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Mendoza’s new Art Atelier- Gonzalo Anton

Friday, April 9th, 2010

One of Mendoza´s best kept secrets is the new atelier of international artist Gonzalo Antón (www.gonzaloanton.com) located on Larrea Street 1585, the heart of Chacras de Coria village: a district known for its small wineries, boutique inns and premium tourist attractions.

Gonzalo Antón was born in Mendoza and spends most of the year here when not traveling and personally delivering his paintings to international clients. He is often featured in international art exhibitions-you can see some of his international exhibits and press coverage in his website.
The atelier, with a spacious garden with a pool and the beautiful backdrop of ancient trees and the tranquility that is found inthe country- it is a perfect spot to create beautiful works of art.. After admiring some of his huge canvases (some measure 170 by 90 inches -4 by 2 meters!-) you will wish you had more space in your home to add some of his pieces. And if you are in luck that day, you might be one of the few he invites over for a drink afterward at his private home -just a 2 minute drive away- to frolic in the garden with his pet peacocks. Settle back with some wine and enjoy a lively conversation, a beautiful setting and fine art- this is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip.

Be sure to book a visit to Gonzalo´s hidden atelier when coming to Mendoza! Reservations can be made by calling 156 607 531 (from USA dial 011 549 261 660 7531).

Posted in Experiences, Life in Mendoza | 1 Comment »


The Vines Full Moon Harvest at The Private Vineyard Estates

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Last night, by moonlight, Pablo, Michael, and some of The Vines Team harvested Merlot for The Vines wines under the full moon. An unusually warm night in the Uco Valley, Mendoza, we enjoyed a typical asado and began harvesting around 11:30pm, a new experience for most of us. While most of us chose to use the light of the moon to harvest the bunches of grapes, there were a few that were assisted by headlamps.

Overall we harvested about 208 kilos of Merlot which was then sorted and processed in the winery and will begin fermentation in a high tech 1,000 liter microvinification stainless steel tank. It was a beautiful evening full of music, laughter and stars and maybe a bit of moon magic mixed in.

Posted in Experiences, Private Vineyard Estates | No Comments »


South African Wine Tasting at The Vines

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

We are surrounded by Malbec, Torrontes, and all Argentine wines, all the time. Last Friday, we had the distinct pleasure to host a tasting organized by Wines of South Africa to learn more about our Southern Hemisphere sister and her wines.

A group of prominent sommeliers and winemakers from Mendoza were on hand to learn about the growing wine regions of South Africa and what makes their wines special. For me it is infinitely amazing to see how different wine varietals are expressed so differently dependant in the terroir and growing conditions.

We started out with a sparking from Graham Beck made from 100% Chardonnay which was rich with yeasty aromas, hints for clean lime, persistent bubbles in the mouth, lots of apple and pear and a lovely finish.

Next up was a Sauvignon Blanc from Elim called the Weathergirl, 2008. Really typical varietal flavors of herbs, grass, pear, and apple, it was bright with acidity and character.

The star of the night was the 2008 Forrester Meinert Chenin Blanc (FMC) and surprisingly it had 12.8 grams of residual sugar. This means that it should taste sweet on the mouth, yet the acidity and balance of this wine, made the sugar blend into a balanced wine throughout the mouth with fragrant aromas and a lingering finish.

The reds were comprised of a 2007 pinotage made by an ‘estate’ (which is the English for ‘Landgoed’) named Groot Constantia, 2007 de Trafford Shiraz from Stellenbosch, 2008 The Chocolate Block from Boekenhoutskloof, based in Franschhoek69% Syrah, 12% Grenache Noir, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cinsault, 2% Viognier) the Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005 from Jonkershoek Valley in Stellenbosch.

The amount of varietals that are planted in South Africa is impressive with many Rhone varietals and the popular Pinotage. Host, Meryl Weaver gave a comprehensive overview of the different wine regions of South Africa as well as some of the history of the industry. Like Argentina, they have been greatly affected by the effect of foreign technology and investment in the last 1990′s with political restructuring help from Nelson Mandela. Today the country is much more peaceful and we look forward to seeing more of what South Africa has to offer!

Posted in Experiences, Tasting Notes | 2 Comments »


MARCH | FREE SHIPPING!

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Be sure to take advantage of The Vines March Madness- Free Shipping on orders of $150 or more!

Increase your cool factor by tossing around the words Malbec and Torrontes and your friends will be in awe of your substantial wine knowledge. Order for your friends, family, summer BBQ’s, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, cousin’s sons birthday…the list is endless.

