The always entertaining Gary Vaynerchuk featured Argentine wines and Malbec on his popular Wine Library TV yesterday. For the English-language readers, it's worth a look.
"Argentina and Those Pesky Malbecs." By Gary Vaynerchuk. Wine Library TV. August 20, 2007.
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Friday, August 03, 2007
Jancis Robinson on Argentine Wine
U.K. based wine writer Jancis Robinson has an exceptional article on the Argentine and Chilean wine industries in today’s San Francisco Chronicle. In addition, she has an in-depth guide to the 2007 vintage on her website.
Article: “Argentina's and Chile's wines are earning global kudos and fans.” By Jancis Robinson. San Francisco Chronicle. August 3, 2007.
Website: “Argentina: A Bluffer’s Guide.” By Tim Johns of Wine of Argentina and published by Jancis Robinson.
Article: “Argentina's and Chile's wines are earning global kudos and fans.” By Jancis Robinson. San Francisco Chronicle. August 3, 2007.
Website: “Argentina: A Bluffer’s Guide.” By Tim Johns of Wine of Argentina and published by Jancis Robinson.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
An Interview with Federico Kunz, Director of Wine of Mendoza
(Para leer esta nota en castellano, haga clic aquí)
The other day I had the great joy of interviewing one of the many young entrepreneurs in the Argentine wine industry. His name is Federico Kunz and he is the founder and current director of Wine of Mendoza, a company that offers a variety of services to the wine sector.
Please describe to the readers a little bit about yourself. What region in Argentina are you from? How many years have you spent in the wine industry? Do you come from a background in which wine played an important role?
My name is Federico Kunz and I was born in Buenos Aires on November 26, 1976. That makes me 30 years old. Three years ago I moved to Mendoza when I married my wife, Eugenia, who was born in Mendoza. Currently, we both are linked to the wine industry in distinct ways. She focuses on the wine tourism aspect while I work on the commercial end of the industry. Before working in the wine industry, I occupied a position in the banking sector as an internal auditor. And yes, wine was always an important part of my family, but the passion for this beverage began with my arrival to Mendoza.
What did you study? What was your major?
I received a degree in Tourism after which I began to study Business Adminsitration at the University of Buenos Aires, which I didn’t end up finishing. As far as wine, I really learned a lot by visiting wineries and asking everything I could think of, and of course trying a lot of different wines.
How did your passion for wine really begin?
When I arrived in Mendoza I had the opportunity to visit a lot of wineries, from the smallest which we call “boutiques” to the most industrial, and even to the most traditional. Each winery makes wine in a distinct way with its own methods and patterns. At the beginning, that’s what really grabbed my attention. After having the chance to try and taste distinct varietals combined with the discovery of the different methods of making the wine, I really became passionate about this new world that had been opened up to me.
When did you start Wine of Mendoza and with what objectives?
Wine of Mendoza was born two years ago with the objective of being a specialized business in the Mendoza wine region as well as in all of Argentina. We wanted to be well-known, valued, and chosen by the domestic and international markets as a trustworthy, competitive, and innovative provider of wines. In short, we wanted to provide service that was founded on a quality product and high standards. Finally, our main goal is to sustain our clear and consist philosophy: shorten the distance between the producer of wine and its consumer.
A large part of the expansion of the wine industry has come in the export market. Are you hoping to develop the international part of your business or focus on the domestic market?
The external market is something that we are currently trying to better develop. Since the beginning of this year we have been allotting resources so as to focus more on the export sector and to be able to reach the rest of the world. We are currently working with FedEx, DHL, and TNT in order to send bottles to other parts of the world. In addition, we are making a lot of connections through the international tourists that visit Mendoza and other regions of Argentina such as Patagonia.
You are part of the new generation of entrepreneurs in the Argentine wine industry. What differences are there between the older generations and your generation?
I believe the fundamental difference is service. People are talking more about the service that comes with a product. Our company not only provides products but we also offer services: we prepare, we recommend, and we adjust wine lists for restaurants, and we even create wine tastings according to the tastes of each client. We are constantly providing service to our clients. We are always seeking to provide more value to what we currently do. Although the consumption per person in Argentina has gone down, the quality of the wine that is consumed has gone up, and thus we have to pay attention to this trend and add value and service to these products.
Are you guys, and when I say “guys” I’m referring to this new generation, more optimistic due to the growth of the wine industry during the past 10 years than the older generations that have experienced several crises?
During the last 10 years Argentina has grown in the wine sector, which is mainly due to the monetary policy that we had until 2001 that helped the wine industry expand to other markets and make important technological advances. I believe that today the industry continues to grow thanks to favorable circumstances in the current economy, in particular the exchange rate, but also the quality that Argentina has achieved in its products and the place that it has earned in the external market.
How does the unstable macroeconomic history of Argentina affect your outlook towards the future?
I’m not afraid of falling into another financial crisis similar to what has happened in the past. I know that it is especially prudent to plan sometimes and one form to protect against another crisis, as I mentioned earlier, is to set aside as many resources to the international market as the domestic market.
Picture: Federico with his wife Marie Eugenia Rodriguez who co-owns the tourist agency Aventura Wine in Mendoza.
More information on Wine of Mendoza can be found on their website at: http://www.wineofmendoza.com/.
The other day I had the great joy of interviewing one of the many young entrepreneurs in the Argentine wine industry. His name is Federico Kunz and he is the founder and current director of Wine of Mendoza, a company that offers a variety of services to the wine sector.
Please describe to the readers a little bit about yourself. What region in Argentina are you from? How many years have you spent in the wine industry? Do you come from a background in which wine played an important role?
My name is Federico Kunz and I was born in Buenos Aires on November 26, 1976. That makes me 30 years old. Three years ago I moved to Mendoza when I married my wife, Eugenia, who was born in Mendoza. Currently, we both are linked to the wine industry in distinct ways. She focuses on the wine tourism aspect while I work on the commercial end of the industry. Before working in the wine industry, I occupied a position in the banking sector as an internal auditor. And yes, wine was always an important part of my family, but the passion for this beverage began with my arrival to Mendoza.
