Eat and Drink

Argentina is an ideal country for lovers of red meat. Argentines in general love beef and accessible prices make it possible for them to indulge in such pleasure. Beef consumption per capita is one of the highest in the world, and Argentines boast that they have the best beef in the world.

There are many ways of cooking meat, including the favourite: Sunday barbecue. Steaks and offal are also popular.

Given the large number of immigrants who settled in the country, Argentine cuisine has been influenced by the gastronomic traditions of France, Germany, and specially Spain and Italy. If Argentines are proud of something in addition to their beef, it is the flavour of their pastas, pizzas and ice creams.

Buenos Aires is a cosmopolitan city with a large number of restaurants specialized in all sorts of cooking: French, Mexican, Italian, German, Japanese, Arabian, Armenian, Greek, Jewish and Scandinavian, among others.

Argentina is, also, the fifth biggest world wine producer and its products are known for their quality. The best are the reds from the Cuyo region.

Some typical dishes

Parrilla: meat cooked on an open grill; it is often a combination of different cuts of beef, such as the churrasco (a thin grilled steak from the fore or back quarters) accompanied by different types of sausages.

Arroz con pollo: chicken with rice dressed with saffron.

Milanesa: fried breaded veal filet, served with a side dish or in a sandwich.

Mayonesa de ave: A chicken salad made with boiled diced potatoes, eggs, vegetables and mayonnaise. A very popular summer dish.

Locro: a winter stew made of meat, corn and potatoes.

Empanadas : small pies filled with meat, tuna, vegetables, corn or other ingredients.

Argentine Wine

In Argentina the wine country extends from the province of Salta to the province of Mendoza in the north, and occupies the northern part of the province of Rio Negro in the South. These regions are spread over a wide area with different climates and soils; hence the wines, which made with the same grape variety in different places, will have different nuances, to say the least.

Argentina's main wine regions are the Calchaquí Valleys (Salta), in particular around Cafayate and extending south to Catamarca; the Famatina Valley in La Rioja, with wineries in Chilecito and Nonogasta which compete with those from Salta in the Torrontés wine category; the Tulum Valley in San Juan, strong on table wines and the country's second biggest producer, which is now planting better varieties for finer wines, and Mendoza, which produces 85% of all the wines made in the country. In the Upper Rio Negro Valley, Semillón and Merlot are the varieties that produce the best.

Some popular Argentine wine denominations:

Borgoña (Burgundy): generally blend of Malbec with Bonarda and a third variety. Good colour and full body.

Chablis: delicate and tasty variety of blends that are easy on the palate and have a bit of sugar.

Some recommended wineries: Chandon, Santa Silvia, Orfila, Finca La Anita, Finca Los Nobles, Navarro Correas, San Telmo, Nieto Senetiner, Suter, Bianchi, Finca Flichman, Bodega Leoncio Arizu, Humberto Canale, Etchart, Trapiche, Norton.

Recommended wines:

Premium varietal reds:
Enzo Bianchi – Cabernet Sauvignon
Catena Zapata – Cabernet
Rutina Malbec
Syrah – Finca La Anita
Pinot Noir SF
Trapiche Medalla

Recommended champagnes:
Chandon Brute Nature
Navarro Correas Brute Nature
Champagne Bianchi Extra Brut

Red varietals (good price/value ratio):
Viniterra Malbec
Malbec Fabre Montmayou
Caballero de la Cepa Malbec
Luigi Bosca Cabernet Sauvignon
Infinitus Malbec – Syrah (a Patagonian wine)

White varietals:
Saint Felicien Chardonnay Roble
Semillón Finca La Anita
Infinitus (Chardonnay – Semillon)
Tokai Friuliano – Finca La Anita