wine of the week: alamos malbec

Welcome to our first installment of Wine of the Week, a new series I am kicking off simply because I love wine. Lots of wine.

If you follow Sassy Moms on Facebook you’ve probably noticed numerous ecards about wine. I can’t help myself. Wine is just good stuff.

My hubs might call me a wine snob, I know just enough to be annoying, but I really am passionate. I’ve been drinking wine for years, my family loves wine – hey we’re Catholic – I’ve been around wine my entire life. It wasn’t until visiting vineyards and traveling through Europe that I truly came to appreciate the essence of wine. 

When you meet the person or people who harvested the grapes and crafted the beverage you’re sharing with friends, it takes on an entirely new experience.

Wine of the Week is all about sharing my love of wine and tips I’ve learned along the way that make purchasing, ordering and consuming less intimidating.

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So let’s get the party started!

This week’s wine is Alamos Malbec from Argentina. I’m obsessed with Malbecs at the moment because they are super easy to drink, smooth and reasonably priced.  They pair with just about anything. I personally think you can drink red or white and not worry about what’s an “appropriate” pairing. Just go with what you enjoy.

The www.wine.com.  You may also recognize Alamos from restaurant wine lists. It’s pretty popular.

What is Malbec Wine? Typically a medium-to-full bodied, slightly fruity, velvety smooth red wine.  The vines were brought over to Argentina from France in the late 1800s, where it was used as one of the five grapes blended in a Bourdeaux style wine. Because of the grapes’ poor resistance to weather and pests, it never surfaced as a top French varietal. Making it’s way to Argentina via a French botanist, the grapes produced a much more rich wine with greater structure and depth that could be enjoyed on its own.

Why are Malbecs so affordable? Unlike a nice Burghundy or Barolo, Malbec doesn’t have quite as much history behind it and doesn’t come from the wealthiest of countries, so you can find some great deals. Chile, Argentina and France all produce wonderful Malbecs. Other producers are USA (California, Oregan and Washington), New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

A classically Argentine wine, the Alamos 2012 Malbec is blended with small portions of Syrah and Bonarda to meld deep dark cherry and blackberry flavors with hints of brown spice and vanilla. A long finish and firm tannins make this Malbec unforgettable.

Sassy Tip: When ordering wine at a restaurant (especially by the glass) and you don’t see anything familiar, inquire about a Malbec. It’s so popular that most restaurants have at least one on their menu. Always ask for a taste before ordering a full glass.

Do you love Malbecs as much as I do? We’d love to learn about your favorite wine. Comment below and we may just feature you and your wine on Wine of the Week.