Argentina wants more Chinese to taste Malbec

With its wine-making history dating back to the mid-16th century, Argentina wants to bring its Malbec to more Chinese drinkers, Leandro Compagnucci, head of the Argentine Investment Office under the embassy of Argentina to China, said during a wine promotion event in Beijing on Wednesday.

Originally from the southwest of France, Malbec was introduced in Argentina by French agronomist Michel A. Pouget in 1853.

According to Sherry Pei from Wines of Argentina's China office, Argentina is the only country to have original Malbec vines of true French heritage. Last year, Malbec wines produced in Argentina were exported to 119 countries and regions.

However, due to the COVID-19 crisis, the global wine consumption volume fell by 3 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine.

In China alone, last year's wine consumption was about 12.4 million hectoliters, showing a 17.4 percent drop year-on-year, the organization estimated.