First of all, let me explain how you kiss someone when you are greeting them (or saying goodbye). Here in Argentina, you touch your right cheek to their right cheek, and make a kissing sound. Done. If it is someone that you are really close to, such as a good friend or family member, you may actually kiss their right cheek with your lips. It is up to you.

In Argentina, it is usually just a kiss and not a hug, unless you haven´t seen the person for a long time, at which time you may do both. So what do you do with your hands? The most common would be to put your right hand on their right shoulder, and leave your left hand by your side, but you can do whatever you want.

Do men kiss to greet each other?
Absolutely. Although it is more acceptable to shake a man´s hand than a woman´s, it is common for male friends and co-workers to greet with a kiss. The kiss is done the same way, cheek to cheek.

Do you kiss when you meet someone for the first time?
If it is a girl, then you should always give them a kiss. If it is a guy being introduced to you by another friend, and you are a guy, you can do either or. Sometimes an Argentine will shake your hand, sometimes they will give you a kiss. The easiest thing to do is let them make the first move.; however, giving a kiss is safer, and will never be considered wrong. If you see them a second time, it is better to greet them with a kiss. If it is just a random guy, then you would just shake hands.

Do you kiss your roommates when you leave, and again when you come back? How about in the morning?
Argentines tend to kiss more than most Latin cultures, and if you are living with them, expect to kiss when leaving, when coming back, in the morning, and at night. Try to follow their lead, but this is likely how it will be.

Your teacher?
This depends on what type of teacher. For school or university, this is not all that common, although it always depends. Some may greet their teachers with a kiss if they are very close. For other types of teachers, such as a Spanish teacher, Yoga teacher, Tennis teacher, whoever, it is common to greet and say goodbye with a kiss, though you don´t have to. If you are an English teacher, all of your students will often come and kiss you, especially after the class, even if you are male and they are male.

You boss and co-workers?
This varies a lot depending on the company you work for, whether it is small or big, and whether it is formal or informal. When you first meet them, you usually shake hands. Afterwards, it is not uncommon to greet your boss with a kiss, especially if it is a boss that you spend the whole day with. The same goes for co-workers. It is common to greet and say good-bye with a kiss, but is not always necessary.

You’re going for an interview, do you kiss the interviewer?
This would depend. Let them make the first move, because it could go either way. If they are female, expect a kiss, though they may shake hands. If they are male, and you are female, it could be either. If they are male, and you are male, they will most likely shake your hand.

Meeting someone´s family?
This can be tricky. If you are a girl, it´s easy; you would greet everyone with a kiss. If you are male, you would greet older males (think fathers and grandfathers) by shaking their hand. Younger males, females, and kids you would greet with a kiss.

There are no black and white rules, so until you start to feel comfortable, try to let the other person make the first move. In most cases, if you make a mistake, they will understand you are from a different culture and will not take offense. It is likely that at some point, you will go to shake someone´s hand, and they will go to kiss you, or vice versa. This is common, and nothing to worry about. Try to learn the Latin style greeting, it is a very warm way to greet people, and is really nice once you get used to it.

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Argentina is the home of many famous music artists, and to get a true taste of Argentine culture, you should become familiar with the music. It helps you learn about Argentina, Argentines, and it will certainly help you improve your Spanish!  Buenos Aires is a great place to see some of these famous artists live, so you should keep an eye out for who is playing while you’re here. Some of the smaller artists play regularly in Buenos Aires, and the concerts are usually pretty cheap.

Below is a list of some of the more famous artists, and I have included one album and one song from that album that I recommend you look for, to give you an idea of what each group is like. I have broken down each section into types of music, and have included some of the best and most popular groups for Argentine Rock, Reggae, Ska, and Folk. Tango is also important in Buenos Aires, but I will touch on this in another section.

**There are tons of great artists from Argentina, new and old. Instead of trying to name them all, the idea is to give you a taste of the music available in Argentina. Hopefully this will help you find some music you like. If you think there is an Argentine artist that can´t be left out, write me a comment and I will consider adding them.**

Rock
Argentina is famous in South America for their rock, which has become a genre in itself (Argentine Rock). Below are some of the most famous rock artists/groups in Argentina in the last 25 years.