What did you study? What was your major?
I received a degree in Tourism after which I began to study Business Adminsitration at the University of Buenos Aires, which I didn’t end up finishing. As far as wine, I really learned a lot by visiting wineries and asking everything I could think of, and of course trying a lot of different wines.
How did your passion for wine really begin?
When I arrived in Mendoza I had the opportunity to visit a lot of wineries, from the smallest which we call “boutiques” to the most industrial, and even to the most traditional. Each winery makes wine in a distinct way with its own methods and patterns. At the beginning, that’s what really grabbed my attention. After having the chance to try and taste distinct varietals combined with the discovery of the different methods of making the wine, I really became passionate about this new world that had been opened up to me.
When did you start Wine of Mendoza and with what objectives?
Wine of Mendoza was born two years ago with the objective of being a specialized business in the Mendoza wine region as well as in all of Argentina. We wanted to be well-known, valued, and chosen by the domestic and international markets as a trustworthy, competitive, and innovative provider of wines. In short, we wanted to provide service that was founded on a quality product and high standards. Finally, our main goal is to sustain our clear and consist philosophy: shorten the distance between the producer of wine and its consumer.
A large part of the expansion of the wine industry has come in the export market. Are you hoping to develop the international part of your business or focus on the domestic market?
The external market is something that we are currently trying to better develop. Since the beginning of this year we have been allotting resources so as to focus more on the export sector and to be able to reach the rest of the world. We are currently working with FedEx, DHL, and TNT in order to send bottles to other parts of the world. In addition, we are making a lot of connections through the international tourists that visit Mendoza and other regions of Argentina such as Patagonia.
You are part of the new generation of entrepreneurs in the Argentine wine industry. What differences are there between the older generations and your generation?
I believe the fundamental difference is service. People are talking more about the service that comes with a product. Our company not only provides products but we also offer services: we prepare, we recommend, and we adjust wine lists for restaurants, and we even create wine tastings according to the tastes of each client. We are constantly providing service to our clients. We are always seeking to provide more value to what we currently do. Although the consumption per person in Argentina has gone down, the quality of the wine that is consumed has gone up, and thus we have to pay attention to this trend and add value and service to these products.
Are you guys, and when I say “guys” I’m referring to this new generation, more optimistic due to the growth of the wine industry during the past 10 years than the older generations that have experienced several crises?
During the last 10 years Argentina has grown in the wine sector, which is mainly due to the monetary policy that we had until 2001 that helped the wine industry expand to other markets and make important technological advances. I believe that today the industry continues to grow thanks to favorable circumstances in the current economy, in particular the exchange rate, but also the quality that Argentina has achieved in its products and the place that it has earned in the external market.
How does the unstable macroeconomic history of Argentina affect your outlook towards the future?
I’m not afraid of falling into another financial crisis similar to what has happened in the past. I know that it is especially prudent to plan sometimes and one form to protect against another crisis, as I mentioned earlier, is to set aside as many resources to the international market as the domestic market.
Picture: Federico with his wife Marie Eugenia Rodriguez who co-owns the tourist agency Aventura Wine in Mendoza.
More information on Wine of Mendoza can be found on their website at: http://www.wineofmendoza.com/.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
News Wrap-Up
(Para leer esta nota en castellano, haga clic aquí)
In the San Marcos Daily Record (San Marcos, Texas), the “wine guys” – Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr – detail the recent success of Argentine wine, and more specifically, Malbec.
“Winemakers in Argentina getting some attention.” By Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr. San Marcos Daily Record. June 27, 2007.
New York Sun (New York, NY) wine writer Matt Kramer recommends the Punto Final Malbec 2006 Bodega Renacer, suggesting that Bodega Renacer skillfully combines vines that are at least 50 years old with modern wine making techniques.
“Wines for the Obsessive Mind.” By Matt Kramer. New York Sun. June 27, 2007.
In the Wall Street Journal’s weekly Q&A column on wine, a reader asks which kind of wine she should introduce her husband to if he isn't a wine drinker. The answer? “Try a Chardonnay from Chile or Argentina. The labels are as easy as the wines and they're inexpensive, so there's no pressure.”
“Wine Notes.” By Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher. Wall Street Journal. June 23, 2007. (subscription required)
Dave McIntyre discusses wines appropriate for the summertime on Washingtonian.com. He suggests the Santa Julia Torrontés 2006. He says, “…no winery hits the value/quality quotient quite like Santa Julia, a winery known for value in all its wines.”
“Two Bargain Whites for Summer.” By Dave McIntyre. Washingtonian.com. June 21, 2007.
Vinexpo is the world’s largest wine fair, held yearly in Bordeaux. A big theme of this year was how the old world wine countries were falling behind the new world in terms of marketing. The article, from Reuters News Service, says, “New wine producers Chile and Argentina are up one end of the main hall. Their stands are buzzing with potential buyers who are swilling away on the wine that is sold in bottles with minimalist labels, catchy names and amusing pictures…That contrasts with many of the French labels that have stuck to traditional designs, give information on the chateau, details lost on the average Saturday night drinker.”
“Old wine in new bottles – a French revolution.” By Unknown. Reuters News Service. June 21, 2007.
In the San Marcos Daily Record (San Marcos, Texas), the “wine guys” – Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr – detail the recent success of Argentine wine, and more specifically, Malbec.
“Winemakers in Argentina getting some attention.” By Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr. San Marcos Daily Record. June 27, 2007.
New York Sun (New York, NY) wine writer Matt Kramer recommends the Punto Final Malbec 2006 Bodega Renacer, suggesting that Bodega Renacer skillfully combines vines that are at least 50 years old with modern wine making techniques.