It never hurts to have crazy amazing wine on hand- wines that won’t cost you a gazillion dollars and wine that doesn’t make you look like the schmuck that forgot to buy a present and you went to the local gas station to buy wine for the night.

Just visit www.vinesofmendoza.com to take advantage!

Happy drinking!

Posted in In the News | No Comments »


The Vines Bodega’s Inauguration!

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Yesterday was both a momentous and emotional day for The Vines of Mendoza team and Private Vineyard Estate owners. We harvested our first red grapes of the 2010 harvest and even more importantly the first in our new bodega. The last four years seem to have flown by and to see the machines in action processing the grapes was to realize all of our dreams, all of the hard work that has gone into the project and the team that has made it all happen. There were several owners on hand to witness the harvest and we were all overcome by the potential of what we have in store for all of our Private Vineyard Estate owners.

We harvested by hand, 1,100 kilos of Merlot at 25.5 degrees brix. Gustavo, the red wine winemaker for Mondavi, here visiting his friend Wandyr, whose Merlot we processed today, was impressed by the Merlot, telling me that they can’t get the flavor, sugar and mature seed development in California as we have achieved with our Merlot in the Uco Valley. Santiago Achaval, our consulting winemaker, was also on hand and was very happy with how the grapes are maturing and even got in on the action, sorting grapes with the team!

Congratulations to everyone on an amazing beginning to the 2010 Cosecha!

Posted in Experiences, In the News, Photos, Private Vineyard Estates | No Comments »


Vendimia festivities in Mendoza

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Vendimia has descended on Mendoza- full of color, festivities, food and of course ubiquitous Argentine wine! It is an amazing time of year with festivals in the plazas, music, dancing and everyone in good spirits. This also marks the first year that a train has run from Buenos Aires to Mendoza in 16 years! 400 passengers loaded up to make the run and enjoy the Vendimia festivities!

From the perspective of a North American, I am always giddy with delight by the cultural differences and how much I love Vendimia. For example:

In the parades, each float, hence each queen, represents a different fruit/vegetable/wine which they throw into the crowds during the Via Blanca and Carusel parades through the streets of Mendoza. Imagine flying melons!

The queens seeming obsession with blue makeup, and possibly 80′s metal band hairstyles

You should definitely not miss the billboards of each of the regions queens- classic Olan Mills pin up girls

The plaza festivals- full of music, food, and fun

The Vendimia festival- a perfect excuse for 3 days of fireworks, not to mention the Vendimia show itself.

This year they have already crowned the queen from the Santa Rosa Province, the lovely reina, or queen, below. It is a bit like the Miss America pagent for those familiar with the roles and selection process. For more information check out this article in Spanish from Diario Los Andes.

Now comes the hard part- the real grape harvest!

Posted in Experiences, Life in Mendoza, Photos | No Comments »


The Chilean Wine Industry After the Earthquake

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Last Friday many of us here in Mendoza were woken by the earthquake that hit the coast of Chile and then dispated across the Andes, but still resonated for about a minute and a half in Mendoza city. There was no damage in Mendoza, however we would send our best wishes to our companeros in Chile, especially as we are entering the harvest and there was significant damage to many wineries. We have received word from friends and collegues in Chile and we wanted to share some of their insights as well as provide  information if you would like to donate to help those in need.

This is an update from Liz Caskey who is based in Santiago, Chile

Eatwineblog.com

Dear Friends and Family,

I want to truly thank you for your continued support during these tough times in Chile. It has been so wonderful to hear from you all through calls and e-mail as Chile deals with the aftermath of the quake. We appreciate your prayers and thoughts.

To give you an update, now 5 days from Saturday’s devastating events, things in Santiago are thankfully normal, as in much of the country. As you know, with Chile’s long geography, the majority of the country is functioning perfectly normal with the exception of the affected areas within 100 miles of the Concepción area and the coastline hit by the tsunami. While the news images continue to show looting, please know that the military, Red Cross, and many volunteers have already arrived with food, water, and aid. Electricity and communications are being restored as we speak to these areas. This Friday, there is a huge drive, Teletón, raise millions of dollars to provide temporary housing for every family who lost their home. There is a sense of real solidarity here. The of light of hope has appeared for these people. The next huge step is reconstruction.

The wine industry here did suffer some serious losses of inventory and damage to facilities, mostly in the regions of the Maule, Curicó, and some areas of Colchagua. Others escaped completely unscraped. I will be posting later this week with a full update since many of you have asked. It is a complex situation since harvest is due to start any day and vintners trying to manage where they will make the 2010 vintage in some cases.