Artist/Group: Fito Paez – Very famous Argentine singer. He sings a softer, pop style of rock.
Recommended Album: Amor Después del Amor
Recommended Song: Brillante Sobre El Mic

Artist/Group: Soda Stereo – This group could be considered the epidemy of Argentine rock. It’s a much harder rock than Fito Paez.
Recommended Album: Me Verás Volver (selection of hits)
Recommended Song: De Musica Ligera, super famous song.


Artist/Group: Sumo - one of the most influential bands of Argentine Rock.   It is more of an alternative rock, with lots of reggae and ska sounds.
Recommended Album: Obras Cumbres (selection of their best songs on two disks)
Recommended Song: No Tan Distintos

Artist/Group: Andrés Calamaro – originally part of the famous Spanish-Argentine group Los Rodríguez, he eventually broke away to produce his own music. He became hugely popular in Argentina, releasing various hit songs, and at one point, started uploading his own music for free downloads for fans.
Recommended Album: Honestidad Brutal
Recommended Song: Te Quiero Igual

Artist/Group: Babasonicos - A newer Argentine rock group (although not that new), and very popular. They put on a lot of free concerts in Buenos Aires.
Recommended Album: Anoche
Recommended Song: Yegua

Artist/Group: Attaque 77 – Another well known group, though much newer than Soda Stereo, and not as famous. This is harder rock as well.
Recommended Album: Trapos
Recommended Song: No Me Arrepiento.

Reggae
Argentine Reggae is also extremely popular here, and you can find shows nearly every day of the week. Some of the best Latin Reggae comes from Argentina.

Artist/Group: Los Cafres – Currently the most famous reggae band in Argentina. Fairly chill reggae.
Recommended Album: Quién Da Más
Recommended Song: Si el Amor se Cae

Artist/Group: Fidel Nadal – this guy looks, moves and acts Jamaican, but is Argentine. The way he raps has a special rhythm that really grabs you. Fairly upbeat reggae.
Recommended Album: Emocionado
Recommended Song: Intensivo

Artist/Group: Los Pericos – Fairly upbeat reggae.
Recommended Album: Pampas Reggae
Recommended Song: Home Sweet Home

Artist/Group: Dread Mar I – Very chill reggae, nice lyrics.
Recommended Album: Amor Es
Recommended Song: Lluvia, Nubes, Tristeza

Ska/Punk
Argentina has had a strong ska and punk following for many years, and ska music now is still very popular.
Artist/Group: Karamelo Santo This is one of my favorite groups. They have recently become quite big, and were recently touring in Europe. The music is pretty upbeat, though sometimes bordering on Reggae, and they put on a great concert live.
Recommended Album: Antena Pachamama
Recommended Song: Luna Loca

Artist/Group: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – energetic ska music mixed in with any other styles.
Recommended Album: 20 Grandes Exitos
Recommended Song: Matador

Artist/Group: Todos Tus Muertos – punk, with some rock and reggae mixed in. Very popular group in their day, its where Fidel Nadal started out.
Recommended Album: Dale Aborigen
Recommended Song: Sé Que No

Hip Hop
There is very little hip hop in Argentina, in terms of hearing hip hop and in terms of groups that make hip hop. However, there are a couple of excellent groups, and it appears as though hip hop music is slowly gaining a following.

Artist/Group: Iluminate – A group of 5 different rappers who often sing/rap all at the same time, there are also numerous other instruments, such as horns, drums, and a DJ. The leading group for underground hip hop in Argentina, their music is a great mix of sounds and lyrics.
Recommended Album: Luminareas
Recommended Song: Luminareas (la definición)

Artist/Group: Dante Spinetta – Although more commercial than Iluminate, Dante has been one of the pioneers of the Argentine hip hop scene.
Recommended Album: El Apagón
Recommended Song: Olvídalo(la definición)

Folk
Artist/Group: Onda Vaga – Up and coming folk music group, has developed quite a large following in Buenos Aires. Very catchy music.
Recommended Album: Fuerte y Caliente
Recommended Song: Sequía de Amor

So now the hard part – how do you listen to this music?

