Rugged, remote and strikingly beautiful, Patagonia offers an abundance of opportunity and delight for the adventurous traveller. The region’s wines are proving to be as breathtaking as its glaciers and jagged mountains. Winemaking began in Patagonia in the late 1800s. The region was dominated by family farms until very recently, when winemakers, hungry for new and authoritative expressions, began to explore this final frontier of Argentine winemaking in earnest. The region has a diverse topography, including mountains, steppes, forests and deserts. Prevailing cool winds and long hours of sunshine encourage grapes with thicker skins, which translates to impressive flavour concentration, while cool temperatures ensure that the grapes retain a high natural acidity. The extreme conditions favour grapes with relatively short ripening periods. This can be a challenge for Cabernet, which has to be carefully managed, but Pinot Noir, Malbec and Merlot thrive here, as do Chardonnay and Semillon. Both red and white wines are defined by their bright fruit and notable freshness.
