Most people who drink Argentine wine have never tried Torrontés. That’s not because it’s hard to understand or an acquired taste, I know that the world of wine can be a bit daunting, especially if wine was never your thing.Or maybe it’s because nobody in the world of wine talks about it. Every wine shop pushes Malbec, the safe supermarket-bought option. And Torrontés, Argentina’s only truly native white grape, sits quietly on the shelf waiting for someone curious enough to pick it up.
This is that guide. Every bottle here is available to buy in the UK right now, and every one of them is worth your money.
There is a game I like to play, which involves that whenever I go to a bar, restaurant or pub, I quickly scan the menu to pinpoint how many Argentinian wines the menu has. Not for nostalgia or to prove something, rather than that to see how much people know about my country. The list always has Mendoza Malbecs. It is funny but disappointing, knowing that Argentina is so big. If only people knew that drinking a good wine doesn’t quite have to break the bank.
What Makes a Good Torrontés?
Before the list, a quick note on what you’re looking for. Torrontés has a reputation problem. Unfortunately, some bottles are cloyingly perfumed, almost soapy, and put people off the grape for life. And trust me, I have been trying to find bottles of full Torrontés in London and that was exactly the first answer I’d get: “We have a blend because people as scared that it would be to perfumed“.
“We have a blend because people are scared that it would be too perfumed“
But that’s really bad winemaking, not the grape’s fault. A well-made Torrontés from a good producer, by people who care, and a good altitude is something else entirely: jasmine, white peach, citrus peel on the nose, then a dry, lively palate that surprises you with how fresh it is.
Altitud along with the richness of the soil and picking timing are key. High-altitude grapes, particularly from La Rioja’s Famatina Valley and Salta’s Cafayate, develop aromatics slowly, preserving acidity and preventing that heavy, overripe quality. Look for wines from these two regions first. The picking season, also known as Vendimia, changes depending on the weather of the area. In La Rioja, it starts in January and February.
Everything on this list is dry. Everything is best served cold — around 8–10°C, colder than you’d serve most whites. And everything is best drunk young, within two years of the vintage on the label. Torrontés doesn’t age. It’s built for now. It lives in the present. For enjoyment.
The Best Torrontés Wines Available in the UK
Susana Balbo Crios Torrontés
If you’re going to start somewhere, start here. Susana Balbo is the most important name in Argentine white wine. Famously awarded the title of the Queen of Torrontés, she spent the 1980s pioneering Torrontés at a time when everyone said it couldn’t be made well, and this is her everyday expression of it. Crios means “kids” — it’s the younger, more approachable sibling of her flagship wines, and it consistently delivers more than its price point suggests. Perfect for those who want an intro to the grape and are open to try something different.
The nose is intensely floral, jasmine, rose petals, orange blossom — followed by stone fruit and a sharp citrus edge. When you drink it,the palate becomes dry, fresh, but with good acidity and a longer finish. This is theunexpected combination of the Torrontés and what you’d expect at this price. It’s the Torrontés that converts people. I have enjoyed this by myself, reflecting after a long read. And served very chilled. A great company.
- Where to buy: Majestic Wine — around £12–14
- Best with: Spiced dishes, grilled fish, Thai green curry, goat’s cheese
2. La Riojana Santa Florentina Organic Torrontés-Chardonnay Fairtrade
This one is personal to me. La Riojana is the cooperative based in Chilecito, in the heart of the Famatina Valley — the region my family is from. They’re the world’s largest Fairtrade organic wine producer, and their Santa Florentina range is the best entry point into what the valley actually produces. The Torrontés-Chardonnay blend smooths the grape’s more intense floral edges with Chardonnay’s weight, making it an easier first bottle for someone who isn’t sure about Torrontés yet.
Chilecito is one of my favourite towns in La Rioja. Another fun fact is that the famous tango sung by Carlos Gardel worldwide, was written by Gabino Coria Peñaloza, direct descendant of el “Chacho” Peñaloza, from Chilecito.
La Riojana also produces one of the best olive oils in Argentina and run diverse education programs to foster the growth of the families in the region. I always smile when I see the “Product of Chilecito” on the label, as I walk around the aisles Co-Op in the UK.
- Where to buy: Corney & Barrow.
- Also available as: The Co-op Fairtrade Torrontés-Chardonnay blend — same cooperative, different label, available nationwide in stores
- Best with: Seafood, mild fish dishes, fresh salads
3. Co-op Fairtrade Torrontés-Chardonnay (La Riojana)
The most accessible bottle on this list, and genuinely one of the best value wines in any UK supermarket, not just in this category. Made by La Riojana from Famatina Valley grapes and sold under the Co-op’s own Fairtrade label, this won a bronze medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards with 88 points. It won’t say “Torrontés” in large letters on the front look for it in the Argentine white section and check the back label.