“Wines for the Obsessive Mind.” By Matt Kramer. New York Sun. June 27, 2007.
In the Wall Street Journal’s weekly Q&A column on wine, a reader asks which kind of wine she should introduce her husband to if he isn't a wine drinker. The answer? “Try a Chardonnay from Chile or Argentina. The labels are as easy as the wines and they're inexpensive, so there's no pressure.”
“Wine Notes.” By Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher. Wall Street Journal. June 23, 2007. (subscription required)
Dave McIntyre discusses wines appropriate for the summertime on Washingtonian.com. He suggests the Santa Julia Torrontés 2006. He says, “…no winery hits the value/quality quotient quite like Santa Julia, a winery known for value in all its wines.”
“Two Bargain Whites for Summer.” By Dave McIntyre. Washingtonian.com. June 21, 2007.
Vinexpo is the world’s largest wine fair, held yearly in Bordeaux. A big theme of this year was how the old world wine countries were falling behind the new world in terms of marketing. The article, from Reuters News Service, says, “New wine producers Chile and Argentina are up one end of the main hall. Their stands are buzzing with potential buyers who are swilling away on the wine that is sold in bottles with minimalist labels, catchy names and amusing pictures…That contrasts with many of the French labels that have stuck to traditional designs, give information on the chateau, details lost on the average Saturday night drinker.”
“Old wine in new bottles – a French revolution.” By Unknown. Reuters News Service. June 21, 2007.
Growing Wine Industry Threatens Native Argentines
(Para leer este articulo en castellano, haga clic aquí)
The growth of the Argentine wine industry has been thoroughly covered on Argenvino.
However, the consequences of such growth have not been detailed as rigorously. A recent National Geographic article describes the plight of the Huarpe people living in the Monte Desert. Due to the increased use of upstream water supply by grape growers, researchers have concluded that the Huarpe may begin to receive less and less water in their already dry location.
At the turn of the twentieth century the massive Italian and Spanish migration forced the Huarpe – which are also know as Lavallinos – to find land elsewhere. Instead of going to cities, they went to the Monte Desert, a place nobody was willing to go to. They now rely on the Mendoza River, which is fed by melting snow from the Andes. However, as the wine industry continues to grow, more grape growers are using the water.
The research that has concluded that the water tables are diminishing has been completed by agronomist Esteban Jobbagy of the National University of San Luis and colleagues at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences.
For Jobbagy, the solution lies in how vineyards irrigate. Most vineyards still use the mantle irrigation system, which includes flooding the vines every month or so. He claims that using the more advanced (and expensive) drip irrigation technique, which uses small pipes to feed the vines slowly, would help solve the problem.
Unfortunately, this is an issue that may fall on deaf ears. The wine business is a multi-billion dollar industry, while the Huarpe Indians only number in the few hundreds and have virtually no financial resources.
Source: “Wine Boom Threatens Native Argentine Water Source.” By Lorne Matalon. National Geographic News. June 20, 2007.
Image Location: National Geographic News Photo Gallery. Picture is of agronomist Esteban Jobbagy (National University of San Luis).
The growth of the Argentine wine industry has been thoroughly covered on Argenvino.
However, the consequences of such growth have not been detailed as rigorously. A recent National Geographic article describes the plight of the Huarpe people living in the Monte Desert. Due to the increased use of upstream water supply by grape growers, researchers have concluded that the Huarpe may begin to receive less and less water in their already dry location.At the turn of the twentieth century the massive Italian and Spanish migration forced the Huarpe – which are also know as Lavallinos – to find land elsewhere. Instead of going to cities, they went to the Monte Desert, a place nobody was willing to go to. They now rely on the Mendoza River, which is fed by melting snow from the Andes. However, as the wine industry continues to grow, more grape growers are using the water.
The research that has concluded that the water tables are diminishing has been completed by agronomist Esteban Jobbagy of the National University of San Luis and colleagues at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences.
For Jobbagy, the solution lies in how vineyards irrigate. Most vineyards still use the mantle irrigation system, which includes flooding the vines every month or so. He claims that using the more advanced (and expensive) drip irrigation technique, which uses small pipes to feed the vines slowly, would help solve the problem.
Unfortunately, this is an issue that may fall on deaf ears. The wine business is a multi-billion dollar industry, while the Huarpe Indians only number in the few hundreds and have virtually no financial resources.
Source: “Wine Boom Threatens Native Argentine Water Source.” By Lorne Matalon. National Geographic News. June 20, 2007.
Image Location: National Geographic News Photo Gallery. Picture is of agronomist Esteban Jobbagy (National University of San Luis).
Friday, June 22, 2007
South America's Rising Star / La Estrella Naciente de Sur América
Here in the North American summer, wine columnists are buzzing about which wines to pair with your barbeque. Well, one of the most widely-read and well-respected weekly wine columns, “Tastings” in the Wall Street Journal by Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, (I’ve referred to their column before here) today published “South America’s Rising Star” (subscription required) on Argentina and its signature grape, Malbec.
After giving a summary of Argentina’s import explosion in the U.S. over the past couple of years, the writers conclude, “Having finished the tasting, let's get right to the point: If you don't pick up a Malbec to pair with one of your cookouts soon, you're making a mistake. This is a special grape and this is a good time to be trying it.”
They tested over 60 Malbec wines and concluded that the Felipe Rutini 2004 Malbec was the “Best of Tasting.” The “Best Value” went to the Nieto Senetiner “Reserva” 2004.
The writers’ decision to publish an entire article on Malbec and with such glowing remarks surely fortifies the Argentina/Malbec’s success in the U.S. As they write, “When we first wrote about Malbec in 1999, we had trouble getting enough for a blind tasting. How things have changed. Argentina in general, and Malbec specifically, are getting a tremendous amount of attention from the wine world these days.”
