Mendoza has reached a milestone that the Argentine wine industry has been building toward for years. Huentala Calizo Albar Block 06 Malbec 2023 was named the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Champion Red Wine 2026 in London, ending a run of French winners and marking the first time an Argentine wine has taken the title in the competition’s history.
The IWC is one of the three most prestigious blind-tasting competitions in the world alongside the Decanter World Wine Awards and the Vinexpo Trophy. The Champion Red Wine title goes to the single red wine that scores highest across all categories and varieties, meaning this Malbec outperformed entries from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Barolo and Rioja.
What the Wine Is
Huentala is a boutique producer operating in Mendoza’s Lujan de Cuyo subregion. The Calizo Albar Block 06 is a single-vineyard expression made from old-vine Malbec grown on calcareous soils at altitude, vinified with minimal intervention. The 2023 vintage benefited from a dry, warm growing season with sharp day-night temperature variation — conditions Mendoza’s high-elevation vineyards consistently deliver.
This is not Huentala’s first international recognition. The winery has accumulated medals at Decanter over several years, but the IWC champion title puts it in a different category entirely.
Mendoza’s Wider 2026 Form
The IWC title did not arrive in isolation. At the Decanter World Wine Awards 2026, Rutini Single Vineyard Gualtallary Malbec secured Best in Show for the second consecutive year. In August, Mendoza’s 21st Best of Wine Tourism Gala awarded gold to eight projects across sustainability, culture and innovation — with Bodega Kaiken and Autores por los Caminos del Vino among the winners.
The pattern across 2026 is consistent: Mendoza is producing wines that are winning at the top end of blind tastings, not just in regional categories.
Visiting Mendoza in October
October is one of the strongest months to visit Mendoza as a wine tourist, even though it falls outside the March-April harvest season. Vines are in spring growth, the Andean backdrop is clear of cloud, temperatures run between 22°C and 25°C, and tasting rooms have space. Accommodation is 20 to 30% cheaper than harvest season, and restaurant bookings at winery restaurants are straightforward to arrange.
The Uco Valley, south of the city of Mendoza, is particularly worth visiting in October. At elevations between 1,000m and 1,500m, this is where many of the single-vineyard, high-altitude Malbecs that compete at IWC level are produced. Producers including Zuccardi, Achaval Ferrer, and Clos de los Siete all welcome visitors.
For a full overview of getting to Mendoza, wine touring logistics, and the best bodegas to visit, see our Mendoza guide.