Say Argentine wine and everyone says Malbec. They are not wrong. But stop there and you miss a country climbing higher up the Andes, and further into greatness, than a single grape can hold.

Most of the action happens in Mendoza, in the rain-shadow of the Andes, where vineyards climb to altitudes that would make your ears pop. That height is the whole story.

Malbec, the National Hero

Malbec arrived from Cahors in south-west France and found its true home in Argentina. Here it turns plush and inky, all blackberry, plum and violet, with just enough freshness to stop it feeling heavy. It is the wine that put the country on the map, and deservedly so.

Higher and Higher

The new wave is all about altitude. In the Uco Valley, growers plant ever higher up the mountains, chasing cool nights that keep the fruit fresh and precise. The result is a more elegant, mineral style of Malbec that trades brute power for finesse.

Beyond Malbec

Look past the hero grape and there is plenty more to enjoy: structured high-altitude Cabernet, increasingly serious Chardonnay, and the floral, exotic white Torrontés that is Argentina's other calling card. This is a country with far more range than its reputation suggests.

The Asado Test

There is a reason Malbec and the Argentine asado are inseparable: smoky grilled beef and plush dark fruit are one of the great pairings. Pour it generously, cook something over fire, and you will understand the whole country in a glass.