Malbec vineyard of Atamisque, Mendoz. Standing at an elevation of 1,300 meters, the winery offers a great location for the grapes to develop the flavors of tannin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

3. Malbec was primarily used as a blending grape as one of the five Bordeaux varieties. It had great potential but never became a top French variety as the grapes are very vulnerable to weather and pests. In the late 19th century, a disease called phylloxera caused by insects killed most of the Malbec plantation in France. Fortunately, the variety had been well adapted in Argentina by that time.