Argentine winemakers, once mired in a industry-wide crisis in the 1980s, should be proud to have carved their niche in the global wine industry.
Article: “South America’s Rising Star” by Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher. Wall Street Journal. June 22, 2007.
Image: Rutini Malbec 2003. Found at the Bodega La Rural website: http://www.larural.com/fch_fr_rmalbec.htm.
Acá en el verano norteamericano los columnistas de vino están escribiendo mucho sobre los vinos que se pueden tomar cuando tenés un asado. Bueno, unos de las columnas más leídas y respetadas de los EE.UU. se llama “Tastings” en el Wall Street Journal y es escrito por Dorothy Gaiter y John Brecher (he referido a su columna antes) y hoy publicaron un articulo titulado “La estrella naciente de Sur América” (tiene que tener una subscripción al periódico) sobre la Argentina y su uva famosa, el Malbec.
Después de sumir la explosión de la importación de los vinos argentinos en los EE.UU. durante los tres años pasados (y ellos no pudieron resistir la comparación a Chile), los escritores concluyeron, “Después de terminar la cata de vinos, tenemos que ser sinceros: Si no compras un Malbec para unos de sus asados, estás cometiendo un error. Esta es una uva especial y ahora es la hora buena para probarla.”
Ellos probaron más de 60 vinos de Malbec y concluyeron que el Felipe Rutina 2004 Malbec fue el “Mejor de la Cata de Vinos.” El vino del “Mejor Valor” fue el Nieto Senetiner “Reserva” 2004.
La decisión de los escritores para publicar un artículo entero sobre el Malbec con tantos elogios señala la fortalecimiento del Malbec en el mercado norteamericano. Como ellos escribieron, “Cuando escribimos sobre el Malbec en 1999 por la primera vez, teníamos problemas de encontrar bastante vinos para una cata de vino. Es impresionante como los tiempos han cambiando. Estos días, la Argentina, y más específicamente el Malbec, están recibiendo una tremenda cantidad de atención del mundo de vino.”
Los winemakers argentinos, hace veinte años atrapados en una crisis de consumo, deberían estar orgullosos para haber llegado a este nivel de respeto del mundo de vino.
Articulo: “La estrella naciente de Sur America” por Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher. Wall Street Journal. 22 de junio, 2007.
Imagen: Rutini Malbec 2003. Encontrado en el sitio de la Bodega La Rural: http://www.larural.com/fch_fr_rmalbec.htm.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Not Just Malbec / No Sólo Malbec
For the English-speaking audience, Wineloverspage.com right now is featuring a very informative discussion of Argentine wine with Alejandro Audisio.
Para los lectores que entienden inglés, hay una entrevista muy informativa sobre el vino argentino en el sitio Wineloverspage.com con Alejandro Audisio.
Wine Lovers Page. “Not Just Malbec.” With Alejandro Audisio.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Can Torrontés Catch On? / ¿El Torrontés = El Próximo Malbec?
An article in Wine and Spirits Magazine caught my eye as it featured the “Top 4 Argentine Value Brands.” Two out of the four wineries had their torrontés grape featured as their best value. This struck me because Argentina, as I’ve said before, is almost synonymous with Malbec here. If Argentina can market torrontés as another Argentine alternative, their tremendous growth in the U.S. market will certainly continue.
On a completely unrelated wine note, congratulations to Ángel Cabrera who beat out Tiger Woods in the US Open in golf this past weekend. After a week in which Argentines Manu Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto took home the NBA title for San Antonio, I’d say that Argentina had a pretty good week in the U.S. sports world.
Picture: Domingo del Plata Winery. Cafayate, Argentina. Found at: http://www.dominiodelplata.com.ar/vinos_crios.php
Un articulo en la revista Wine and Spirits Magazine me llamó la atención cuando publicó una nota titulado “Top 4 Argentine Value Brands” (El top 4 marcas mas valoradas argentinas). Dos de sus mejores marcas fueron destacados por su torrontés excelente. Me sorprendió porque la Argentina, como he dicho antes, es casi un sinónimo con el Malbec en los EE.UU. Si la Argentina puede hacer muy bien marketing con el torrontés como otro alternativo argentino, sin duda su crecimiento tremendo en los EE.UU. seguirá creciendo.
Para hablar sobre un tema completamente no relacionado al vino, quiero felicitar a Ángel Cabrera quien ganó el Abierto Estadounidense de Golf este fin de semana pasada. Después de una semana cuando los argentinos Manu Ginobili y Fabricio Oberto ganaron el titulo de basket con el San Antonio Spurs, diría que la Argentina tenía una gran semana en el mundo deportivo acá en Norteamérica.
Imagen: Dominio del Plata Winery. Cafayate, Argentina. Dirección: http://www.dominiodelplata.com.ar/vinos_crios.php
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Malbec in Sports Illustrated? / ¿El Malbec en Sports Illustrated?
I was shocked to see that Sports Illustrated resident online NFL guru “Dr. Z” was giving out
great advice on Argentine Malbec the other day. In his weekly “Mailbag” column, a reader asked, “Can you recommend an Argentine Malbec, and…a South African red?” Apparently Dr. Z in addition to being an NFL insider, is quite the wine enthusiast. What did he recommend for the reader? “For Malbecs, and I refer to my notes from a Wine Media Guild dinner of a year ago, try the Valentin Bianchi Elsa ($9) and the High Altitude ($10) for terrific bargain wines. Another fine value is a very clean, silky Pascual Toso 2004 Mendoza Reserve ($18), and for a big, thick muscular one ... just right for my ex-wife's pot roast ... try the Bodega Noemia Patagonia J. Alberto, 2002 ($37.50).”
That’s quite a lengthy, detailed answer on wine for a column on SI.com! Also, I was pumped to see his recommendation of Pascual Toso, one of my favorite wineries due to winemaker Enrique Toso’s kindness in letting me interview him while doing research in Mendoza. My hat goes off to Dr. Z!
