Originally from Bordeaux region of southern France, a zone known as the birthplace of the world’s great red wines, the Malbec variety is known for its intense cherry-red color, sweet, friendly tannins, and pronounced notes of fruits and spices, characteristics that earn it more and more fans every day.
Although Malbec is most often associated with Argentina, it is also very successfully grown Chile, and California as well. Viña Viu Manent, located in the heart of the Colchagua Valley – Chile, was a pioneer in producing Malbec in Chile when it began 20 years ago. In 1993 this family-owned and operated winery made Chile’s first 100% Malbec wine from grapes grown on vines that were nearly a century old.
Versatile is clearly the adjective that best defines this variety because it is the perfect companion for everything from red meats such as boar and lamb to grilled meats, hard cheeses, pastas with tomato sauce, and even fish.
Malbec is an intense red in color with a bluish-violet hue. Its aromas evoke forest fruits and cherries, and the palate offers very soft, round tannins and notes of vanilla and chocolate. It is best served at 16º–17ºC (60º–63ºF).
The Chilean winery Viu Manent has earned great prestige worldwide for its Malbec, which was highly praised in the International Malbec Competition held in France in 2010, where it won 4 gold medals and the “Best Wine of the Southern Hemisphere” award for its Viu Manent Single Vineyard Malbec.
The winery’s portfolio includes eight different Malbecs to provide consumers with many options according to their food pairing, occasion, and price-quality parameters: Estate Collection Malbec Rosé, Reserva Malbec, Gran Reserva Malbec, Secreto Malbec, Single Vineyard Malbec, ViBo Viñedo Centenario (blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec), ViBo Malbec (made in Mendoza, Argentina), and its icon Viu 1.