Why Malbec Day is celebrated? History Background

The story behind Malbec @ Criado Wines 

Malbec, originally from Cahors, France—as you might know (or not)—is a grape variety full of passion and rich history. Beyond its lovely and captivating black fruit palate, it carries a truly fascinating story. The Malbec Argentino label by Catena beautifully illustrates the journey of this beloved grape from France to Argentina.

Hundreds of years ago, Malbec was known as “Côt,” and it was widely consumed by aristocracy during medieval times, including in the lands that are now Ireland and the UK.

Malbec’s approachable profile—balancing fruity elegance, soft tannins, and juicy acidity—makes it a truly special wine. In southwest France, particularly in Cahors, it was famously known as “the black wine of Cahors” due to its deep, inky color.

It was favored by clergy, royalty, and nobility, becoming a significant export long before Bordeaux rose to dominate the wine trade.

Though the Romans were the first to plant it in the region, it truly gained momentum during the Middle Ages, thanks to trade routes along the Lot and Garonne rivers, which connected Cahors to Bordeaux and international markets.

To bring in a bit of medieval history: let’s talk about Eleanor of Aquitaine. Born in southwest France in 1122, she became Queen of France and later, through her marriage to Henry II in 1152, Queen of England. Eleanor was renowned for her elegance, as well as her love for viticulture and the arts. At that time, Côt was already being exported to the UK, and her marriage created a powerful political alliance that linked Cahors with the English Crown.

This union opened up massive export opportunities for wines from Bordeaux and Cahors. English merchants and nobility developed a strong taste for the bold wines of Cahors—likely including those made from Côt.

Fast forward a few centuries to the 1860s: a devastating plant disease known as phylloxera wiped out vineyards across Europe, including all of France’s Malbec vines. Luckily, adventurous grape growers like Aimé Pouget had brought Malbec rootstocks to South America before the outbreak. Under the invitation of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, then governor of the Cuyo region, Pouget helped found viticulture institutes in Santiago and later in Mendoza, planting French varietals including Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah, and more.

It turned out that the soil and climate of Mendoza were perfect for growing Malbec. Its stony, sandy soils provided excellent drainage and heat absorption, while the high altitude was a game-changer. The large diurnal temperature range (hot days and cool nights) extended the grape's ripening period, preserving key phenolic compounds like color and acidity. Combined with Mendoza’s intense sunlight and dry climate, this created a perfect environment for producing wines with both ripeness and elegance.

In the early 1900s, Italian immigrants fleeing civil wars in their homeland during the 1850s–60s arrived in Argentina. Many settled in Mendoza and discovered the outstanding potential of high-altitude vineyards, especially in the Uco Valley (1,000–1,500 meters above sea level).

Today, we’re fortunate to enjoy the remarkable results of this Italian legacy: French grape varieties transformed by Mendoza’s unique soil, snowmelt-fed water from the Andes, and abundant sunshine. This singular combination has produced world-renowned wines like Catena Zapata and Rutini, made from old vines that have been thriving since the 19th century.