Malbec World Day, also known as Dia Mundial del Malbec, is celebrated annually on April 17 to commemorate the day the first agronomy school in Argentina was established to study European grapes, including the Malbec grape. This occurred on April 17, 1853, the same year that the president of Argentina, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, requested a French soil expert to bring new grape varieties to his nation. Wines of Argentina designated April 17 as Malbec World Day in 2011.
HISTORY OF MALBEC WORLD DAY
In 1853, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, the president of Argentina, began reforming the country’s winemaking industry. He approached the French soil expert Michel Aime Pouget and requested that he import new French grapevine cuttings into Argentina. Malbec grapes were one of the varieties that Pouget carried back with him. The first agronomy school in Argentina was established on April 17, 1853, in order to learn how to adapt European grapes to Argentinian soil.
Malbec grapes are used to produce red wine. It is a grape with a dark purple, thick rind that originated in France. Nonetheless, a French viticulturist and ampelographer assert that the grape’s original name was “Cot” and that it originated in northern Burgundy. Malbec produces such an intense, dark red wine that it is occasionally combined with Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Although Malbec originated in France, it encountered a decline in popularity there, particularly after a frost destroyed 75% of the Malbec vineyards in 1956. During the twentieth century, Malbec established a strong footing in Argentina’s wine industry, where it is now a symbol. Today, more than seventy-five percent of all Malbec grapes are grown in Argentina, and Malbec wine has acquired popularity not only in Argentina but also in other nations. In 2011, Wines of Argentina, the fifth largest wine producer in the world, designated April 17 as Malbec World Day.
5 INCREDIBLE FACTS ABOUT GRAPES
- A scientific assessment published in “Trends in Genetics” indicates that grapes have existed for approximately 65 million years.
- The majority of the 8,000 grape varieties known to man are from the Americas and Europe.
- On grapes, yeast organisms grow naturally on the skins.
- Grapes are rich in vitamin C and comprise more than a quarter of the recommended daily allowance.
- Raisins are simply fruits that have been dried in the sun.
MALBEC WORLD DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 17 | Monday |
| 2024 | April 17 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | April 17 | Thursday |
| 2026 | April 17 | Friday |
| 2027 | April 17 | Saturday |