"NFL Mailbag." By Dr. Z. Found at: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/dr_z/05/11/mailbag/.
Me impresionó que Sports Illustrated (el mejor revista semenal de deportes en los EEUU) en su edicion de la web mencionó el Malbec. Su columnista “Dr. Z” que es su gurú del NFL (la liga profesional de futbol americano) contestó a una pregunta de un lector en su columna semenal “Mailbag.” El lector preguntó, “Usted puede recomendar un Malbec Argentino y tinto de Sur Africa?” Aparentemente Dr. Z es un grande entusiasta de vino. Él contestó, “Para los Malbec, refiero a mis apuntes de una cena del Wine Media Guild que ocurrió hace algunos años, probá el Valentin Bianchi Elsa (US$ 9) y el High Altitude (US $10) por vinos terrificos y barratos. Otra ganga es un vino limpio y sedoso – Pascual Toso 2004 Malbec Reserve (US $18), y para un grande, musculoso vino…perfecto para el carne para asar de mi ex esposa…probá el Bodega Noemia Patagonia J. Alberto, 2002 (US $37.50).”
¡Es una respuesta bastante detallada sobre el vino en un sitio de deportes como SI.com! También, me gustó mucho su recomendación del vino de Pascual Toso. Pascual Toso es unos de mis bodegas favoritas a causa de la amabilidad de vinicultor Enrique Toso cuando reuní con él durante mis investigaciones en Mendoza.
"NFL Mailbag." Por Dr. Z. Se puede encontrar a: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/dr_z/05/11/mailbag/.
great advice on Argentine Malbec the other day. In his weekly “Mailbag” column, a reader asked, “Can you recommend an Argentine Malbec, and…a South African red?” Apparently Dr. Z in addition to being an NFL insider, is quite the wine enthusiast. What did he recommend for the reader? “For Malbecs, and I refer to my notes from a Wine Media Guild dinner of a year ago, try the Valentin Bianchi Elsa ($9) and the High Altitude ($10) for terrific bargain wines. Another fine value is a very clean, silky Pascual Toso 2004 Mendoza Reserve ($18), and for a big, thick muscular one ... just right for my ex-wife's pot roast ... try the Bodega Noemia Patagonia J. Alberto, 2002 ($37.50).”That’s quite a lengthy, detailed answer on wine for a column on SI.com! Also, I was pumped to see his recommendation of Pascual Toso, one of my favorite wineries due to winemaker Enrique Toso’s kindness in letting me interview him while doing research in Mendoza. My hat goes off to Dr. Z!
"NFL Mailbag." By Dr. Z. Found at: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/dr_z/05/11/mailbag/.
Me impresionó que Sports Illustrated (el mejor revista semenal de deportes en los EEUU) en su edicion de la web mencionó el Malbec. Su columnista “Dr. Z” que es su gurú del NFL (la liga profesional de futbol americano) contestó a una pregunta de un lector en su columna semenal “Mailbag.” El lector preguntó, “Usted puede recomendar un Malbec Argentino y tinto de Sur Africa?” Aparentemente Dr. Z es un grande entusiasta de vino. Él contestó, “Para los Malbec, refiero a mis apuntes de una cena del Wine Media Guild que ocurrió hace algunos años, probá el Valentin Bianchi Elsa (US$ 9) y el High Altitude (US $10) por vinos terrificos y barratos. Otra ganga es un vino limpio y sedoso – Pascual Toso 2004 Malbec Reserve (US $18), y para un grande, musculoso vino…perfecto para el carne para asar de mi ex esposa…probá el Bodega Noemia Patagonia J. Alberto, 2002 (US $37.50).”
¡Es una respuesta bastante detallada sobre el vino en un sitio de deportes como SI.com! También, me gustó mucho su recomendación del vino de Pascual Toso. Pascual Toso es unos de mis bodegas favoritas a causa de la amabilidad de vinicultor Enrique Toso cuando reuní con él durante mis investigaciones en Mendoza.
"NFL Mailbag." Por Dr. Z. Se puede encontrar a: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/dr_z/05/11/mailbag/.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Did alcoholism lead to the fall in the popularity of table wine? / El alcoholismo y la caída en el consumo del vino de la mesa
I love Google. I’m not just talking about the search engine, but the many different online applications they offer. I use Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Reader. In Google Reader I get feeds from a variety of sources, including many different wine blogs. One nice thing I’ve done is incorporated the Google News feeds into Google Reader. All you have to do is go and create a news feed, then right click on the actual feed and click “Copy Link Location” and then go to Google Reader and paste the link into a subscription. I have feeds such as, “Argentina, wine”, “Argentina, vino” and “Malbec”. I get a lot of random stories in there and I can keep an eye on what the American print media is writing about Argentine wine.
One of the stories that popped up recently was in the Daily Herald (Chicago) about Malbecs. I usually don’t read these stories because they almost always say the same thing. They give the background of the industry (huge producer but consumed all the wine for themselves, then one day Nicolas Catena realized they could make world class wines, blah blah blah), but something caught my eye in this story. The columnist writes, “By the 1970s, Argentina boasted the third-highest per capita wine consumption in the world, not of fine wine, but of cheap, vino de mesa that fueled rampant alcoholism. When the government stepped in with health programs to curb alcoholism, consumption dropped by half.” Um, what? I did a lot of research on the industry and no one ever mentioned this to me. I’ve previously explained the drop in “vino de mesa” consumption by the rise in popularity of beer and soda. However, I never could explain why this happened besides a change in taste. Can anyone lend some insight into this? And more specifically, some information on the government program that was supposed to “curb alcoholism?”
