Mendoza is Argentina's premier wine region, located in the foothills of the Andes Mountains and producing about 70% of the country's wine. The region's high altitude, desert climate, and dramatic day-night temperature swings create ideal conditions for grape growing, with irrigation provided by snowmelt from the Andes. Mendoza is world-famous for its Malbec, a grape that originated in France but found its perfect expression in this terroir, producing wines with deep color, rich fruit flavors, and velvety tannins. The region includes several sub-areas like Luján de Cuyo and the high-altitude Uco Valley, each contributing distinct characteristics to the wines. Beyond Malbec, Mendoza also produces excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and increasingly impressive white wines like Torrontés and Chardonnay. The wines are known for their bold, fruit-forward character with good structure, representing a transformation from bulk production to premium quality that has earned international recognition.

A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.