Viñalba Celebrates Outstanding International Recognition in 2026
From a Gold Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards to a 96-point score for Cuvée Diane, Viñalba’s 2026 results showcase the quality, diversity and ambition of Argentine wine.
Viñalba is celebrating another exceptional year of international recognition, with its wines earning prestigious medals and high scores across leading wine judging programmes in 2026. Reinforcing Viñalba’s commitment to producing characterful wines that reflect the quality and diversity of Argentina’s vineyards from distinctive regions such as Gualtallary in the Uco Valley and Rio Negro in Patagonia. Highlights include a Gold Medal and Value award at the Decanter World Wine Awards, a 96-point score for Viñalba Cuvée Diane from Descorchados, and 94-point scores for both Viñalba Cuvée Diane and Viñalba Gran Reservado Malbec in Tim Atkin MW’s Argentina Special Report.
Gold and Value recognition at Decanter
One of the year’s standout achievements came at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2026, where Viñalba Reserve Malbec Touriga Nacional 2025 received 95 points, a Gold Medal and a Value award.
The result recognises a wine that combines competition-level quality with an appealing value proposition. The blend brings together Malbec, Argentina’s signature red grape, and Touriga Nacional, a variety that adds another dimension to Viñalba’s winemaking approach.
The winery also received Silver Medals for Viñalba Gran Reservado Malbec 2024, with 91 points, and Viñalba Reserve Patagonia Malbec 2025, with 90 points.
Organised by Decanter magazine, the Decanter World Wine Awards is one of the wine industry’s best-known international competitions. Its judging process brings together experienced wine professionals, including Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers, to assess wines through structured blind tastings. Recognition at the competition offers an important independent endorsement for producers and their wines.
Strong results from the International Wine Challenge
Viñalba continued its success at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2026, securing two Silver Medals.
Viñalba Reserve Malbec 2025 achieved 92 points, while Viñalba Reserve Malbec Touriga Nacional 2025 received 90 points.
The results highlight the consistency of the Reserve range, with both a classic Malbec expression and the Malbec–Touriga Nacional blend receiving international recognition.
The IWC is an established global wine competition known for its rigorous judging process. Wines are tasted blind and assessed by panels of experienced judges, with awards based on quality, balance and style. Its results provide consumers and the trade with an independent reference point when exploring wines from around the world.
Recognition from James Suckling
The 2026 Argentina report from internationally renowned wine critic James Suckling also delivered strong results for Viñalba, with four tasting entries scoring between 90 and 92 points.
Viñalba Cuvée Diane 2023, Viñalba Malbec Gran Reserva 2024 and Viñalba Reserva Malbec Cabernet Franc 2025 each received 92 points. Viñalba Reserve Malbec Touriga Nacional 2025 achieved 90 points.
James Suckling is one of the wine world’s most widely followed critics, known for his international tasting reports and numerical scoring system. His annual Argentina coverage provides an important platform for highlighting the country’s producers and the diversity of its wines.
Tim Atkin MW awards 94 points to Diane and Gran Reservado
Further recognition came from Master of Wine Tim Atkin’s Argentina Special Report 2026, with Viñalba achieving particularly strong results across its premium wines.
Viñalba Cuvée Diane 2023 and Viñalba Gran Reservado Malbec 2024 both received 94 points. The Malbec/Cabernet Franc 80/20 Reserva 2025 followed closely with 93 points, while Viñalba Reserve Malbec 2025 scored 92 points and Viñalba Malbec/Touriga Nacional Reserve 2025 achieved 91 points.
Tim Atkin MW is a respected wine writer and critic whose annual Argentina Special Report offers an extensive assessment of the country’s wines and producers. His work has helped bring international attention to Argentina’s evolving wine landscape, including the growing emphasis on regional identity, vineyard expression and the potential of high-altitude viticulture.
Atkin has also recognised the contribution of Hervé J. Fabre, Viñalba’s founder and winemaker, naming him a “Legend of Winemaking” in his 2021 Argentina report. The recognition reflected Hervé’s longstanding contribution to Argentine wine and his pioneering work with Malbec.
A 96-point achievement for Cuvée Diane at Descorchados
The highest score in Viñalba’s 2026 results came at the beginning of the year from Descorchados, the influential South American wine guide led by Chilean wine critic Patricio Tapia.
Viñalba Cuvée Diane 2023 received an outstanding 96 points, placing the flagship wine at the forefront of this year’s recognition for Viñalba. Viñalba Gran Reservado Malbec 2023 also performed strongly with 94 points.
Three further wines received 92 points: Viñalba Reserva Malbec 2024, Viñalba Reserva Malbec Cabernet Franc 2024 and Viñalba Reserva Malbec Touriga Nacional 2024.
Founded by Tapia, Descorchados has become an important reference for wines from Argentina, Chile and other South American countries. Its regional focus makes it particularly relevant to producers seeking to demonstrate the quality and individuality of their vineyards and wines.
The vision behind Viñalba
Behind these achievements is Hervé J. Fabre, whose belief in Argentina’s potential helped establish Malbec as a grape capable of producing wines of international distinction.
Originally from Bordeaux, Fabre arrived in Argentina in the early 1990s and recognised the potential of the country’s Malbec vineyards. At a time when the grape was often used in blends, he championed its ability to stand centre stage as a varietal wine.
Together with his wife, Diane Joyaux Fabre, they established Viñalba in 2007, building a winery around the expression of Argentina’s vineyards and the distinctive qualities of its grape varieties.
Fabre’s contribution has been recognised beyond Viñalba’s own results. In 2018, he received the International Wine Challenge’s Red Winemaker of the Year award, while Viñalba Gran Reservado Malbec 2015 earned both the International Malbec Trophy and the Regional Uco Malbec Trophy.
That pioneering spirit continues through a portfolio that celebrates Malbec while exploring the potential of blends such as Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Celebrating Argentina, one bottle at a time
Viñalba’s 2026 results represent recognition from a broad cross-section of the international wine community, spanning major competitions, specialist South American wine guides and influential critics.
For Viñalba, these accolades are a testament to the vision of Hervé J. Fabre, the character of Argentina’s vineyards and a continued commitment to making wines that offer distinction, personality and enjoyment. We are truly thrilled with our latest award results.
As the winery looks ahead, its focus remains on sharing the diversity of Argentine wine with drinkers around the world and continuing to demonstrate just how much our vineyards have to offer. View the range of Viñalba’s historic awards here.