Six BEST WINE REGIONS OF THE AMERICAS

From whites to reds and everything in between, the Americas have many a fine drop, writes Sue Wallace.

Winery hopping is a muchloved activity in the Americas where many of the world’s award-winning wines, noted for their rich and delicate flavours, are produced amid jawdropping scenery.

Picture savouring a glass of malbec, the signature wine of Mendoza in Argentina, while watching a mesmerising tango performance amid manicured vines and a background of pretty mountain ranges that seem to change colour every time you glance up.

The Mendoza wine region has more than 1000 wineries ranging from extensive well-known vineyards to more intimate hidden gems in the three main areas – Maipu Valley, Luján de Cuyo, and Uco Valley.

Maipo Valley

CHILE Mendoza Wine Region

Argentina

The newest of the wine regions, the beautiful Uco Valley is a 90-minute drive from the city of Mendoza in northwest Argentina and is one of the world’s highest wine regions with vines planted in the foothill of the Andes.

Nearby Chile is also known for its fabulous wines especially in the Maipot Valley, where cabernet sauvignon is its most celebrated drop.

Often referred to as ‘the Bordeaux of Chile’, the country has a long history of winemaking and while it’s believed the first vines were planted in Santiago in the 1540s, it wasn’t until the 1800s that viticulture developed. Three of the most visited wineries in the Maipo Valley include Concha y Toro, Santa Rita and Undurraga.