Wine list stars

Argentine restaurants have once again flexed their wine list muscle, with nine ranking in The World of Fine Wine magazine’s annual awards and four picking up a full three-star constellation (read as ‘points’).

Last year saw eight Argentine lists enter the wine mag’s rankings – which award one, two or three stars to wine lists and is now in its third year – with just two, Oviedo and Pampa Roja, picking up a full constellation quota.

And 2016 has seen nine Argentine restaurants’ lists make the cut, slim pickings overall when you consider 4,500 wine lists in the world were scrutinised. Regardless – and without wishing to take away glory from those that attained and retained stars – it isn’t the fairest of analyses given that the magazine’s panel only judges those menus submitted.

Buenos Aires’ Aramburu houses a fantastic cellar, for example, as does Casa de Uco in Mendoza, and one can only assume these restaurant either aren’t aware of the awards or couldn’t be arsed to submit their menus.

On a regional scale, Argentina fared well given that Brazil only placed three times (although Taste-Vin in Belo Horizonte picked up the Best Wine List in South America accolade) and Chile just twice.

Some 322 lists in the world received top marks overall – with four of those in Argentina, the base is small and robust but there’s plenty of work to be done.

You can find Argentina’s alphabetical list below.

Cabaña Las Lilas*** (new entry)

Chila** (2015*)

El Baqueano** (2014*)

Elena* (2015*)

Happening*** (new entry)

Oviedo*** (2015***)

Pampa Roja*** (2015***)

Puerto Cristal** (2015*)

Unik** (2015*) (This restaurant is now closed.)