It’s lighter and more approachable than a 100% Torrontés, but the floral character and fresh acidity are clearly there. For someone who wants to try the style before committing to a specialist bottle, this is the one to start with. It’s also a wine you can take to a dinner party and genuinely impress people with — because nobody will have heard of it.
- Where to buy: Co-op stores nationwide and online
- Price: Around £7–9
- Best with: Any occasion, picnics, light pasta dishes, cheese boards
4. Inacayal Torrontés
A step up in intensity from the Co-op blend and a truer expression of the grape on its own. The Inacayal comes from La Rioja and delivers exactly what Torrontés is supposed to be: floral and aromatic on the nose, dry and lively on the palate, with stone fruit and a clean finish. It’s one of the better value pure-Torrontés bottles you can get in the UK without paying fine wine prices.
I would recommend this very cold, during a meal, surrounded by friends in one of those hot summer days. It woud be the most light and refreshing wine you would have tried. I have a memory of drinking a 100% Torrentés, in my parent’s garden, on a 36 C day with my grilled chicken lunch. I can truly attest I haven’t had that wine experience in a long time
- Where to buy: VINVM (vinvm.co.uk) and Vino Direct (vinodirect.co.uk)
- Price: Around £10–13
- Best with: Vietnamese food, ceviche, seafood empanadas, mild spiced dishes
5. Any Current Laithwaites Torrontés Listing
Laithwaites regularly stocks at least one or two Torrontés expressions and they rotate seasonally, so rather than recommending a specific bottle that may be out of stock, the advice here is simple: go to laithwaites.co.uk and search Torrontés. Whatever they have, buy it. Their sourcing is reliable, their prices are fair, and they ship everywhere in the UK.
- Where to buy: laithwaites.co.uk
- Best with: Check the bottle’s own suggestions — Laithwaites usually includes food pairing notes
The One Thing Everyone Gets Wrong About Torrontés
People smell it and think it’s going to be sweet. It almost never is. The floral aromatics — jasmine, rose petals, orange blossom — read as sweetness to the nose, but the palate is dry, sometimes bracingly so. That contrast is the point. It’s the same thing that makes Gewürztraminer interesting, but Torrontés is lighter, fresher, and considerably easier to drink in quantity.
The other mistake is serving it too warm. Not cold enough, Torrontés becomes flat and the aromatics turn heavy. Colder than you think around 8°C — is the target. Pull it from the fridge 10 minutes before you pour it.
If you, like me, are a slower drinker, the safest option for a hot day is placing the bottle in a bucket )or whatever you have that resembles that) full of ice, and most importantly water. Do not forget the water. The ice alone won’t do the trick. Believe me, I learned this from a Sommelier and it does make the difference.
Where to Start If You’ve Never Tried It
If you want to spend under £10 and buy it today: Co-op Fairtrade Torrontés-Chardonnay. If you want the best pure expression of the grape under £15: Susana Balbo Crios. If you want something with a direct connection to the Famatina Valley: La Riojana Santa Florentina from Corney & Barrow. If you want to go deeper: read our full guide to what Torrontés actually is, or find out why the Famatina Valley produces some of Argentina’s most interesting wine.
All the wines on this list are available with UK delivery. The Where to Buy page has the full list of UK merchants who stock Torrontés and is updated regularly.
FAQs
What is the best Torrontés wine for beginners?
The Susana Balbo Crios Torrontés is the most consistent introduction — widely available at Majestic, well-priced, and reliably made. The Co-op Fairtrade Torrontés-Chardonnay blend is the easiest to find and a good first step if you want to try before committing to a full varietal bottle.
Is Torrontés wine sweet or dry?
Almost all Torrontés wines are dry. The confusion comes from the nose — floral aromas of jasmine and rose petals can read as sweet, but the palate is typically fresh, dry, and lively. If you enjoy dry Riesling or Gewürztraminer, Torrontés is a natural next step.
Where can I buy Torrontés wine in the UK?
The most accessible options are Co-op stores nationwide and Majestic Wine for the Susana Balbo. For a wider selection, VINVM, Laithwaites, and Corney & Barrow are the most reliable specialist sources. See the full Where to Buy page for the complete list.
What food goes with Torrontés?
Torrontés excels with anything lightly spiced — Thai green curry, Vietnamese dishes, ceviche, grilled fish, empanadas, and fresh goat’s cheese. Its natural acidity handles spice better than most white wines. Avoid very heavy or rich dishes — the wine’s lightness gets lost.
How should I serve Torrontés?
Serve it cold — around 8–10°C, colder than you’d serve most whites. Pull it from the fridge 10 minutes before pouring rather than 30 or, if you are a slow drinker, get it in a bucket with ice and water for longer freshness. Drink it young, within two years of the vintage date on the label.