One option is a magical site called Taringa. Taringa is a site where people upload links to sites (such as MegaUpload, Rapidshare, etc.) where albums of artists have been uploaded to. The selection is amazing, especially of Latin music, because it is an Argentine site. Unfortunately, this also means it is in Spanish. To use the site, do a search for music (use quotes to narrow the searches if you need to). Enter a result, and it should have a link to a site where you can download it from. Sometimes, they are dead links, so you have to go to look for another one.

MySpace and YouTube are also great options. All of these bands listed have MySpace sites as well as videos that have been uploaded to YouTube (although on YouTube they often have very poor audio quality).

If you have downloaded the music and decide you like it, you should buy the CDs whenever possible. In Buenos Aires, this music can be found at any music store. In other countries, some of it can be pretty hard to come by.

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This brings up the question.  Why do they use the vos form?

Way back in the end of the 15th century, the tú form and the vos form were used in Spain, depending on the level of formality and the social relationship between the speaker and the listener.  It was also at this time that Spain first began colonizing Latin America which meant that the Spanish that arrived in Latin America included both the vos and tú.  Over time, the vos form became regarded as derogatory and slowly disappeared from use in Spain.  In Latin America, the countries were still colonies of Spain and consequently, the people tried to follow the same customs as the ones in Spain.  This was especially true for the countries that were closely linked to Spain, specifically the viceroyalties (such as Mexico and Peru).  For this reason, the vos form in these countries disappeared at a similar time.

In Argentina, only the upper classes used both the vos and tú form, mainly due to a pressure to conform to the norms of Spain (Argentina was still a colony of Spain).  It wasn’t until the early 1800s that the vos became the dominant form in Argentina, and probably happened for two reasons.  One, there was a big crisis in Argentina at the time, and many of the rural people moved into the city.  The rural people all used the vos form, so the end result was a much greater population of people using the vos form.  The more it was heard, the more it was used.  It was also around this time that Argentina achieved independence from Spain.  The desire of independence meant people did not want to be like Spain, and they became proud of their proper customs.  This included their dialect of Spanish, and since the vos form was unique and certainly not Spanish, it led to the loss of tú and the use of vos.

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Most people unfamiliar with wine in Argentina (which is pretty much everyone when they first arrive) will often wonder how much they need to spend to buy a decent wine in a retail store. This is no easy question, because wine varies so much from person to person. However, here is something to start with, until you´re more comfortable buying wines in Buenos Aires. All prices in pesos of course.

$12 – $15: buys you a decent, cheap wine, the kind you can drink for any occasion. An every nights wine.
$18 – $25: Nice wine, the kind you can bring to someone´s house for dinner without having to pay too much. These are quite good.
$28 – $40: Starting to get very good. You can find wines in this range that are very good quality.
$40 – $70: Excellent wines, if you know what to pick
$70 and up: you can find exceptional wines for this price. Be aware that once you’re spending over $100, the wines need to age for a while before you really get to appreciate their benefits.

Where is the best place to buy wines?
Your best options are the vinotecas, which are specialty wine stores. This is where you will get the best selection, and the prices are about the same. One of the better chains is Ligier, which has a variety of locations throughout Buenos Aires. The more expensive supermarkets such as Disco, Jumbo, and Carrefour have decent selections as well. The small supermarkets are only good if you want a basic wine.

If you are looking for a great wine tasting, where you can try some of Argentina’s top wines, contact Anuva wine tastings.

