French magnates, owners of famous chateaus, and Italian countesses are building wineries and vineyards in Argentina because it's the next big thing. Argentina is the world's 5th largest producer of wine. Over 400,000 Americans visit Aregntina every year, and over 130,000 Americans live in Buenos Aires. Malbec from Argentina is the fastest growing wine imported into the United States, at a growth rate of 30% per year Author has personal relationships with the following promininet people in the food/wine world: Francis Ford Coppola, Francis Mallman, Hugh Johnson, Lettie Teague, Rothschild and Mondavi families, Carol Meredith (enology prof at UC Davis).