What is Malbec & Why is it a Good Red Wine for Date Night?
Not all wine is created equal. Wine grape varieties have different characteristics (and different price tags). Malbec is a mouth-filling red with some specific characteristics making it the right choice for a romantic evening. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this grape variety special and why it is a good red wine for date night.
What is a Malbec?
Let’s start off with a clear understanding of what I’m talking about with Malbec wines. (Incidentally, it’s pronounced mall-beck.) Malbec is a red-skinned grape that makes full-bodied red wines. The grape is also known by the names Côt and Auxxerois.
Malbecs are generally known for being good value. But there’s so much more to Malbec than cheap wine! Before we get into Malbec’s use in seduction, I’m going to give you a better understanding of this wine style, where it grows and who is going to like it. In my experience in the wine business (which includes not only working as a wine writer and wine competition judge but also working in a winery tasting room), I’ve learned that not every wine is for everyone.
The Malbec grape
Malbec grapes are small with thick skins. This grape variety generally produces wines with a wonderful dark, almost purple color. These grapes can be fussy and prefer certain conditions, preferably ones that give them hot days and cool, even cold nights.
The grape is grown around the world but the best-known Malbec-producing nations are Argentina and France. But you can also find Malbec growing in other wine regions from California to South Africa to New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay.
You can find any number of Argentine Malbecs made with 100% Malbec grapes. But it is often used in blends. Because it is less tannic than Cabernet Sauvignon and brings brilliant, intense color to wines, many winemakers are drawn to blending with this grape. In fact, Malbec is one of the five grape varieties blended into the famed wines of Bordeaux’s right bank.
Malbec taste and flavor
What does Malbec taste like? That depends to some degree on where the wine is produced.
Malbec is a dry red wine. But the Malbecs from Argentina tend to have a fruit-forward style, showing off the grape’s ripe berry flavors. French Malbecs tend to show more of the grape’s earthy flavors.
You’ll often find flavors of raspberry, pomegranate blackberry and blueberry when tasting Malbecs. But they can also have more earthy, sexy notes. Some Malbec wines offer aromas and flavors of leather, tobacco, coffee, black pepper and, my favorite, chocolate.
The most popular malbec wine regions
Many regions today produce wines from Malbec grapes. But the two most prominent are Argentina and France. Malbec from Argentina might be the wine the world knows but Malbec wine originated in the Cahors region of France’s southwest. The Malbec wines made in these two countries are as different as their cultures. Here’s a closer look at what makes the Malbec from Argentina and France distinct.
Argentina
Argentina is probably the best-known Malbec-producing place in the world right now. That may be because approximately three-quarters of Argentina’s wine-growing vineyards produce Malbec. That’s a lot of Malbec!
In Argentina, Malbec thrives at high elevations. In three noted Malbec-producing regions, Mendoza, Salta and San Juan, the grapes from many of the best producers are grown at altitude and enjoy ample daytime sunshine.
Learn more about wines grown at high elevations
But all of that sunshine can lead to wines with awfully high alcohol levels. This is one of the problems with this Argentinian red wine. Another big problem with Malbec from Argentina is mass production. A rise in popularity led to mass production of cheap Malbecs, which are intermingled with great Malbec wines on many store shelves.
As Cathie Schafer of Side Hustle Wino put it, “Argentine Malbec can be really hit or miss.”
So how do you recognize a good Malbec from Argentina? Start by sticking to the wines of producers known for good Malbec. Some producers to look for include Catena Zapata, Sur de los Andes, Susana Balbo, Norton, Colomé and Zuccardi to name a few.
After you get to know what flavors you like in Malbec, start asking for recommendations in a good wine shop. Or you can join a Malbec red wine class either locally or online. (Our wine contributor Annette Tomei designs custom online classes. She could introduce you to some exciting wines from Argentina and beyond.)
But to get you started, here’s my pick for a classic, good-value Argentine Malbec wine from another respected Malbec wine brand, Trivento. If you want to learn more about Mendoza Malbec, this is a great bottle to try:
Trivento Malbec Reserve, Mendoza Argentina $12
This easy-drinking wine offers black plum, blackberry and raspberry aromas with just a hint of vanilla. A nicely-balanced wine in an easy-drinking style it offers juicy fruit with a compelling hint of dusty, earthy something. At $12/bottle, this tasty Malbec is my pick for a great value, everyday drinking red.
France (Cahors)
French Malbec can be very different from the ripe, fruit-forward wines of Argentina. Thanks to all the recent attention paid to Argentine Malbec wine, the wines of France’s Cahors are growing in popularity. But the Cahors Malbec is a very different wine from what you might get in Argentina.
First of all, most Malbec from Cahors is a blend. As I mentioned earlier, in Cahors, the wine only has to be 70% Malbec, the other 30% can be Tannat, Merlot or a combination of the two. In addition, the tannic structure of the wines from Cahors is very different than the smooth or velvety wines of Mendoza.
