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Archive for August, 2010



Give it a drive!

Monday, August 30th, 2010

Norton Barrel Select Malbec, the US Open wine

For the first time in history, an Argentine wine has been chosen to participate in the US Open, the most prestigious tennis tournament in the US. From August 30 to September 12, Norton Barrel Select Malbec will be the wine hosting the tournament to be held in Flushing Meadows, New York.

Those who are able to enjoy this major Grand Slam live will be entertained in VIP areas, where players and organizers will be present, with an emblematic wine from our country, such as Norton Barrel Select Malbec….

Read complete article here!

Look for other wine ACES in our online store!

Posted in Behind the bottle, In the News, Mendoza Bodegas | No Comments »


Start your weekend today! Yes on a Wednesday…Watermelon and Red Wine Cocktail

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Hi there! As the tittle of the post suggests…let’s start our weekend on a Wednesday! and get slowly into the mood.

I’m aware that this cocktail might sound like a weird combination, but if you try it I’m sure you are going to change your mind immediately! It’s very refreshing, try it with different varietals like Malbec, Syrah, or Petit Verdot  and compare different characteristics that each varietal gives to the drink combined with the watermelon.

Here are some great wines that you can get in our online store:

Monte Cinco Petit Verdot 2007  bold tannins and black fruit.

Mil Vientos Syrah 2006  is like walking slowly down a tree-lined lane after a summer rain shower!

Giménez Riili Malbec 2006 cherry and raspberry round out in your mouth…

Now the recipe! Cheers!
Ingredients

•    about 1/4 whole melon piece – watermelon
•    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•    1/4 cup fresh lime juice
•    Dark brown sugar to taste (optional)
•    2 cups chilled full-bodied  red wine
•    1/2 cup roughly chopped toasted pecans

1. Cut watermelon flesh into large pieces. Cut central part of flesh without seeds into enough tiny cubes to make 1 cup.

2. Put remaining flesh into a food processor, and pulse it enough to puree it without breaking seeds. Strain. You should have 2 cups. Stir in vanilla, lime juice and, if desired, sugar to taste.

3. Mix red wine with the watermelon puree. Serve in goblets, straight up or over ice, with some cubes of watermelon and pecans in each glass.

Serve 6

Source NY Times

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Think of Jose | José de San Martín

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

By Vince Meldrum

I have been thinking about this post for a long time — which inevitably means it is going to be disappointing to both me and whoever reads it. I find that if you think about something too much it kills the best part of whatever idea got you started in the first place. But, in this case, I really had no idea where this post was going and so there is very little chance that I will kill the best part of the idea.

So, what have I been thinking about? General Jose de San Martin. Mendoza (and really all of Argentina) is riddled with statues, plazas, streets, schools, monuments dedicated to General José de San Martin. Why am I wondering about General San Martin in the middle of the night in the dead of winter? No reason really. But it is amazing to me how many things are named for San Martin in Argentina. Every city we have been to, regardless of size has a street named for the good general. It is usually the main street in town.

Random side note: In Utah the main street in every town is “State Street” – who was State and what did he do to have every main street named after him?

Who was San Martin? Are you crazy? That is like saying who was George Washington! Ok, a bit over the top there. But it is time for a bit of Argentine history.

San Martin is revered (not just liked or honored – revered I say!) in Argentina as the military hero who brought independence to the country; in Chile as the general who helped Bernardo O’Higgins oust the Spanish royalists; in Peru as the man who ended the vice-royalty system and liberated the country. His honorary titles included:

Generalissimo of the Ejército Unido de los Andes y de Chile
Fundador de la Libertad del Peru
Knight of the Andes
Santo de la Espada – Argentina’s greatest hero

One historian put San Martin’s legacy in these terms: He knew how to win. Not a bad way to be known if you are a general.

San Martin began his military training at age 13 in Madrid. While in Madrid he became fast friends with Bernardo O’Higgins, who would become the other half of a famed duo that would oust the Spanish from South America.