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When thinking of wine, people do not always associate it with Argentina. However, this is beginning to change, and for good reason. Argentine wines are starting to compete with some of the best wines in the world, evident by the international awards their wines have won. If you are visiting or living in Buenos Aires, no doubt you will be testing the Argentine Wine, and should be taking full advantage of the huge selection.  However, the first few times you go to buy wine, you will likely find it very confusing, and not have any idea which wines to buy, and how much you need to spend. As is true with wines from all countries, there are good, bad, excellent, and horrible wines produced in Argentina. Most importantly, you need to understand the different regions and which types of wine are good from which regions. Here is a BASIC breakdown of where the best wines come from for each region:

North (Salta, Cafyate, ) – the best Torrontes wines come from here. You can also find some very good Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbecs. Wines from this region are high altitude wines, and as such, have to put up with a bright, hot sun during days, and cool nights. This makes the grapes grow a very thick skin, and the result is more astringent wines. This can be both a good or bad thing, but is very characteristic of wines from the north.

San Juan – This is a very dry, dessert like region, and because of these conditions, it is ideal for the production of Syrah and Viognier.

Mendoza – this is by far the best known wine region of Argentina, and for good reason. In general, the best Argentine wines are produced here, and the Malbecs are especially good. Many different grapes grow well in this region, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Tempranillo.

Neuquen/Rio Negro – located in the south of Argentina, they produce the best Merlot and Pinot Noir.
This is a basic guide to help you know which region to look for when purchasing your wines. In general, it is very hard to find good Sauvingong Blanc, Pinto Gris, Pinot Noir, so before buying those, it is best to have a recommendation.

If you are interested in trying wines from some of these regions, try Anuva, who do tastings in two different locations in Buenos Aires.

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You will need a pre-made pie crust or you can make the pie crust yourself.  Here is how to make the filling:

• 3 packs of kale (should be about 1.5 cups cooked)

• 3 packs of spinach (should be about 1 cup cooked)

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• 3 hardboiled eggs, peeled

• 1 onion, finely chopped

• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped

• 100 gr. Grated Parmesan cheese

• Salt, pepper and grated nutmeg

**I have added spinach, but this is not necessary.  If you prefer, just double the amount of kale, and don´t use the spinach.

Directions:

Clean spinach and kale.  Add to a large pot, and boil or steam with salted water until cooked.  Remove, drain, and chop into strips.  Add to bowl.

In a saucepan, sautee onions and garlic in 1 tbsp of olive oil until onions start to brown.  Remove from heat, and add to kale mixture.  Sprinkle kale mixture with about 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp nutmeg, and 2 tbsp olive oil.  Mix, and taste to see if you need to add more seasoning.

Add a thin layer of pastry to a pie plate.  Fill with kale mixture.  Cut boiled eggs in half, and add spread them out in the kale mixture.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, cover with a thin layer of pastry, and then poke some holes in the pastry.

Please in an over pre-heated to 350F.   Cook until pastry is browned.  Remove, cool, and enjoy!!!

Pascualina is a very filling meal, and other than the pastry, is very healthy.  This is a great dish to meet your vegetable quota for the day, and a very Argentine dish.

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Most of us from the North turn up our noses to instant coffee, but if you´re a coffee drinker living in Buenos Aires, chances are you will have to live with an instant coffee here and there, perhaps even as often as every day.

Luckily, the Argentines have developed the perfect technique to make a great instant coffee. Here´s how:

Grab a glass, and fill it with a few spoonfuls of instant coffee. The desired amount is all based on personal taste, so you´ll have to figure this part out for yourself. If you have no idea how much to add, start with 2 tablespoons full the first time, and use that as your starting point.

Next, add desired amount of sugar to the powdered coffee. Put some water in a kettle, and wait for it to boil. In the meantime, here is the most important step: add a few drops of water to your mug, that already has the powdered coffee and sugar in it. It is important to add literally just a few drops. If you add too much, it will not turn out as well. Stir the water and coffee together, until it forms a thick paste. Continue to stir until the water boils.

Once the water is boiling, pour it into the mug. Stir to blend well, and while stirring, you will notice the coffee will start to form a foamy top (This is the result of the coffee paste you made). Stir in milk, and you have what looks like a cappuccino, and it has a great texture. It still tastes like instant coffee, but it’s the best you’re going to get!

