The Case for South American Cabernet Sauvignon

It’s really not hard to find bottles of South American wines on our shelves in South Florida. These bottles can range in price from very economical to very pricey, with quality also running a spectrum. Depending on your experience with wines from Chile, Argentina, or even Uruguay, you may have an opinion about whether these South American brands are worth the bargain or extra bucks, or better skipped. As with any region or style of wine, it helps to know a bit more about where the bottle is coming from to understand its true value.

The two main wine producing countries in South America are Chile and Argentina, although you can find wine made all around the continent. A couple of grape varieties have quite comfortably made their home in these two places and become almost synonymous with South American wines exported around the world. Chile is home to the herbaceous and peppery carménère, while Argentina is known worldwide for its plump and silky malbec. However, these two grapes do not paint the whole picture of quality wines from either of these places.

There are many grapes, both red and white, that grow quite well on either side of the Andes. One of these grapes is the crowd-pleasing and internationally renowned cabernet sauvignon.

Cabernet in Chile

Cabernet sauvignon is actually the most planted grape in Chile, white or red, and there are more than 99,000 acres planted to this variety alone. These vineyards stretch from the north to midway down the coast covering over 900 miles, but most of the vineyard sites are located in the Central Valley, which starts just south of Santiago. Chilean cabernet sauvignon can vary in style from lighter and fruitier to darker and more herbaceous depending on the region where it is grown. Just like other wine producing areas around the world, the exact place where the vines are planted can have an impact on the characteristics of the wine in the bottle.

Common regions that you will notice on labels around South Florida include the Maipo Valley or Colchagua Valley, as these are two of the main sub regions within the Central Valley where cabernet grows well.

The Miguel Torres Reserva Especial Cordillera Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 ($20) is an example of a 100% cabernet from the Maipo Valley grown around 2,600 feet at the foot of the mountains. In this part of the valley, the shift between warm days and cool nights is significant. This wine shows lots of red fruit aromas with a touch of spice on the nose. It is juicy on the palate with fine tannins, balanced acidity, and a touch of that pepper on the finish.

Over in the Colchagua Valley at around 460 feet and closer to the sea are the vineyards for Los Vascos “Cromas” Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 ($22). Here, the vines sit on gentle slopes, and mild sea breezes accompany very warm days. This wine has some characteristics of peppery smokey meats along with red fruit aromas. The body is fuller (the wine also has 10% syrah and 5% carménère), with heavier tannins and a moodier but elegant and fruity finish. Perfect for pairing with smoked meats and BBQ.

Cabernet in Argentina

You may be used to grabbing that bottle of malbec from Mendoza, but don’t overlook the cabernet from this area. Mendoza is the wine producing region in Argentina that overwhelmingly dominates shelves and wine lists. This region is characterized by very warm, high-altitude desert flanked by the Andes Mountains to the west. Rain is scarce and sunshine is plentiful, leading to a juicy ripeness that wines from this region are known for around the world.

Bodega Catena Zapata is one of the pioneering wineries in this region and in Argentina as a whole. Founded in 1902 by Nicola Catena from Italy, Catena Zapata is still family-owned four generations later. While this iconic winery produces internationally acclaimed malbec, they are also known for their old world-style cabernet.

The Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 ($55) is made from historic rows of vines with high-altitude grapes grown in three different sites located in the sub regions of Luján de Cuyo (3,116 ft), Tupungato, Valle de Uco (3,674 ft), and Altamira, Valle de Uco (3,592 ft). The wine displays fruit characteristics of both red (ripe raspberries) and black fruit, with a full body, smooth, integrated tannins, a touch of cedar, adding to an elegant structure that is a signature of the brand.

Fourth-generation Catena family member, Ernesto Catena, has forged his own way with his certified organic grapes, biodynamic farming, artistry, and inspiration from ancient Incan practices. His winery, Siesta En El Tahuantinsuyu produces a 100% cabernet sauvignon from similar high-altitude vineyards in Mendoza. The 2012 ($35) is aromatic and full-bodied, with flavors of raspberry and cherry jam, plums, and vanilla. It’s rich and complex and completely ready to drink now. Think about adding this bottle to your next “big red” wine night, which will now surely include South American cabernet sauvignon.