A side note on Bernardo O’Higgins: He was sent to study in Europe by his father, Ambrioso O’Higgins. The elder O’Higgins failed to publicly acknowledge the young Bernardo as his son (the younger Bernardo was the child of a local Chilean lady of some prominence – not the elder O’Higgins’ wife) and never really new him. The elder O’Higgins was the Spanish Governor of Chile at the time and later became the Viceroy of Peru. So what is the payback for not getting to know your son? He grows up and liberates Chile and Peru from Spain – I bet the Spanish were none to pleased with the elder O’Higgins after that little indiscretion.

Anyway, San Martín started his reputation for defeating the Spanish in 1813 when he rousted royalist forces at San Lorenzo. While he felt good about pushing the Spanish out of Argentina, he recognized that Argentina could not be free until the threat from Chile and Peru, both strongly Spanish royalist, ended.

In 1817 San Martin and O’Higgins led their combined armies over a pass nearly 15,000 feet high in the Andes Mountains. The march over the Andes has been memorialized in Mendoza at the Hill of the Glory.

http://www.veomendoza.com.ar/web/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/sanmartincrossestheandes.jpg

Following Chile’s independence, San Martin was offered the supreme dictatorship of Chile. He refused the honor. A few years later when he pulled off a similar victory in Peru he was offered the supreme dictatorship of Peru, which he also refused. Perhaps he was looking for a better offer.

There is a lot more to the story, but suffice it to say General San Martin did a lot. For all of his efforts he has a park (Parque de San Martin,) and a plaza (Plaza de San Martin,) named after him in Mendoza.

Hope that wasn’t too boring – like I said it has been banging around in my head for a while – I should have let it out earlier.

http://ayearinmendoza.blogspot.com/2006/07/thinking-of-jose.html#links

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Friday the 13th vs Tuesday the 13th

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Are you Superstitious?

It depends on where you are and what your cultural background is apparently. I forgot what day it was until I checked facebook,  oh trusty facebook, and saw all the status updates talking about Friday the 13th. Basically, I associate Friday the 13th with the motion picture industry and Freddy!

However my curiosity was sparked because here in Argentina, Friday the 13th does not portend bad luck, it is actually Tuesday the 13th when you are not to get married or embark on a boat…ok.

However after a bit of research it is actually really interesting the significance of the number 13 and what days are considered bad luck.

US/Northern European/ Anglo Saxon Countries- Friday the 13th

Spain/Greece/ Latin American countries- Tuesday the 13th

Italy- Friday the 17th (hmm)

Why Tuesday?

This day dates back to the middle ages when on Tuesday May 29, 1453 the city of Constantinople fell, which was a huge blow to potential Christians and since then Tuesday came to symbolize the war with the pagan gods and as such, bad luck. Also Marte, is the god of war and reflects destruction, blood and violence and that one legend states that Tuesday the 13th caused the confusion
of the different languages when constructing the Tower of Babel, thus eradicating the option to have a unified humanity. Serious stuff and if you haven’t caught up recently on your mythology check Wikipedia here.

Trezidavomartiofobia vs triskaidekaphobia?

According to an super informational article in Indy Posted: The fear of Friday the 13th goes back to ancient times. Friday the 13 superstitions are rooted in two separate fears. The fear of the 6th day of the week, and the fear of the number 13. When these two things are combined, you have one seriously unlucky day.

According to National Geographic, Friday the 13th is rooted in a Norse myth. 12 Gods sat down for dinner, when a 13th uninvited guest, Loki arrived. Loki, the god of mischief, convinced Holder, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Balder, the beautiful god of joy and gladness.

Some people also trace Friday the 13th back to the last supper. Again, 13 people sit down to dinner, and one eventually dies. Judas, the apostle who betrayed Christ, is said to be the 13th person to the table.

So basically, don’t have dinner with 13 people tonight.

Another theory about Friday the 13th superstitions, is that 13 is unlucky because it follows 12. 12 is considered by many to be a complete number. 12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus.

Friday the 13th Superstitions

If you have dinner with 13 people, one of those people will die within a year.

If you cut your hair on Friday the 13th, someone you love will die within a year.

A child born on Friday the 13th will be unlucky for life.

If a funeral procession passes you on Friday the 13th, you will be the next to die.

