The Q Malbec from Quarisa Wines is a great example of Australian Malbec. It is brimming with dark fruit and chocolate, and thick with velvety tannins. Without being too predictable, this screams for some meat or something hearty grilled outdoors over charcoal.

Origin: Cahors, in Southwestern France. Mainly Grown In: Argentina and France, and a little bit in Chile and USA. Key Facts: Psychologists probably love Malbec because it is the perfect candidate for a nature-versus-nurture case study. In France, where Malbec originated (nature), it often struggles to ripen and is given less attention than its more famous counterparts, who hold more prestige and a higher price tag, ahem, we're looking at you, Cab and Merlot from Bordeaux. But in Argentina, Malbec is treated like royalty and is given the best plots of land where it can relish in sun-drenched vineyards (nurture), allowing it to produce wines of a distinct deep purple hue that burst with dark and bramble fruit flavours, violet, peppery spice and vanilla. Amazing what a little TLC can do for a grape's success. Fun Fact: Known to stain your teeth purple for 3 days straight! Okay not really, but if you ever visit Argentina, your teeth likely won't be white again until you return home.