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Argentina
 Historically Argentina has often been referred to as the ‘sleeping-giant’ of the global wine-industry. The country, one of the worlds top five largest wine producing nations, never seemed to be able to fulfil the enormous potential it had at its disposal, especially when you consider the success enjoyed by its close neighbour Chile; and other smaller wine producing nations including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. This however never really bothered the local wine producers, as nearly all production was satisfying their own domestic thirst; that was until recently!
Unfortunately for the wine producers of Argentina traditions were changing. The younger generation of Argentineans began turning their back on wine, opting instead for apparently more fashionable drinks; as a result domestic wine consumption dropped by nearly half and subsequently had a devastating effect on the wine industry in Argentina. Winemakers who had traditionally been more interested in high volume low quality table wines (to satisfy the domestic palate), had to shift their wine production focus to high quality ‘fine wines’ if they were to capitalise on the growing demand offered by the international markets and survive.
Significantly, over the past decade substantial investment aimed at improving quality has been made and the country - having suffered years of military rule and dictatorship - has now welcomed advice and investment from outside the country resulting in a whole new quality of Argentinean wine, the results of which are now really starting to pay off.
Due to the high altitude and low humidity of the main wine producing regions, Argentine vineyards rarely face the problems of insects, fungi, moulds and other diseases that affect grapes in other countries; this permits cultivating with little or no pesticides. By far the best- known region in Argentina is that of Mendoza, which has more than 150,000 hectares of vineyards producing a wide range of wine styles.
It is the Malbec grape which now seems to have captured the imagination of wine-drinkers throughout the world and has staked its claim as Argentina’s flagship variety. However, there are other varieties one should not overlook - particularly those of Bonarda and Cabernet Sauvignon.
If you would like to find out more about Argentinean wine why not explore the Wines of`Argentina website. You can find out more about the wine regions, wine varieties, wineries, and wine routes, plus a whole host of additional facts and information.
The Hic! range of wines from Argentina includes some super styles fromValentin Bianchi, Bodegas Santa Ana and the outstanding Clos de Los Siete estate.
All our wines are available to buy online for delivery direct to your home or work.
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| Bodegas Santa Ana Reserve Malbec 2007 - Mendoza, Argentina |
| Bin No. SANTARM07 |
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Price: £9.00
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| In making this Reserve Malbec red wine, the team at Bodegas Santa Ana hand selected bunches of grapes, picked from superior quality vineyards within the Bodegas Santa Ana estate in Cuyo, Mendoza.
After de-stemming, the bunches are crushed and the juice is fermented with extended skin contact, beginning in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature and finishing in French barrique, a proportion of which are new. The wine is bottled afte .. |
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| Bodegas Santa Ana Reserve Viognier 2007 - Mendoza, Argentina |
| Bin No. SANTARV07 |
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Price: £9.00
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| The wine-making team at Santa Ana hand selected bunches of Viognier grapes, picked from superior quality vineyards within the Bodegas Santa Ana estate in Cuyo, Mendoza.
At the winery - after de-stemming - the bunches are crushed and chilled, then the juice is allowed a short skin contact before racking off the gross lees and fermenting in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature.
Ageing of this white wine is in French barrique (a .. |
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| Clos de los Siete 2006 - Mendoza, Argentina |
| Bin No. SIETE06 |
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Price: £13.00
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| Due to the very arid climate which prevents the development of grapevine diseases, the wine growers at Clos de los Siete are lucky enough to not have to use pesticides in their vineyards allowing the grapes to grow and develop truly as nature intended.
All the grapes at Clos de los Siete are harvested by hand (as one would expect from the great chateaux owners of France), and then hand sorted before the winemaking process. This is a great part .. |
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View full details
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| Colomé Amalaya 2008 - Argentina |
| Bin No. AMALAYA08 |
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Price: £7.50
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| The Amalaya Malbec is a red wine produced from vineyards at Colomé situated between 1700 and 2500 metres above sea level. In the vineyards drip irrigation is used and all the grapes are harvested by hand with yields kept to 7 tonnes per hectare.
At the winery 75% of the grape juice underwent malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, while the remaining 25% was fermented in French oak barrels. After fermentation has completed 30% of the .. |
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| Colomé Estate Malbec 2007 - Argentina |
| Bin No. COLOME07 |
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Price: £13.50
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| Colomé's vineyards are the highest in the world, ranging from an altitude of 2200 to 3002 metres. The Colomé Estate Malbec is a red wine composed of Malbec (85%), Cabernet Sauvignon (7%) and Tannat (8%).
Grapes for a proportion of the Colomé Estate Malbec come from vines that are 90 to 150 years old - pre-phylloxera French vines!
The wine has been aged for 18 months in French oak barrels and then a further 6 months in bottle prior to its re .. |
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| Colomé Torrontes 2008 - Argentina |
| Bin No. COLOMETO08 |
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Price: £7.50
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| The Torrontes grape has been labelled by many as Argentina's signature white wine variety; however, in my experience the examples offered up by various producers of this native grape have been somewhat disappointing, often thin, insipid and rather lacklustre!
Thankfully, the Colomé Torrontes is a breath of fresh air in comparison. Situated at over 2000 metres above sea level the Torrontes grapes are all hand harvested by hand and yields per he .. |
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| La Mascota Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - Santa Ana, Argentina |
| Bin No. MASCOTCS07 |
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Price: £10.75
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| The La Mascota Cabernet Sauvignon, made by Bodegas Santa Ana, was awarded the Gold Trophy for Best Argentinean Cabernet Sauvignon at the Argentina Wine Awards, March 2007.
The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for this excellent red wine are whole bunch selected for ripeness, and then hand harvested before de-stemming and gentle crushing. Both fermentation and maceration takes place in stainless steel tanks for a minimum of 25, thereafter the wine is .. |
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| Valentin Bianchi Enzo 2003 - San Rafael, Argentina |
| Bin No. VBENZO03 |
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Price: £106.50
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Price per case: £106.50
Bottles per case: 6 x 75cl
Bottle Price: £17.75
The Valentin Bianchi Enzo is named after the founder's son, and is made from a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Malbec grapes.
This is one of the most impressive wines made in South America: still young, it has superb colour, a fresh, youthful nos .. |
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