According to the Huffington Post, many Friday the 13th Superstitions still exist. Hospitals and hotels don’t usually have 13th floors. Airplanes don’t usually have a 13th gate or a 13th aisle. Some cities will skip over 13th avenues. And if you have 13 letters in your name, like Charles Manson, you’re bound to have the devil’s luck.

Good luck today in the Northern Hemispheres- here in Argentina we have a year, until September 2011 when we will experience the same phenomenon.

Posted in In the News, Life in Mendoza | No Comments »


The Vines Weekly Wine Series | Sensory Tasting

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

So over the last couple of weeks, we have gone over how to conduct blind tastings, general tasting techniques and now there is more fun to be had- sensory tastings! This is actually a really good way to start to hone what you smell with what you are able to cognitively recognize. How many times are you lured by the smell of movie theater popcorn, a baked cherry pie, fresh from the oven- you have a vast olfactory memory but at times it is hard to put it into words.

How many times have you said this smell reminds me of something but you just can’t quite put your finger on it.

Test Your Nose

So to test your olfactory senses- cut up slices of banana, orange, lemon, chocolate, cinnamon, cumin, or put mashed berries, tobacco, whatever you have ever thought you could smell in a wine and place them in a set of glasses and put your nose to work. You can also add a little bit of neutral alcohol (or as Mariana tells me, cheap wine) and it will make the aromas a bit stronger in the glass.

You can also invest in a set of essences from Nez de vin, but they tend to be a bit synthetic so it is always better to try and use natural ingredients when you can. Below is a brief description of how Michael, Mariana and I approach sensory tasting at The Vines Tasting Room in downtown Mendoza, Argentina.

And for some tips to help you out with Argentina’s emblematic varietals, the Torrontes, Bonarda and Malbec we have created the following. If you just happen to be in Mendoza or are planning a trip in the near future, make sure to come by the Tasting Room to try one of our guided sensory tastings, where one of our servers can explain all the finer aspects of how to taste and compare essences.

Salud!

The Argentine Sensory Experience

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Argentine Wines & The Vines of Mendoza are capturing the Brazilian Market

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Malbec is the craze in the US, with good reason, but now the Brazilian market is rapidly gaining ground and looking to the south to provide wines for its booming restaurant and wine scene. In the news, in addition to all of the articles about US consumption, Brazil has become captivated with Malbec and Argentine wines. For example, just in the last week these articles have profiled the significant increase in exports as well as dollar value which can be attributed to several different trends including a strong real, an increasing middle class, and attention to lifestyle pursuits.

Strong Brazilian Economy

An article in Bloomberg.com notes that the rise in the Brazilian real is making the purchasing power easier for Brazilians to stock up on top Argentine wines. They also mention that the increase in popularity is due to a combination of economic factors, the quality to price ratio, Malbec led growth, and lifestyle choices.

“Exports to South America’s most-populous country rose 49 percent in the first five months of this year from a year earlier to a record $15.8 million, according to a July report from Caucasia Wine Thinking, a research company based in Mendoza, the center of Argentina’s wine region. Sales to the U.S., the biggest importer, rose 19 percent to $97 million over the same period.”

They also mention The Vines of Mendoza as a way to procure their own wine.

At Vines of Mendoza, a company that sells and manages vineyards for private buyers in the Uco Valley, staff are studying Portuguese, Brazil’s official language, after the number of Brazilians visiting its two tasting rooms rose three- fold from 2008, company president Michael Evans said. Five of the company’s 79 landowners are from Brazil, up from one a year ago, he said.

“It’s become our second most important market in just the last year,” Evans said via e-mail. “We are seeing a huge influx of Brazilians.”

Brazil is the 3rd Largest Market for Argentine Wines

Behind the US and Canada, Brazil is rapidly consuming and importing more and more Argentine wines.

An Article in Wine Sur states: ” As regards Brazil, the third market in importance, exports have increased 49.1% in value and 23.5% in volume.

Another article in Wine Sur notes that the trend “is closely related to the fact that “Brazilian consumers are becoming more sophisticated and enjoy pairing their food with good wines. They look for greater complexity, always appreciating the fruit.”

