South America’s oldest DOC, Luján de Cuyo, will make its case to the London trade next week, with a session split between terroir evaluation and commercially significant wines.
Next Monday (11 May) marks a significant moment for Argentine wine in the UK, as Luján de Cuyo DOC hosts its first masterclass for the British wine trade. Chaired by Tim Atkin MW at the Institute of Masters of Wine, it will showcase the highly-regarded appellation’s wines, with four of its key figures providing commentary.
Luján de Cuyo DOC is not just significant for its reputation of quality. Founded in 1990, the voluntary association was the first of its kind in South America. Its founding principle was to protect high-altitude Malbec vineyards, which at that time were on the decline, and so it transposed the European-style regulations to Mendoza’s terroir.
Its regulations have made it a highly prized area for Malbec. Among them is the clearly delimited area, sitting between 800 and 1100 metres in elevation; its stipulation of at least 85% Malbec; and its requirement of 18 months ageing (at least six of which are in oak).
“Long before the global Argentinian export boom, a group of visionary wine producers in Mendoza sought to protect and codify the identity of their most precious asset: the Malbec,” explains Robert de la Mota of Mendel Wines. “Today, as Argentina explores a vast diversity of terroirs, this DOC stands as a cornerstone of quality, preserving the classic, elegant profile that first brought Argentine Malbec to world fame.”
Into the detail
Atkin is a well-known figure in the UK drinks trade, with more than 40 years of experience writing about wine. Pertinently, he has written twelve annual Argentina Special Reports, surveying the country through its wines and, in most years, a fact-finding visit.
He will be joined by four of Luján de Cuyo’s most significant international advocates: Martin Kaiser (director of viticulture and winemaking at Doña Paula), Pablo Cuneo (winemaker at Luigi Bosca), Cristian Linares (viticulturalist at Trivento) and Angelina Altieri (viticulturalist at Altieri Wines – Vinorum).
In the first part of the masterclass, attendees will discover the granular detail of Luján de Cuyo DOC terroirs. Explained using barrel samples from specific sites, it will hone in on Luján de Cuyo DOC’s sub-appellations, highlighting a trend towards specificity that recently saw district names permitted on DOC labels for the first time.
The tasting will then turn to commercially significant wines from a selection of wineries. Within that discussion, the experts will weigh in on Luján de Cuyo’s stylistic and structural hallmarks, as well as the all-important question of ageworthiness.
The tasting offers a rare opportunity to quiz experts in the field on the increasingly renowned DOC. In recent years, several new producers have joined, swelling the ranks to more than 20 and highlighting its commercial importance.
“With many wineries currently showing interest in joining, the Luján de Cuyo DOC is not just a tribute to history,” summarises Linares, “but a dynamic force shaping the future of premium Argentine wine.”
A Masterclass on the Origin of Argentine Malbec takes place from 10:30am – 12:30pm on Monday 11 May at the Institute of Masters of Wine, 6 Riverlight Quay, London SW11 8EA.
This event is for the wine trade only. For more information or to register to attend, please email [email protected].
Discover more by following Luján de Cuyo DOC on Instagram or on Linkedin.
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