There are more than 400 names for Malbec, synonyms with very local applications, which can be seen as a reflection of the vine's adaptability or as a sign of its unpredictability.
The name Malbec (also Malbeck or Malbech) in one story is traced back to a Hungarian peasant who may have brought the vines into France several centuries ago.
Long used as one of the five blending grapes in the red wines of Bordeaux, Malbec is difficult to ripen in cold years there, and is susceptible to damage by mildew and other "pressures" that may infect damp, densely planted vineyards.
In the Cahors region of southwest France, Malbec produces a more robust vine and is often vinified on its own. Known as the “black wine of Cahors” because of its very dark color, this Malbec can be offered as a varietal wine or used to add body and color to other blends.
The invasion of Phylloxera in French vineyards in the 19th Century greatly diminished the amount of Malbec planted there. The vine seems particularly sensitive to pests and disease. The “great freeze” that struck France in 1956 was another blow to Malbec. Frost killed 75 percent of the Malbec in the Medoc region, and growers replaced those vines with varieties which had more value in the marketplace.