Me encanta Google. Estoy hablando no sólo de su servicio de búsquedas, pero su variedad de aplicaciones online que ofrece. Uso Gmail, Google Calendar, y Google Reader. En Google Reader, recibo los “feeds” de muchos fuentes que incluyen muchos blogs de vinos. Una característica útil de Google Reader es la incorporación de Google News feeds. Tiene que ir a Google News y crear un feed, y luego hace un clic derecha en el feed y clic a “Copiar la dirección del enlace” y luego vaya a Google Reader y pegar el enlace a una subscripción. Tengo feeds como, “Argentina, wine”, “Argentina, vino” y “Malbec.” Recibo muchas noticias raras que no me importan pero al mismo tiempo puedo prestar atención a lo que escribe la media norteamericana sobre el vino de la Argentina.
Unas de las noticias que llegó a Google Reader fue un articulo del Daily Herald (Chicago, Illinois) sobre el Malbec. Usualmente no leo los artículos que presenta el vino argentino porque siempre dice lo mismo. Ellos hablan de los principios de la industria (un productor enorme pero consumió todo que produjo, y luego un día Nicolás Catena se dio cuenta que la Argentina puede hacer vino para todo el mundo, blah blah blah), pero una cosa me llamó la atención en este articulo. La columnista escribe, “Durante los años 70, Argentina tenía el tercer consumo de vino per capita en el mundo no de vino fino pero de vino de la mesa que estimuló el alcoholismo. Cuando el gobierno intervino con servicios para terminar el alcoholismo, el consumo [de vino] cayó más de la mitad.” ¿Eh?! Hice bastante investigaciones sobre la industria vitivinícola y nadie mencionó este proceso. Antes, expliqué la caída del consumo de vino por el auge de la popularidad de la cerveza y la gaseosa. Sin embargo, nunca pude explicarlo además de un cambio de gusto. ¿Alguien tiene la respuesta? Y más específicamente, un poco de información sobre el programa del gobierno contra el alcoholismo.
“Malbecs are blending in among the great wines of the world.” By Mary Ross. Daily Herald. Wednesday, May 02, 2007. http://www.dailyherald.com/food/story.asp?id=308670.
Figure Source:
“Business Trends”. Economic Ministry of theRepublic of Argentina
One of the stories that popped up recently was in the Daily Herald (Chicago) about Malbecs. I usually don’t read these stories because they almost always say the same thing. They give the background of the industry (huge producer but consumed all the wine for themselves, then one day Nicolas Catena realized they could make world class wines, blah blah blah), but something caught my eye in this story. The columnist writes, “By the 1970s, Argentina boasted the third-highest per capita wine consumption in the world, not of fine wine, but of cheap, vino de mesa that fueled rampant alcoholism. When the government stepped in with health programs to curb alcoholism, consumption dropped by half.” Um, what? I did a lot of research on the industry and no one ever mentioned this to me. I’ve previously explained the drop in “vino de mesa” consumption by the rise in popularity of beer and soda. However, I never could explain why this happened besides a change in taste. Can anyone lend some insight into this? And more specifically, some information on the government program that was supposed to “curb alcoholism?”
Me encanta Google. Estoy hablando no sólo de su servicio de búsquedas, pero su variedad de aplicaciones online que ofrece. Uso Gmail, Google Calendar, y Google Reader. En Google Reader, recibo los “feeds” de muchos fuentes que incluyen muchos blogs de vinos. Una característica útil de Google Reader es la incorporación de Google News feeds. Tiene que ir a Google News y crear un feed, y luego hace un clic derecha en el feed y clic a “Copiar la dirección del enlace” y luego vaya a Google Reader y pegar el enlace a una subscripción. Tengo feeds como, “Argentina, wine”, “Argentina, vino” y “Malbec.” Recibo muchas noticias raras que no me importan pero al mismo tiempo puedo prestar atención a lo que escribe la media norteamericana sobre el vino de la Argentina.
Unas de las noticias que llegó a Google Reader fue un articulo del Daily Herald (Chicago, Illinois) sobre el Malbec. Usualmente no leo los artículos que presenta el vino argentino porque siempre dice lo mismo. Ellos hablan de los principios de la industria (un productor enorme pero consumió todo que produjo, y luego un día Nicolás Catena se dio cuenta que la Argentina puede hacer vino para todo el mundo, blah blah blah), pero una cosa me llamó la atención en este articulo. La columnista escribe, “Durante los años 70, Argentina tenía el tercer consumo de vino per capita en el mundo no de vino fino pero de vino de la mesa que estimuló el alcoholismo. Cuando el gobierno intervino con servicios para terminar el alcoholismo, el consumo [de vino] cayó más de la mitad.” ¿Eh?! Hice bastante investigaciones sobre la industria vitivinícola y nadie mencionó este proceso. Antes, expliqué la caída del consumo de vino por el auge de la popularidad de la cerveza y la gaseosa. Sin embargo, nunca pude explicarlo además de un cambio de gusto. ¿Alguien tiene la respuesta? Y más específicamente, un poco de información sobre el programa del gobierno contra el alcoholismo.
“Malbecs are blending in among the great wines of the world.” By Mary Ross. Daily Herald. Wednesday, May 02, 2007. http://www.dailyherald.com/food/story.asp?id=308670.
Figure Source:
“Business Trends”. Economic Ministry of the
Friday, April 27, 2007
NYC Wine Course in Spanish / Un curso de vino en castellano en Nueva York
Spanish is the second most studied language in the world, according to a new study done by the Cervantes Institute. With this in mind, it is quite appropriate that the first-ever wine course in Spanish in the U.S. will be offered at the International Wine Center in New York City.
El español es el segundo idioma más estudiado del mundo, según un estudio realizado por el Instituto Cervantes. Así que no es una coincidencia que el primer curso de vino dado en español en los EEUU será ofrecido en la Ciudad de Nueva York.
El español es el segundo idioma más estudiado del mundo, según un estudio realizado por el Instituto Cervantes. Así que no es una coincidencia que el primer curso de vino dado en español en los EEUU será ofrecido en la Ciudad de Nueva York.
