Discover the history and timeline of Malbec World Day, an annual celebration of the Argentine Malbec wine. Learn why people around the world love and celebrate Malbec, and explore the qualities that make it a versatile and high-quality grape variety.
Malbec World Day is an annual celebration that takes place on April 17th to commemorate the day when Argentine president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento made it his mission to transform Argentina’s wine industry in the mid-19th century. Malbec is a grape variety that is strongly associated with Argentina, and the day is a global celebration of Argentine wine and culture, as well as a recognition of the quality of Malbec wines produced in Argentina. The day is marked by events and activities that celebrate the history, culture, and quality of Argentine wine, and encourage people to try Malbec wines from Argentina and around the world.
History of Malbec World Day
Malbec World Day was established by the Wines of Argentina organization in 2011 to celebrate the international success of Argentine Malbec wines and to promote the country’s wine industry globally.
The date of April 17th was chosen because it marks the day when Argentine president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento made it his mission to transform Argentina’s wine industry in the mid-19th century. Sarmiento saw the potential for Argentina to become a major wine-producing country and brought over French agronomist Michel Aimé Pouget to help develop the industry.
Malbec was a grape variety that thrived in the high-altitude vineyards of Argentina, and it quickly became the country’s signature grape variety. By the late 20th century, Malbec had become the most widely planted grape variety in Argentina, and its popularity had spread around the world.
Since its inception, Malbec World Day has become a major event in the wine industry, with events and tastings taking place around the world to celebrate the grape variety and its Argentine roots. It has helped to raise awareness of Argentine wine and to promote the country’s wine industry to a global audience.
Malbec World Day Timeline
Here’s a timeline of some key events related to Malbec World Day:
- April 17, 1853: Argentine president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento makes it his mission to transform Argentina’s wine industry, bringing in French agronomist Michel Aimé Pouget to help develop the industry.
- 1990s: Malbec becomes the most widely planted grape variety in Argentina.
- 2002: The Wines of Argentina organization is established to promote Argentine wine globally.
- April 17, 2011: The first Malbec World Day is celebrated, organized by Wines of Argentina. Events are held around the world to promote Argentine wine and celebrate the Malbec grape.
- April 17, 2013: The theme of Malbec World Day is “Celebrating the success of our flagship variety”, with events held in more than 60 cities around the world.
- April 17, 2014: The theme of Malbec World Day is “A celebration of Malbec, an emblematic variety of Argentina”. Events are held in more than 70 cities around the world.
- April 17, 2015: The theme of Malbec World Day is “Malbec, the heart of Argentine wine”. Events are held in more than 80 cities around the world.
- April 17, 2016: The theme of Malbec World Day is “Malbec, more than a grape”. Events are held in more than 100 cities around the world.
- April 17, 2017: The theme of Malbec World Day is “Malbec, the Argentine identity”. Events are held in more than 80 cities around the world.
- April 17, 2018: The theme of Malbec World Day is “Malbec, the star varietal of Argentina”. Events are held in more than 70 cities around the world.
- April 17, 2019: The theme of Malbec World Day is “Malbec, the heart of Argentina”. Events are held in more than 80 cities around the world.
- April 17, 2020: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most events are held online. The theme of Malbec World Day is “Malbec, from Argentina to the world”.
- April 17, 2021: The theme of Malbec World Day is “Reinventing Malbec”. Events are held in more than 50 cities around the world.
Why We Love and Celebrate Malbec World Day
There are several reasons why people love and celebrate Malbec World Day:
- Quality: Malbec is a high-quality grape variety that produces rich, full-bodied wines with intense fruit flavors and aromas. Malbec wines from Argentina, in particular, are known for their high quality and unique character, which has contributed to their popularity around the world.
- Versatility: Malbec is a versatile grape that can be used to produce a range of wine styles, from easy-drinking, fruity wines to complex, age-worthy wines. This versatility has made Malbec a popular choice for wine drinkers of all levels of experience.
- Culture: Malbec is strongly associated with Argentine culture, and celebrating Malbec World Day is a way to honor this cultural heritage and learn more about the history and traditions of Argentine wine.
- Global celebration: Malbec World Day is celebrated around the world, with events and tastings taking place in major cities and wine regions. This global celebration brings people together to share their love of wine and explore the diversity of Malbec wines from different regions.
- Food pairing: Malbec is a great wine to pair with food, particularly grilled meats and other hearty dishes. This makes it a popular choice for wine lovers who enjoy cooking and entertaining.
Overall, people love and celebrate Malbec World Day because it’s an opportunity to learn more about one of the world’s most popular grape varieties and to explore the diversity and quality of Malbec wines from around the world.