Many of you have also requested information on how you can contribute to the rebuilding efforts in Chile. Beyond the Red Cross, which is for aiding relief efforts, we suggest these three ways.

1.   Travel to Chile

If you have traveled to Chile, have a trip scheduled here, or know people that do, please encourage friends, family, and colleagues to still come. Refer them to my blog, where I directly addressed this issue yesterday. The images the media is “exporting” and messages the US State Department issuing are harmful for the country in the long term and can impact its tourism. The information they are providing is simply not accurate since many people do not understand the country’s geography and where the quake is contained. They stick all of Chile in the disaster boat and this is completely false. Chile is operative and normal in ALL areas minus the above-mentioned affective area. We have had clients on wine tours this week and heading to points in Patagonia with zero problems or alterations. Don’t let TV paranoia ruin what makes Chile so wonderful. Help spread the word.

2.   Support Local Business & Reconstruction

Our business has started a direct initiative to support a local non-profit foundation with a school and organic farm we visit with our tours to channel funds to families affected by the quake both locally and in the south. We are donating a significant portion of the proceeds from our Eat Wine Santiago guide, a food & drink e-guide to the capital. Please help our efforts by purchasing this e-guide. Ask your family and friends to help too. Even if you/they don’t plan on coming to Santiago, Eat Wine Santiago includes a great wine list, insight into Chile’s food/wine culture, will directly contribute to reconstruction efforts in Chile, and seriously, costs less than a dinner for one or a bottle of decent wine. We also will be offering free updates for the first two editions for friends, family, and colleagues who may have Chile on the horizon in the future. Click here for more information.

Please feel free to e-mail me directly at liz@lizcaskey.com with any questions you may have.

Un abrazo cariñoso,

Liz & Team

TO DONATE

For those in the US or Northern Hemisphere click here for options and agencies like the Red Cross. Or just text from your phone:

The Mobile Giving Foundation has launched a text messaging campaign for micro donations, and the four major U.S. mobile carriers, Verizon, At&T, Sprint and T-mobile, have waived text messaging fees for donations.

1. Text the word “CHILE” to 25383 to donate $10 on behalf of the Habitat for Humanity

2. Text the word “CHILE” to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of World Vision

3. Text the word “CHILE” to 52000 to donate $10 on behalf of the Salvation Army

4. Text the word “CHILE” to 85944 to donate $10 on behalf of International Medical Corp. that include texting from your phone

If you are in Mendoza/ Si esta en Mendoza y quiere donar:

Cómo hacer para colaborar con los damnificados , según lo que dicen los
diarios.

13:04 | Mendoza | Enterate de los puntos de recolección y los números de
cuenta donde podés ayudar desde Mendoza.
02 de marzo de 2010

El ministro de Desarrollo Humano y Comunidad, Carlos Ciurca, informó esta
mañana que dentro de pocos días partirán los primeros camiones hacia Chile
con los elementos aportados por la comunidad de Mendoza. Además, viajarán 15
rescatistas y un médico.

Las formas de colaborar son varias: con ropa de invierno, frazadas, carpas,
agua o alimentos no perecederos, además de dinero.

Puntos de recolección de elementos, alimentos y agua:
Gran Mendoza: Ministerio de Seguridad: Salta 672 de Godoy Cruz, 8 a 18.
San Rafael: Libertador 47, sede administrativa del Gobierno de Mendoza.
Malargüe: Ruta 40 y Jorge Newbery, sede de Gendarmería Nacional.

Para donar dinero:
En pesos: Cuenta del Banco Regional de Cuyo Nº 11801900020638.
En dólares: Cuenta del Banco Regional de Cuyo Nº 11803800020105.

También se puede donar a
http://www.untechoparachile.cl

esta bueno porque se puede hacer con tarjeta de crédito que es mas fácil para todos.
http://www.cruzroja.cl

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND ARTICLES

Chile Says Rebuilding May Cost Tens of Billions of Dollars- New York Times

Quake stops production for biggest Chile winemaker- Associated Press

Chilean Wine Industry Damaged by Quake- The Pour NYT

Powerful Earthquake Rocks Chilean Wine Industry- Wine Spectator

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


The Vines Fabulous Food and Wine Pairings

Friday, February 19th, 2010

So as a continuation of my conversation with Langdon Doty, we decided to put into action our food and wine pairings. It was really interesting what the results ended up being, which goes to show you need to taste and learn as you go, there are no “rules and regulations” necessarily when it comes to food and wine pairings. We played a bit with the sauces, the textures and the wines. We ended up tasting the following recipes with mix and match of the Lurton Flor de Torrontes, the Mairena Sauvignon Blanc, the Lorca Viognier, the Las Perdices Pinot Grigio and the Pulenta Estate Chardonnay.

