Malbec is a black, mellow grape variety originally grown in France, in the Loire Valley and Cahors. Long known as one of the six grapes used in the blending of Bordeaux wine, it is increasingly celebrated as an Argentinean varietal wine. It is also grown in the cooler regions of California. It has an extensive listing, currently more than fifty, of synonyms.
Called Auxerrois in Cahors, Côt in the Loire and or Pressac in other places, the grape became less popular in Bordeaux after 1956 when frost killed off 75% of the crop. However, Malbec continued to be popular in Cahors where it was mixed with Merlot and Tannat to make dark, full-bodied wines, and more recently has been made into 100% malbec wines there.
Malbec is widely planted in Argentina and Chile producing a softer, less-tannic driven variety than the wines of Cahors. The best examples of these wines come from the Argentinean region of Mendoza.
The vine is widely planted in Argentina where it seems to have found a natural home, being used to produce very popular varietal wines. It is now thought that the variety known as Fer in that country is a clone. As a varietal it creates a rather inky red, intense wine, so it is also commonly used in blends, such as with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to create the renowned red French Bordeaux "claret" blend. In California and other areas it is increasingly being used for the same blending purpose.