(Infosurhoy) - After becoming a hub of quality and innovation, the century-old Argentine wine industry seeks to expand its presence in the international market.

In 2012, wine exports increased in volume by 17% to 365 million liters and in value by 10.15%, reaching US$920.4 million, according to the National Institute of Vitiviniculture (INV). Considering grape juice sales, overall exports reached US$1.1573 billion.

That’s a five-fold growth compared to 2000, thanks largely to malbec’s enthusiastic reception throughout the world.

“In 2000, we accounted for 1% of world wine exports. Today, we account for more than 3%,” said Juan José Canay, president of Bodegas de Argentina, a chamber that joins about 260 wineries nationwide. “Argentina is the fifth-leading world wine producer but is the ninth- largest exporter – that means we have an important area in which to keep growing.”

In the province of Mendoza, the epicenter of malbec’s boom, wineries look at the international market as the industry’s future.

The Peña Flor Group, Argentina’s No. 1 wine exporter, sells its red wines to more than 80 countries.