A passionate vintner unravels the origins of Malbec in the French town of Cahors

Did you know Malbec, often associated with Argentina, actually originates from Cahors in southwestern France? Cultivated since the time of the Roman Empire, this grape varietal flourished until the end of the Middle Ages before disappearing completely because of war, famine and the phylloxera plague.

The wines of Cahors used to grace the tables of kings, popes and Europe’s affluent, making it a viticultural gem by the 
13th century and surpassing even Bordeaux in size. In recent decades, Cahors has experienced a renaissance and managed to reignite interest in its wines, if the more than 200 thriving wineries are anything to go by.