Argentina is on my bucket list for certain! The wine in Argentina is some of my favorite, and for years I have tasted through different producers and wines. I just love the wines from this region, but there is one producer in particular that I am extremely passionate about, and that’s Bodegas Salentein!

This winery is in the heart of the Uco Valley, which is a key growing region in Mendoza. This area is home to some of the best wines, including Salentein. Here they produce terroir-driven red wines, as well as some whites. The grape varietals are mainly Malbec, however they do really grow great Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Chardonnay!

I had a fun virtual tasting a few weeks ago with the winery, and I just love their dedication to the earth and producing the highest quality wines while protecting the land, and utilizing nature for what it does best. They are at 1,200 meters above sea level, so quite high up which produces incredibly high quality, elegant wines, which you absolutely will love. I am a fan of high elevation wines, and here you can not only visit the winery with their gorgeous facility and tasting room, but they also have a small exclusive ranch surrounded by vineyards for the ultimate wine getaway!

Salentein Posada is located at the Andes Foothills, where they have a swimming pool, activities, visits to the Bodegas, and even a restaurant. It’s the perfect place to stay when you want a luxurious wine getaway. Now for the wines, like I said they produce many and I do have some favorites I recently tasted.

2018 Salentein Reserve Chardonnay: A complex wine, thats bright yellow in color and gentle on the palate. It has great acidity and notes of lees contact with a long finish. It’s really a lovely wine with appetizers and fish as well as grilled white meats.

2017 Salentein Single Vineyard, La Pampa 1997: This vineyard is 1,300 meters above sea level in the San Pablo area of the Uco Valley. A cold climate wine grown in sandy soils with some stone, this produces some of the highest quality malbec there is! This wine shows tons of black fruit, violet, great structure, spice, and a nice lingering finish. This wine is ideal with grilled meats of course, however you can also do something like short ribs, or Osso Bucco with this wine, it would stand up very nicely to a heartier, comforting dish.

2016 Salentein Numina Gran Corte: This blend is so much fun, and consists of Malbec, Cabernet Sauv and Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It’s a complex and layered wine that opens up beautifully. This is a great decanting wine too! The nose has lots of tobacco and cassis, with notes of vanilla and toastiness. It’s intense with a full body and bold mouthfeel, and is great with Creamy Polenta and Mushrooms, Filet Mignon, Dry Rubbed Ribs, and more. I even like this wine served through dinner and it can easily stand up to a cheese course after a meal.

When it comes to Salentein, I am a big fan of many of their wines, including the standard Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines really stood out to me during the tasting and I think you would absolutely love them. Wines of Argentina are super high in quality and still within great price points, so it’s great to buy them because you’re getting really great wines.

Always remember, eat what you like and drink what you love. Please pair responsibly.