Perhaps even more prolific than Patagonia’s famed glaciers and more alluring than the bohemian enclaves of Buenos Aires, Argentina’s wine regions beckon travelers to their fertile valleys.

Grapes like torrontés in Salta and complex blends in Mendoza are all on the rise, ushering in a new era of wine production in the country.

Santiago Mymicopulo, a sommelier with Gyde & Seek and co-owner of Casa Coupage, a puerta cerrada, or closed-door restaurant, that serves guests and locals seven-course dinners with wine pairings, presenting the best of Argentina’s harvest in Buenos Aires. As one of the first licensed sommeliers in the country, Mymicopulo views Argentina’s wine country as truly unique, as European immigrants brought many grapes to the land, lending to the country’s exceptional varietals.

“Argentina’s wine regions encompass high deserts, and the combination of these sunny climates and high altitudes make our wines special” says Mymicopulo. “Unlike any other country, Argentina’s combination of culture and terroir lends us to produce some of the most unique wines in the world.”

Here, your insider’s guide to traversing Salta and Mendoza, Argentina’s most beloved wine regions.

Torrontés: The Undisputed Star of Salta

Although Salta harbors perfect conditions for producing cabernet sauvignon, malbec, syrah, and chardonnay, there’s only one stand-out star in this northwestern Argentine province, positioned beautifully at the base of the Andes. Much like Champagne in France, torrontés is produced only in Argentina, lending to its cultlike following. At almost 5,000 feet above sea level, Salta’s mountainous climate combines cool winds, arid grounds, and an abundance of sunlight, lending to the torrontés grape’s robust flavor profile, an aromatic, sweet, yet dry floral aroma with notes of rose, peach, and lemon. Whether you opt to stay near Salta proper, visit the nearly 4,500 acres of vineyards in nearby Cafayate in the Calchaquí Valley, or wish to drive the northwestern Ruta del Vino yourself, here, your tips for making the most out of a trip to the province.

Read more at source: VOGUE