I’m Melisa. I grew up knowing wine the way most Argentinians do – as something that just existed, on every table, in every family, without much ceremony. Then I moved to London and realised nobody here had heard of the Famatina Valley. Nobody was talking about Torrontés. And absolutely nobody was telling the story of the wine region my grandparents lived in. So I decided to do it myself.

This is the definitive English-language guide to Argentina beyond Malbec — starting with the grape that Argentina can actually call its own

Torrontés Riojano is the only truly native Argentine grape variety. Not Malbec, that’s French. It grows high in the Andes, in the Famatina Valley, where blazing days and sharp cold nights create something extraordinary — floral, citrusy, fresh, with an intensity that punches well above its price point. If you drink Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier or Gewürztraminer, Torrontés is your next step.

The UK is one of Argentina’s biggest wine markets. But 91% of what gets exported here is Malbec. The diversity, the history, the altitude-grown whites — none of it makes it onto UK shelves or into UK conversations. I’m building the resource that changes that. If you want to drink differently, you’re in the right place.