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Here’s how it works: You are given a wine glass at the entrance, and then are free to roam around and try all of the wines you like. If you plan on trying a few hundred, remember to spit, or you won’t make it all night!

A recent addition to this expo is a special section for Gourmet Wines. The tickets cost about twice that of your entrance to the expo, but you get to try a variety of wines that cost over $60 pesos retail. A nice option for the true wine aficionados.

In addition the general tasting, there are also various talks, cooking shows, courses, and blind tastings you can take part in. These are especially informative, and are highly recommended to those who are really into wine.

The perfect accompaniment to great wines are meats and cheeses, and these are also available for tastings. They make for a perfect opportunity to take a break from all the wine you are sure to have tried.

When: Beginning of September
Where: La Rural
Why: You love wine, and want an opportunity to try a whole ton of great Argentine wine.

For more information: http://www.expovinosybodegas.com.ar/

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When someone thinks about the food in Argentina, beef is always the first thing to come to mind. Argentine´s claim it is the best in the world, and so do many foreigners. My personal opinion? It is excellent, but it is not the best in the world. I have tried steaks that are just as good in North America, where there is also some excellent, high quality beef. However, one of the great things about the beef here is high quality beef is easily accessible, and is not too expensive, especially when compared to other food prices. However, just like anywhere, the more you pay, the better the quality, and there is certainly meat that is not worth eating here.

You will find that Argentine beef is definitely a little different than beef in other parts of the world. First of all, in most parts of the world, the cattle tend to be grain fed. Here in Argentina, they have lots of space and the cattle is generally grass fed. Grass fed cattle usually has less marbling, and grows slower, meaning the beef that you eat is older. However, I´m not an expert on the process of Argentine beef, but somehow, they have beef with lots of marbling, and it is very very tender. Some rib eye and filet mignon steaks here practically dissolve in your mouth, and have a delicious buttery flavor!

The beef is nearly always cooked on BBQ using different types of charcoal, which gives it a nice smoky taste. They do not season the meat here, other than a little bit of salt. Be prepared for plain beef, there are no steak rubs here! I am quite fine with that, because the beef is so good, and it does have a great BBQ’d flavor. However, if you like a little flavor added to your meat, the beef here is served with Chimi-Churri, which is a mixture of spices, vinager, and oil. It is always served on the side, and is up to you if you want to put it on your steak!

Some of the cuts of beef here are different, so many times there is no exact translation. Here is a list of the most common, in Spanish and English, and I explain what each cut is like.

Ojo de bife (Rib-Eye) – this is my favorite cut of meat. It is usually fairly tender, well marbled, with excellent flavor.Bife de Lomo (Filet Mignon) – the most expensive cut, also the most tender. Should have very little to no fat. Flavor is good, but not as strong as some of the other cuts. In general, one of the best things you can order on the menu. Filets here in Argentina are deliciously tender!

Bife de Chorizo (new york strip loin) – a good Argentine bife de chorizo is prettty hard to beat.  This cut is from the same part of the cow as a strip loin, so you can expect a juicy and very flavorful cut of meat.  There is some marbeling, and if you get a cheap cut, it can be really fatty.

Vacío (flank steak) – this is a delicious cut of meat and it is not available in most parts of the world. It is a thin cut of meat, from the flank, and has a thin layer of fat on both sides. A good quality vacío is tender, flavorful and very juicy, contains no fat (other than the layer surrounding it.   Argentines love this cut (it is a must have at an asado), especially how the outside gets crispy when cooked slowly over coals.  It is also an interesting cut for foreigners because it is usually a cut they have never tried.  It is important to get good quality vacío, or you could end up with a leathery piece of meat, with more fat than anything else.

Asado/Asado de Tira (short/cross cut ribs) – they are served differently than in North America, as the ribs are cut very short. There is not usually a lot of meat around the ribs, but they are quite flavorful. Another staple that is always served at an Argentine asado.

Asado de Costillar (beef rib) – this is not a common cut in Argentine, but if you can find them, they are delicious! The meat is very tender and juicy, and without too much fat. They are usually preferable to the standard asado de tira, because they are far meatier!

