World Malbec Day was commemorated earlier this week on Monday, April 17, 2023, and today, Thursday Food introduces you to two flagship Malbecs from a new bodega that is the first to launch a wine with a label designed through artificial intelligence (AI). Cimarrón Wines, which is located in the Mendoza province of Argentina, is a winery by agronomist Lucca Stradella, a fourth generation member of the Bianchi family. Globally, the business, manufacturing and service industries have been revolutionised by the spread of AI. In fact, it has become increasingly rare to find an industry that has not been profoundly impacted by the introduction of AI. Cimarrón Wines took the bold step to use AI technology to design the labels for their Entre Gallos y Medianoche Malbec, which was made from grapes grown at vineyards in San Rafael and the Uco Valley, in an unprecedented combination of two terroirs.

Bodega Cimarrón, founded in 2005, is known for producing some of the best wines in the world using traditional winemaking techniques combined with modern technology. It was founded by a group of friends who were passionate about wine and had a desire to create exceptional wines that showcase the unique terroir of Mendoza. With access to some of the best high-altitude vineyards in the region, which are irrigated with pure water from the Andes Mountains, these vintners currently produce award-winning wine from Malbec grapes. The winery is also committed to sustainability by using organic and biodynamic farming practices to produce their wines along with reducing their carbon footprint with the use of solar energy and natural insulation.

Cimarrón Wines’ recent unveiling of its new wine label, designed with the help of AI, is being hailed by wine and tech enthusiasts alike as an innovative approach in a first for Argentina’s viticulture industry. The label incorporates several unique features that set it apart from traditional wine labels and features a bold, abstract design that evokes a sense of modernity and sophistication. It also includes dynamic elements that change based on various factors, such as the temperature and lighting conditions. Another one of the more amazing and intriguing aspects of the AI design is its ability to personalise the label for each individual bottle of wine using machine-learning algorithms.

The AI can analyse various data points about each bottle of wine, such as the grape variety, vineyard location, and vintage. This then allows for each label to be customised, based on this information, to provide a unique and personalised experience for each consumer. This includes helping to make a more informed purchasing decision by providing information such as the wine’s flavour profile, food-pairing suggestions, and ideal serving temperature. Cimarrón Wines has two lines within its portfolio: La Contienda and Entre Gallos y Medianoche.

La Contienda Malbec is a novel red wine made with 100 per cent Malbec grapes from a vineyard located at an altitude of 1,352 metres in the Gualtallary area of Mendoza. This is the first line of wines for the bodega and, in addition to Malbec, will grow to include a Cabernet Franc and Nebbiolo, among other varieties. The wine has an intense purple colour and features complex aromatics with tones of ripe plums, blueberries and blackberries. On the palate it is opulent and full of flavour having a distinct freshness followed by an intense finish with smoky memories.

Entre Gallos y Medianoche Malbec-Malbec is the second line of wines and is made with 100 per cent Malbec grapes grown at two separate vineyards with distinctly dissimilar terroirs that have been combined in a very successful way. This wine is a perfectly complex varietal with an intense ruby colour and deep violet hues. On the nose, flowers and notes of the Gualtallary terroir explode, before giving way to its fusion with the violets, spicy red fruits and balsamic notes from San Rafael. This Malbec also expresses a freshness with profiles of stone fruits, such as plums and apricots along with finishes of pyrazines and menthol. On the palate, it is powerful, round and friendly with stone fruits that stand out, accompanied by black fruits. It has great length and persistence, as well, that allows an appreciation of the balsamic touches, such as fresh eucalyptus and slight pyrazines ending with a subtle touch of menthol.

Entre Gallos y Medianoche’s label was made using software that was provided with words, concepts and styles so that it could create an image through AI. The name of the label is based on a classic phrase from Argentina: ‘Between roosters and midnight’, which refers to something unexpected, something inopportune, something that happens without planning. The final result is a label that showcases what the AI interpreted from the name Entre Gallos y Medianoche.