3 Argentine vineyards are among the 10 best in the world.
How does it benefit the Argentine bulk wine market?
On Wednesday, July 12, at an event held in La Rioja, Spain, the 50 best vineyards in the world were announced. The list is compiled each year by William Reed, a British company also known for its rankings of the 50 best bars and restaurants.
On this year’s list, he highlighted the strong presence of South America, with six vineyards in the top ten. (3 for Argentina, 2 for Chile, 1 for Uruguay)
On this occasion, the Catena Zapata Winery located in the town of Luján de Cuyo (Mendoza, Argentina) has been considered the Best Vineyard in the World 2023. Two other Argentine wineries, Bodegas Salentein and El Enemigo Wines, occupied positions nine and ten, respectively.
This has been another step in the right direction, since the country has been at the top of the ladder for several years, and not always with the same representatives (in 2020 and 2021, the first prize went to Zuccardi).
The question that makes us reflect is the following:
Does this ranking benefit the Argentine bulk?
From our point of view, the answer is a resounding yes. Numerous factors, some of them positive (strong investment, vision of the future and great terroir), others negative (Argentina’s dizzying economy, which makes it difficult to plan businesses with competitive prices), have positioned the country in a price/quality segment, that we could define as medium and high.
Accompanying this process, Argentina in general, and Mendoza in particular, have developed a tourist scene of visits, restaurants, and experiences that strengthen the country’s image as a supplier of high-value wines.
Courtesy: Municipality of the City of Mendoza.
We all know that the bulk varietal wine business also involves the development of private brands, many of which seek to position themselves over time. It accompanies as a tailwind that the Argentine brand has intrinsic value so that they do not enter the price battle, at least in its lowest echelon.
For this reason we believe that, yes, the premiumization of Argentine wine will favor the development of bulk wine. In this, the model of highly qualified wineries and that of companies that export varietal wine in bulk go hand in hand.
Courtesy: vinomanos.com /
Lost Valley Argentina – Editorial 2023 *