Matambre (similar to a flank steak) – a tougher cut, but can be very juicy and flavorful.  It can be found in various thicknesses, and is often served with a layer of fat on one side.  It is similar to a flank steak,  but comes from a part just beside it.  This cut is not usually found in North America.

Colita de Cuadril (rump steak) – this is the tail end of the rump. Great cut, can be done on the BBQ, or makes a great roast in the oven. Flavorful, very juicy, and very little fat.

Bola de Lomo (knuckle) – located just beside the colita de cuadril, this is the most common cut for milanesas and for lomito sandwiches.  It is a decent cut and can be found very cheap in Argentina.  It is juicy, fairly tender, and does not contain much fat.

Tapa de Nalga (top inside round) – Located beside the Bola de Lomo off of the cows leg near the kneecap.  A very cheap cut, it is somewhat tough.  Is mostly used in stews.

Peceto (eye of round) – comes from the very top of the cow’s rump.  This is a great cut usually used for roasts, but is also sometimes cut into medallions to be served as milanesas.  It is a bit tough, but has good flavor and very little fat.

Entraña (skirt steak) – a bit tough, but very flavorful and juicy. This is a fairly common piece of meat for Argentine asados.

Bife Angosto (strip loin) – located along the back of the cow, from the back ribs to the rump. Lots of marbeling, and usually one edge is covered in fat. A cheap option for beef, and usually a bit tough.

There you have it, the major cuts of Argentine Beef. There are still some other cuts, if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I will answer what I can.

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Here is a list of some of the best wines you can buy in different price brackets, depending on what you´re looking for.

Great wines that cost 10 pesos or less

With the heavy inflation Argentina has experienced over the last few years, there is no longer a good variety of quality wine for less than 10 pesos.  However, here are a few very drinkable wines, perfect for every day drinking.

El Vasco Viejo 2007 (Lopez) $6.80 – This is one of my favorite wines when it comes to value.  It is a blend of Bonarda, Malbec, and Tempranillo, and the grapes come from the Lopez vineyards in Maipu and Lujan de Cuyo.  Fruity and easy to drink, a decent wine, and when you consider the price, an incredible value!  Our top choice for a budget, everyday wine.

Traful White 2008 (Lopez) $7 – Another one from Lopez, props to them for good cheap wines.  This one is a blend of Chenin Blanc and Pedro Gimenez from the Maipu region. It is light and fruity with a slight floral nose, and a decent finish for a cheap white.

Tocornal (Concho y Toro Tinto) $6.50 – fruity and easy to drink.  Nothing special, but a solid choice for what you´re paying.

Fina Beltrán Dúo Tempranillo-Malbec (Zuccardi) $9.90 – This rare combination turns out to be a nice wine.  The combination of a fruity Malbec with the fullness and spice of a Tempranillo make this a wine with complex flavors, and great with steak.

Aberdeen Angus Clasico Borgoña (Finca Flinchman) $9.50 – Mainly Malbec blended Bonarda, this wine has tastes more like a Cabernet than the two grapes it’s made from.  Another good wine for your steak.

Valderrobles Chablis 2008 (Esmeralda) $7.50- a pleasant fruity wine with a nice citrus finish.   A great drinking wine, but would also go well with food.

Great wines that cost 20 pesos or less

Wines that were under 10 pesos before are now around 15 pesos.  There is a great selection for wines at this price range, here are five of the best.

Quara Torrontes 2007 (Felix Lavaque) $18 – located in Salta, Quara makes some of the best Torontes in the world.   Floral aromas prepare you for the strong peach flavors mixed with hints of jasmine and lemon, followed by a nice, satisfying finish.   This is a flavorful Torrontes, a great value and a versatile summer wine.

Grafigna Vinculos Syrah-Cabernet (Grafigna) $13 – a fruity and easy to drink wine, this is a crowd pleaser.