Here are the results and cooking commentary from Langdon:

Salmon Tartare

The idea with the food pairings is to bring out the natural tropical fruit and citrus flavors and to offer a counterpoint to the crisp acidity of the wine with something sweeter and creamier

I added soy and two different citrus flavors (lemon and lime – both the juice and the rind) – this will highlight the aromatic tropical flavors – adding the sweetness of cucumbers and the creaminess of avocado should even out the acidic finish of the wine and harmonize the pairing – that is the theory.

Wine Winner: without spicy sauce Mairena Sauvignon Blanc, with spicy sauce Puleta Chardonnay

Beer Battered Coconut Shrimp

By deep frying the shrimp in a coconut beer batter we are adding the sweetness of the coconut and shrimp and cutting the acidity of the wine with some fat.  the dipping sauce is slightly creamy, sweet, sour, tart, pungent, and spicy at the same time which should theoretically enhance the tropical notes of the wine and balance out the acity as well.  am looking forward to this one.

Wine Winner: Las Perdices Pinot Grigio

And for the rest of you we challenge you to do your own parings with this succulent selection! Send us your Malbec, Malbec blend or varietal selection that you think would be best!- emily@vinesofmendoza and langdoty@gmail.com

Curry Porkchops with Strawberry Pineapple Salsa

the curry will be subtle but will harmonize with the sweet pork and, with its many spices, it should pop the fruit out of the wine. the salsa should explode the fruit of the wine with its sweet tart pineapple strawberry notes and, blended with the richness of the pork should really round out the wine

lets see what happens!

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Malbec is Just Straight Sexy

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Why Malbec?

Malbec has become the drink that quality-focused yet cost-savvy wine drinkers turn to. Here’s why:

Malbec is just straight sexy. It has become the wine world’s darling of the moment for good reason, converting more and more enthusiasts by the day.

Starting with the succulent fruit that is inherent to Argentina’s Malbec, it elevates this Bordeaux blending varietal as a star all on its own. It has rampaged across all price categories with consistency and providing tremendous value for the price while gaining traction in an global economic climate that can be referred to as difficult, at best. In fact, imports of Argentinean wine in the United States have jumped 39% in the first 6 months of 2009 and is now gaining increased market share across the world.

Why is Malbec so hot?
In a country that is synonymous with gauchos, beef and tango, it couldn’t be anything but sexy. Think European flair with a rustic, enigmatic twist and you will find Malbec. The Argentine’s have guarded their cultural traditions closely, including siesta, family asados every Sunday and late night revelry. Opening a bottle of Malbec is an invitation to travel around the world and experience the culture and lifestyle yourself.

So whats in the glass? Malbec offers the best of high altitude wine characteristics, including intense fruit, the ability to blend with other varietals, and the adaptability to be brought to market early with lush easy drinking characteristics, or as a classic aged wine full of delicate layers, oak and fruit tannins.

The future…
Malbec has a bright future as it not only delivers quality consistently but has many different personalities. The premium wine industry is still in its infancy in Argentina and surely we will see increased technological and winemaking advances over the next few years. Malbec is the wine of the moment and will continue to capture people’s imaginations and tastebuds in the future. Argentine Malbec is here to stay!

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Rumors of a Mendoza Supper Club?

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Not only is Mendoza experiencing a wine renaissance with increased wine tourism and more and more wine offerings, but there is also a gastronomic renaissance occurring. Argentines and especially Mendocinos are hardliners when it comes to food- they don’t tend to deviate much from the staples- asado, pasta, empanadas, and pizza (which may or may not make you question their Italian heritage).

However over the last two years or so, Mendocinos are opening up- we now have 3 sushi restaurants, rather shocking to be honest. But food tends to go hand in hand with fine wine, so now we are starting to see more interesting food creations.

SECRET SUPPER CLUB?

One of The Vines friends and sometimes videographer, Langdon Doty, has witnessed this transformation and would like to take it one step further- a secret supper club! At various times during the month he will put on an amazing impromptu gourmet meal for tourists and locals alike based on different wines and his creative culinary whims.

I suggested that he test his skills with the wines we tasted at last night’s winemaker night with Finca Sophenia (http://www.sophenia.com/).  This is what he came up with and my mouth is already watering, I can’t wait for the actual meal!

For more information about the Mendoza Supper Club or for any of these recipes contact Langdon at langdoty@gmail.com

(more…)

Posted in Experiences, Life in Mendoza, Tasting Notes | No Comments »


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