And while the emphasis on Argentine Malbec tends to be on luscious fruit flavors, in Cahors, the focus of the wine is structure. The fruit flavors are more subtle, the wines are often lower in alcohol and with more pronounced tannins than their South American counterparts.
The one similarity between Cahors and Argentine Malbecs is value for money. Like the Malbec wines of Argentina, the Malbec from Cahors are frequently priced under $20 yet offer great quality for the price. (Mind you, as with the wines of Argentina, there are many higher-priced Cahors wines. But that doesn’t mean the higher-priced wines are overpriced. They are simply truly fine wines.)
If you want to start experiencing more Cahors Malbec, some reputable brands include Georges Vigouroux, Chateau Lagrézette, Chateau Haute Monplaisir and Crocus. If you’re still not sure where to start, consider this bottle from Chateau de Gaudou. This wine showcases many of the stylistic elements and value that make Cahors special:
Chateau de Gaudou Grande Lignée, Cahors France $20
If this wine could be described in one word, it would be dense. A dark purple wine with lovely, floral aromas, it offers restrained berry flavors and great structure. At under $20, it represents good value and sophistication for the money.
More Malbec wine regions
Of course, these are not the only two places in the world to make Malbec wines. Other regions known for Malbec production include the United States, (primarily California and Washington), Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Chile (which has similar growing conditions to Argentina).
Don’t confuse Malbec with Merlot
Many wine drinkers who are new to wine appreciation confuse Malbec and Merlot. After all, they’re both red grapes with M names. And both come from France. So what’s the difference? A lot, actually!
The first difference you’ll notice is color. If you hold a typical glass of each wine in your hands, you’ll notice that the Merlot has a ruby color. And the Malbec is, as I mentioned, a deep, purplish color. Merlots tend to be extremely smooth, medium-bodied wines with modest tannins. Malbecs, more full-bodied, have more tannin and are often fruit-forward. Malbec is often perceived as sweeter on the tongue.
Both Malbec and Merlot are considered among the more approachable, easy-drinking red wines. If you like your wine silky smooth, you’re a Merlot drinker. But if you like your wine with a bit of oomph and the potential power to turn your date on, you are definitely going to want to do more Malbec exploration. (Keep reading to discover how the scent of Malbec may make your date feel sexy.)
What makes Malbec a good red wine for date night?
Malbec is sold in a huge variety of price ranges. You can buy a $75 or even $100 bottle of Malbec. But you can also buy a great bottle of Malbec for far less than it costs to buy a great bottle of Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon. A nice bottle of Malbec averages between $15 and $25. You can even find some deliciously drinkable Argentine Malbecs, like the one I recommended above, for under $15. That’s a bargain compared with your average Pinot Noir or good Cabernet Sauvignon.
Although value for money is a great selling point, that’s not the primary reason you should serve Malbec on date night. The best reason to drink Malbec is because it smells sexy. Seriously! According to the research of Dr. Max Lake, scents of some red wines can improve mood, promote relaxation and potentially even pique sexual interest. These aromas include scents of leather, musk and tobacco, which are often found in Malbec wines from around the world.
Lastly, Malbec tends to fall in the average level of alcohol content for wines. Although lower alcohol tends to be better for romantic situations, you aren’t going to find many red wines made today that fall into the low alcohol content category. What you definitely want to avoid when serving wine for romance is a selection that’s high in alcohol. These can make you drunk very quickly, much more quickly than you’d expect and can kill the vibe of a romantic evening. So for the sake of sharing a romantic experience with your partner (and remembering it), select a wine at or below 14% ABV. Luckily, you will be able to find many Malbecs in this range.
Serving suggestions
Since Malbec wines tend to be voluptuous, they are the favorite winter wines of many red wine lovers. But I would argue that Malbec may also be the best summer barbeque wine. (You can even chill Malbec in summer to make it a more refreshing afternoon drink.) There are really any number of ways you can serve Malbec to enhance a romantic occasion.
Food pairings
I like to encourage drinking the wine you love and eating the food you love without getting too wrapped up in wine pairings. But if you want to think about Malbec food pairing, consider classic summer foods like burgers and ribs–fun foods. Just remember not to load up on too many heavy foods if you’re serving Malbec on a date. In winter, try it with wild mushrooms and dishes that feature smokey spices like paprika that can show off the sexy, smokey quality many Malbecs offer.
How to make Malbec the star of your next date night
Try making Malbec the inspiration for a romantic evening at home by going with an entire Argentine theme. Play some Argentine tangos softly in the background and serve a simple meal of any grilled meat topped with this aphrodisiac Chimichurri sauce.
Featured image by Jeff Siepman
Salta vineyard photo by Hector Ramon Perez
This article was written in 2022 and most recently updated in February 2024.
- Easy Chicken Rice Bowl Recipe with the Tastiest Peanut Sauce - February 2, 2025
- Romantic Oven Roasted Pork Loin with Pomegranate & Quinoa - January 28, 2025
- How to Choose the Best Wine for Valentine’s Day or Any Romantic Occasion - January 16, 2025
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!