Argentinian wine stories
Argentina, one of the largest countries in South America, famous for the tango culture, the asado and football, it is also the main producer of Malbec in the world. With around 223,585 hectares planted throughout the country, it is among the top 10 wine producers in the world along with Spain, Italy and France.
What is so special about Mendoza's wines? These high altitud wines grow at the foothill of the Andes Mountains. In most parts of the world. at 900 meters of altitud it is too cold for the grapes to prosper, while in Mendoza, the climate conditions are perfect at that height for the vineyards, making of this province the main wine region of Argentina. The fame of Argentinian Malbec has grown so much, that it is an internationally recognized flavor of Argentina, just as the dulce de leche.
We want to share with you some curiosities of the Mendoza wine world: the oldest wines in the continent, the production method that involves music for grapes and more!
Enjoy reading wine fun facts!
Music for the grapes
The Domaine St Diego Winery has a very peculiar method for the fermentation of the grapes, must be accompanied by nothing less than Gregorian instrumental music, Celtic, feng shui and meditation. The owner of the Winery explains that music alleviates the stress of yeasts and favors the generosity of the wines. Ángel Mendoza, says that he “harvests wine”, instead of making it, as he is convinced that wine is made in the vineyard, from very grape until it's bottled. And for this reason, the vines should be given more importance, instead of correcting errors in the winery, after.
This is one of the few wineries with vines planted on slopes, in the Lunlunta area, a picturesque landscape located in Maipú, one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Mendoza.
The clock strikes at 12.
From the number of grapes' varieties that intervene in the composition, to honor the ancient Spanish tradition of eating twelve grapes (one for each chime that heralds the New Year) the wine takes its name, 12 Uvas de San Felipe, (twelve grapes): Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc – Malbec – Merlot – Syrah – Bonarda – Sangiovese - Barbera D’asti - Pinot Noir – Tempranillo – Chardonnay - Chenin.
Up to two white grapes are included in this original cut that was launched by none other than La Rural Winery; historic wine producer that produces one of the best and most well-known labels in Argentina, Rutini.
If you have the opportunity to visit the winery, don't miss the impressive Wine Museum, an architectural jewel in which more than 4,500 original pieces are preserved that bear witness to the productive cycle of national oenology, through the decades. Now, you already have two good excuses not to miss visiting the town of Maipú!
The unexpected wine
It was in the Uco Valley, an hour and a half from the city of Mendoza, at the foothills of the Andes Mountains where, at the end of the 90s, Lurton Winery imported some Chardonnay stakes from France, planted them and as they grew they realized that those grapes were not what they expected. This is how the first national Pinot Gris grapes grew, a white vine that in recent years has gained popularity in Argentina and all thanks to a mistake.
In the winery, they often say that it was a misunderstanding with a happy ending, because it is a very refreshing wine and one of the best of its variety nationwide.
A legend arises
Another rare stories is one of the oldest wine on the continent, a 1942 Lagarde Semillón. In the middle of World War II, this wine was made but remained hidden until 1975.
Juan Ruby, winemaker at Lagarde Winery, says that in that year, the Pescarmona family bought the winery and found an abandoned 1800-liter barrel where this wine rested.
Formerly, it was a common practice in Mendoza to cut red wine with 5% white wine, to soften and give it greater color stability since Semillón is one of the few grapes that evolves very favorably over time.
In the visit to this nice little winery you can see the old empty barrel - the wine was finally bottled in 1990 - and it became a kind of local legend, as well as being the oldest commercial wine in existence in America.
Due to its originality, it has been a frecuent guest in numerous international competitions and is a member of the wineries of the most distinguished world collectors and exclusive and prestigious restaurants in Europe, the United States and Japan.
In Mendoza, vineyards, mountains and blue skies combine to create a breathtaking landscape and the wineries, distributed in three terroirs - Luján de Cuyo, Valle de Uco and Maipú - with its stunning architecture, together they make of paradise for wine lovers.
We can wait to be back on travel and share with you a delicious Mendoza wine!