Friday, March 16, 2007
The Argentina and Chile Comparison Reaches The Economist / El Economist compara la Argentina y Chile
I wish I had some time to respond to this Economist article on Argentine wine. It makes some good points (like Argentina's inherent marketing power over Chile) but also makes a lot of bad ones as well.
Me encantaría responder a este artículo del Economist sobre la industria vitivinícola argentina en comparación a la de Chile pero no tengo bastante tiempo. Tiene razón sobre algunos puntos (como el poder de marketing de la Argentina) pero se equivoca mucho.
"Vino's Twin Peaks: Wine in Argentina and Chile." The Economist. March 15, 2007.
Me encantaría responder a este artículo del Economist sobre la industria vitivinícola argentina en comparación a la de Chile pero no tengo bastante tiempo. Tiene razón sobre algunos puntos (como el poder de marketing de la Argentina) pero se equivoca mucho.
"Vino's Twin Peaks: Wine in Argentina and Chile." The Economist. March 15, 2007.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
I'm Alive / Estoy vivo
First off, sorry for the long delay. Midterms and lacrosse season don’t exactly equate to a lot of time to write a blog. So while I’ve been gone Mendoza has been busy with Vendimia and the wine bloggers have been talking about other things, like Michel Rolland telling everyone that Argentine wine was superior than Chilean wine (it was also covered by my fellow bloggers here and here). The only thing I have to say is that Rolland has an interest in Argentine wine in his Clos de los Siete vineyard. Below are some interesting news stories about Argentine wine that I didn’t have time to post. Oh, and who could forget to link to the Vendimia beauty queen from the city of Mendoza (who cares if she didn’t win the overall prize for the province?).
Primero, pido muchas disculpas por la demora de los posts. Los exámenes parciales y la temporada de lacrosse no me dejaron mucho tiempo para escribir. Mientras que estaba ausento la industria vitivinícola en la Argentina estuvo muy ocupado con Vendimia y otros temas como el comentario de Michel Rolland sobre la superioridad del vino argentina en contraste al vino chileno (los blogs escribieron sobre la situación acá y acá). La única cosa que voy a decir sobre su comentario es que Rolland tiene un interés en el éxito del vino argentino porque tiene una bodega, Clos de los Siete en Mendoza. Abajo hay algunos artículos publicados en la prensa internacional sobre el vino argentino. Y quien puede olvidar de la reina de belleza de la ciudad de Mendoza (¿Quién le importa que no ganó el Reina Nacional de la Vendimia?).
Links to stories:
"Argentine domestic consumption increased, barely." By Vinos de Argentina.
Vendimia Vendimia Vendimia!
Vines of Mendoza Coverage.
"Argentina boasts a plethora of grapes." By Laurie Daniel. March 7, 2007. The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA).
Primero, pido muchas disculpas por la demora de los posts. Los exámenes parciales y la temporada de lacrosse no me dejaron mucho tiempo para escribir. Mientras que estaba ausento la industria vitivinícola en la Argentina estuvo muy ocupado con Vendimia y otros temas como el comentario de Michel Rolland sobre la superioridad del vino argentina en contraste al vino chileno (los blogs escribieron sobre la situación acá y acá). La única cosa que voy a decir sobre su comentario es que Rolland tiene un interés en el éxito del vino argentino porque tiene una bodega, Clos de los Siete en Mendoza. Abajo hay algunos artículos publicados en la prensa internacional sobre el vino argentino. Y quien puede olvidar de la reina de belleza de la ciudad de Mendoza (¿Quién le importa que no ganó el Reina Nacional de la Vendimia?).
Links to stories:
"Argentine domestic consumption increased, barely." By Vinos de Argentina.
Vendimia Vendimia Vendimia!
Vines of Mendoza Coverage.
"Argentina boasts a plethora of grapes." By Laurie Daniel. March 7, 2007. The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA).
Saturday, February 24, 2007
An Argentine “Y” Store? / ¿Un negocios "Y" de vino argentino?
This week’s Wall Street Journal “Tastings” column (need subscription), written by Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, is about a new trend in the U.S.
La columna de vino semenal en el Wall Street Journal, escrito por Dorothy Gaiter y John Brecher, se trata de un nuevo ritmo de la venta de vino en los EE.UU. El ritmo consiste de negocios de vino que son más chicos y más amables para el consumidor. Los periodistas los nombran “negocios Y” porque su blanco es la generación Y (se define por una persona que nació dentro de 1978 y 1998). Este hecho me interesa porque soy un miembro de la generación Y y mi generación es más interesado en el vino cada día y será la generación que adelanta a los EE.UU. a la posición numero 1 en el mundo para el top consumidor de vino (aunque tenemos mucho trabajo para hacer para llegar al top 50 en términos de consumo per capita).
La columna de vino semenal en el Wall Street Journal, escrito por Dorothy Gaiter y John Brecher, se trata de un nuevo ritmo de la venta de vino en los EE.UU. El ritmo consiste de negocios de vino que son más chicos y más amables para el consumidor. Los periodistas los nombran “negocios Y” porque su blanco es la generación Y (se define por una persona que nació dentro de 1978 y 1998). Este hecho me interesa porque soy un miembro de la generación Y y mi generación es más interesado en el vino cada día y será la generación que adelanta a los EE.UU. a la posición numero 1 en el mundo para el top consumidor de vino (aunque tenemos mucho trabajo para hacer para llegar al top 50 en términos de consumo per capita).
The article discusses how Y stores try to appeal to the customer by arranging the store in a consumer-friendly layout. For example, the authors profile Bottlerocket Wine & Spirits in
El articulo habla de la manera en lo que los negocios "Y" intenta atraer al cliente por ordenar el negocio que es fácil para navegar. Por ejemplo, los autores escriben sobre Bottleneck Wine & Spirits en Manhattan que organiza su vino por país (“desde la Argentina hasta los EE.UU") y luego por el uso del vino, como “mariscos”, o “tercer cita”. Generalmente estos negocios llevan una selección más chica que los negocios cadenas.