Callia Alta Shiraz-Bonarda 2008(Callia) $14 – Pretty much any wine with Shiraz from Callia Alta is worth buying.  This blend is an Expose favorite – complex rich fruit flavors, nicely rounded with typical shiraz spice,nice acidity, and smooth tanins.  A great wine that will hold up to any food with strong flavors, but is also great on its own.

Trilogie Malbec – Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2007 (Domaine Vistalba) $15 – A great blend of three varieties – dark fruit flavors, a hint of green and red peppers, and a hint of vanilla.  Very nice, and an excellent value.

Humberto Canal Semillon 2007(Humberto Canale) – $20 – another excellent value.  Floral aromas lead to an intense honey flavor with floral notes and a touch of peach.  This is a refreshing, complex wine with loads of flavor.

Great wines that cost 30 pesos or less

You can start to find some really impressive wines in this price range.  These five are outstanding, highly recommended!

Cabarello de la Cepa – Malbec 2007 $30 – the Caballero de la Cepa line of wines from Finca Flinchman is excellent, and this one is arguably the best.  Rich fruit flavors with a hint of vanilla and spice, nicely balanced and a great finish.

Trapiche – Fond de Cave Chardonnay 2006 -$26 – this wine is an amazing value.  It is bursting with flavor, and has a very long finish.  Easily one of the best whites you´ll find in this price range.

Altos Las Hormigas Bonarda 2007(Colonia Las Liebres) $30 – a wine that truly makes you believe the Argentine Bonarda could be the next Malbec. A velvety wine with rich fruit flavors, this is a nearly perfectly wine, showing off the best of Bonarda.

**This wine is very difficult to find.

Perdriel Terruño Malbec 2007 (Norton) $21 – An excellent Malbec for a very good price, this tastes just like a Malbec should.  It has a rich combination of plum, red fruit, eucalyptus, and coffee flavors, and is a very versatile wine.

Graffigna Centenario (Graffigna) Pinot Gris – $26 – A complex blend of floral and peach/apricot flavor, with a very long citrusy finish.  This wine is very crisp, making it a great wine to sip in the summer, but also great with a meal.

Great Wines that Cost less than 50 Pesos

Argentine wines can blow you away at this price.  If you are a tourist, these wines are somewhere in the US $10/  € 8 range.   You should definitely take advantage!

Amalaya 2006 (Colomé) $37 - This has been rated as a wine of great value in various wine magazines, including the prestigious Wine Spectator, which gave it 91 pts.  It is a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tannat.  It is full of rich fruit flavors, green pepper, a hint of spice, and nice, loooooong finish.  A wine that pleases everyone.

Amalaya Torrontoes 2006 (Colomé) 2007 $36 – What can I say?  Colomé definitely knows how to make great wines.  This Torrontes is one of the best out there, and has been recognized in the past with various awards.  It has intense flavors of honey, caramel, apricot, and citrus.  Not a typical Torrontes, but definitely one of the most pleasing.

Perdriel Merlot 2004 (Norton) $45 – Argentina is not known for good Merlots, and there is a reason for this.  However, this one is definitely an exception and is one of our favorite Merlots.  Rich velvety texture, this has delicious dark and dried fruit flavors, with a hint of spice and chocolate.

Alamos Reserve Tempranillo 2005 (Catena Zapata) $37 – The entire Alamos line is a solid choice if you’re looking for a quality wine.  However, they are badly overpriced in the Argentine market (in the International market they are priced much more competitively, and therefore a much better bargain). This Tempranillo is an exception, and well worth the money.   Rich, complex fruit flavors with hints of mint and spice, this is a meaty wine that can hold up to any cut of Argentine beef, even if you cover it in chimichurri.

Altos Las Hormigas Malbec 2007 $40 (Altos Las Hormigas) – This may be the ultimate Malbec.  If you are looking for a great Malbec to bring back home, or you just want to try an amazing, typical Argentine Malbec, this should be the one.  A strong, flavorful wine with rich, dark fruit flavors, strong but not overpowering tannins, and a hint of vanilla.  Perfect for asado, a wine to appreciate.

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