolet

High-altitude Malbec at its plushest. Luján de Cuyo brings ripe blackberry, plum, and graphite; the Uco Valley adds violet, floral lift, and bracing acidity from cooler nights.

Climate

ContinentalHigh altitudeDesert-dryCool nightsIntense sunlight

High-desert continental climate moderated entirely by altitude. Over 300 days of sunshine, less than 250 mm of rain a year, and day-night temperature swings of 15C or more that ripen fruit fully while keeping acidity fresh. Summer hail is the grower's main fear, and dry years depend on Andean snowpack for irrigation.

Terroir

Alluvial soilsGravelSandy loamCalcareous calicheRiver terraces

Alluvial fans washed down from the Andes: sand and gravel over clay in the older zones near the city, and poorer, stonier ground higher up. The Uco Valley's soils are laced with caliche, a calcium carbonate crust that gives wines from Gualtallary and Paraje Altamira their chalky, saline grip. Rivers born in the mountains, the Mendoza and the Tunuyán, water the whole system.

Typical Aromas

blackberryplumvioletdark chocolateleatherdried herbs
Explore the aroma wheel

More in Argentina

Patagonia

Patagonia

Salta

Salta

San Juan

San Juan

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Mendoza wine special?▼
Mendoza's magic comes from its high-altitude vineyards sitting between 650 to over 1,500 meters in the Andes' rain shadow. This creates incredible diurnal temperature variation - hot days and cool nights - which gives the wines intense concentration and balanced acidity. Plus, Malbec found its true home here, producing wines that are more expressive and powerful than anything it ever achieved in its original Bordeaux birthplace.
What are the best Mendoza vintages?▼
2021 and 2019 are absolutely stellar - both rated 5/5 with 2019 being called the best in nearly 30 years by Tim Atkin. The recent trio of 2022, 2023, and 2024 are all excellent too, each scoring 4/5. 2021 was a cool year that really brought out elegance and complexity, while 2019 delivered exceptional concentration and balance.
What grapes are grown in Mendoza?▼
Malbec is absolutely the king here - it's what put Mendoza on the world wine map. While other varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and some whites are grown, Malbec is really what defines the region. This French grape variety completely transformed when it arrived in Argentina, becoming much more expressive and structured than it ever was in Bordeaux.
Is 2024 a good year for Mendoza?▼
Yes, 2024 is quite good - it's rated 4/5 and described as high quality reminiscent of the exceptional 2021 vintage. The wines show excellent balance, which is exactly what you want from Mendoza Malbec. While not quite reaching the legendary status of 2019 or 2021, it's still a very solid vintage worth buying.
When should I drink Mendoza 2024?▼
Since 2024 Mendoza wines are well-balanced and reminiscent of the elegant 2021 vintage, you could start enjoying them now for their fresh fruit character. However, good Mendoza Malbecs typically age beautifully for 8-15 years, so these 2024s should drink well through the early to mid-2030s. The choice really depends on whether you prefer youthful exuberance or developed complexity.
What food pairs well with Mendoza wines?▼
Mendoza Malbec is absolutely perfect with red meat - think Argentine beef, grilled steaks, or slow-braised short ribs. The wine's robust tannins and concentrated fruit complement rich, savory flavors beautifully. Hard aged cheeses, lamb, and even dark chocolate desserts work wonderfully too, especially with the more structured examples from higher altitude vineyards.
How does Mendoza compare to other major wine regions?▼
Mendoza produces some of the New World's most distinctive wines, particularly with Malbec where it's simply unmatched globally. While regions like Napa focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and Burgundy on Pinot Noir, Mendoza has truly made Malbec its own in a way that even Bordeaux never achieved. The combination of high altitude, intense sun, and cool nights creates a unique terroir that's producing wines rivaling the world's best at often much better value.

Map data: Instituto Geográfico Nacional de la República Argentina (IGN) · GI boundaries © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)