Private Vineyard Estates featured in the Brazilian Equivalent of the Wall Street Journal

The newspaper Jornal Valor of Sao Paulo featured The Vines of Mendoza’s Private Vineyard Estates yesterday appealing to wine enthusiasts, businessmen and investors.  There is an increasing focus on the Argentine market for imports, investment, and lifestyle adventures. More and more wine enthusiasts are also hoping to make their vineyard dreams come to fruition. We have amongst our international set of owners, many Brazilians who visit frequently to check on their vineyards and wines. Over the last year we have seen increased interest from this market segment as owners would also like to increase the quality of Argentine Wines that are available in the Brazilian market.

Posted in In the News, Private Vineyard Estates | 1 Comment »


EVENTOS SEMANALES | WEEKLY EVENTS

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

The Vines of Mendoza | Eventos Semanales

barra_news_tastingroom.jpg

Decantados 50% Off en copas

Todos los miércoles y sábados | 7 a 9pm

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Degustación de Vinos y Tapas

Jueves 5  de Agosto | 8 a 10 pm | $45

Maridaje con vinos de Bodega RUCA MALEN .Incluye dos copas de vino acompañadas de variedad de tapas.
Descuentos especiales en los productos de esta bodega.

Reservas: events@vinesofmendoza.com Tel. +54 (0261) 438 1031

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The Vines Weekly Wine Series | Water Tasting (Yes- H20!)

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Use your wine tasting techniques on water

So last week we talked about the importance of blind tastings, its about getting in touch with your senses- sometimes we are going mach 10 and forget to stop and savor the best italian panini you have ever tasted or the most amazing nuances in a Pinot Noir. So to up the ante we decided to host a water tasting- yes your average H2O, which comprises over 96% of our bodies.

After doing a little research I was stunned that there is so much information on the web about tasting water. Who knew?! (except the people that organized the International Water Tasting Competition of course) So we hosted our own water tasting- only still water this time, with a few of The Vines staff members in our Mendoza Tasting Room, and used all the techniques that we have learned from wine to evaluate the sensory properties of these waters.

So what you want to think about is:

1. Smell- what do you smell, is it neutral, smell like chloride, or off smells (hopefully not)

2. Texture- how does the water coat your mouth, does it slide smoothly, is there stickiness

3. Taste- are there any apparent outstanding flavors that you can perceive and do you like/dislike them and how do they compare to the other waters that you are tasting

4. Finish- is there an aftertaste, any metallic flavors, or does it simply melt away?

So, you too can host a water tasting to prep for your wine tasting- see its not all for snobby sommeliers.

I found this super helpful resource from Bottled Water of the World (they must have a lobbying group for sure)

How to Conduct a Water Tasting

Written by Michael Mascha

A tasting provides the best introduction to the surprising richness of epicurean experiences with water. Here are directions for conducting your own.
•    Chill all the waters to about 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13°C) to nicely showcase the differences in the waters. Make sure they stay at the same temperature throughout the tasting otherwise their qualities (or the perception of them) will change.
•    You will need two to three proper water glasses per person. Ideally, have each flight in the glasses at the same time.
•    Sometimes it’s fun to have pure H2O available to calibrate your palate.
•    Serve bread or crackers, but not salty food.
•    Make notes if you wish, describing how the water feels (short, long, focused, wide, and so forth).
Because the waters vary significantly in mineral content, mouthfeel, and other characteristics, it will be hard to pick a best water. Instead, think of foods that would be good complements to
particular waters.

So the waters that we tasted:

Villivicencia- plastic bottle | 128 mg/l | Magnesium 40.8mg/l | Potassium 5.3 mg/l | Calcium 39.2 mg/l

Evian- they are French and do not need to put anything on ze bottle

Southern Sky- glass bottle | Sodium 41mg/l | Magnesium 3 mg/l | Potassium 23mg/l | Calcium 40mg/l | pH 8

Tap water- don’t think I want to know

So for more information on water tasting- maybe check out the International Water Tasting Competition- the best part is that the website is 2 camels, ha! http://www.2camels.com/international-water-tasting-contest.php

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