The most Argentina-pertinent part of the story was Y stores’ focus on a theme. For example, Y store Tinto Fino in
El aspecto que es pertinente a la Argentina es el parte que se trata de un negocio que sólo tiene vinos españoles. Tinto Fino en Manhattan lleva 115 bodegas españolas y como los autores apuntan, “los consumidores pueden explorar más de estas regiones que antes porque estos negocios encuentran vinos de los productores chicos.” Estoy pensando si los hombres de Vines of Mendoza ya habían pensado de la idea para los EE.UU con vinos argentinos.
A couple more tidbits: this is one crazy contraption; many stores offer notes on each wine when you scan the bar code into computers located around the store; tastings with real wine glasses (not plastic cups); and some stores are even offer “wine boot camp” for those who really want to know about wine. And last but not least: "Almost one-in-four men try to impress friends or dates by pretending to be wine buffs, reveals a new survey. However, most risk being exposed as buffoons according to the poll, which found knowledge of the drink is low despite soaring popularity." LSE.co.uk (Via Dr. Vino)
Unas cosas más: Este es un artilugio loco (en el sentido bueno); muchos negocios ofrecen apuntes sobre cada vino cuando escaneas el código en la botella en unas computadoras ubicadas por el negocio; ofrecen probaciones con vasos reales (no vasos plásticos); y ofrecen “wine boot camp” que se traduce como una semana intensa sobre el vino. Y finalmente: “Casi uno de cada cuatro hombres intenten a impresionar a sus amigos o novias por actuar que saben mucho sobre el vino, revela una encuesta nueva.” LSE.co.uk (Via Dr. Vino)
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Tough Year in Mendoza, says Wine Spectator / Una cosecha complicada en Mendoza, según Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator summarizes this year’s hail storms and their consequences on the harvest in a short, albeit comprehensive article.
Resume Wine Spectator las problemas con el granizo en un artículo no largo, pero muy completo.
“Argentina Likely in for Tough Year after Hail Hits Vineyards.” By James Molesworth. Wine Spectator. February 21, 2007.
Resume Wine Spectator las problemas con el granizo en un artículo no largo, pero muy completo.
“Argentina Likely in for Tough Year after Hail Hits Vineyards.” By James Molesworth. Wine Spectator. February 21, 2007.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Dr. Vino's Pictures of Mendoza / El blog de Dr. Vino y sus fotos de Mendoza
One of the best blogs in english on wine is Dr. Vino. A little while ago the author visited Mendoza and took some nice picures. Enjoy!
Unos de los mejores blogs sobre el vino en ingles es Dr. Vino. Hace un poco que el autor del blog visitó a la Argentina y sacó algunas fotos. ¡Que las disfruten!
Unos de los mejores blogs sobre el vino en ingles es Dr. Vino. Hace un poco que el autor del blog visitó a la Argentina y sacó algunas fotos. ¡Que las disfruten!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Valentine’s Day and Argentine Wine / El Día de San Valentín y el vino argentino
I’ve always been quite the curmudgeon when it comes to Valentine’s Day. You know, the usual grumbling about capitalism and its exploitation of romance. Fortunately, I was able to put a positive twist on this year’s celebration with a Trapiche Broquel 2004 Malbec (and a lovely girlfriend to share it with didn’t hurt either). As I confessed in one of my first posts, I know basically nothing about wine. In case you’re a bit confused, I do know something about the development of the Argentine wine industry, and it just so happens that through my “research” I got to learn a little bit about the actual wine itself. So, all I can say about this Malbec, which apparently is now synonymous with Argentine wine in the U.K., is tha
t it was smooth, had a little bit of spice, and had a short finish. I googled it and came back with this description:
“For a relatively new wine, this one is very smooth. The color is a rich purple of moderate intensity and superior clarity. With scents of leather, raspberry, a hint of spice, and a light background of oak, this wine bears more than a passing similarity to some cooler-climate Zinfandels. The taste is all fruit, with very mild tannin and a moderate acid level, and a short but enjoyable finish. With such soft tannins, it's unlikely this wine will do any serious aging, so drink now!” http://www.corkd.com/wine/view/12692
So there you have it. I also got it on sale for 12 dollars, a pretty good price to quality ratio. Of course, in Buenos Aires I bet this wine costs about 15 pesos (5 dollars), as Guía Vinum told me about another Trapiche Malbec 2004.
For those of you wondering, this whole event was your classic college student affair. The wine glasses were given to me as a gift from my Argentine host mother, the plastic plates were taken from the dining hall, and the “napkins” are actually tissues. What fine cuisine did we enjoy you ask? Well, chicken parmesan sandwiches from the local pizzeria, of course. And dessert? Jorgito alfajores! For those of you who don’t know, these “alfajores” are little Argentine chocolate treats with dulce de leche in the middle.
Jamás disfrutaba el Día de San Valentín. Siempre decía las quejas normales como el proceso de explotación capitalista sobre el amor. Este año tenía la suerte de usar el día por comprar un vino argentino – un Trapiche Broquel Malbec 2004. También, estaría en problemas si no menciono que el vino fue muy rico porque pasé la cena con mi novia linda.
Confesé en algunos de los posts primeros del blog que no sé nada sobre el vino. Tal vez estás un poco confundido porque estás leyendo este blog, sé un poco sobre el desarrollo de la industria vitivinícola y por las “investigaciones” aprendí un poco sobre el vino. Así que la única cosa que puedo decir sobre este Malbec, que es aparente que es un sinónimo por el vino argentino en Gran Britana (que malditas piratas…), es que fue suave, tenía un poco de especia, y el sabor terminó rápida en la lengua. Googleé (si, googlear es el verbo, mirá a esta nota en Clarín) el vino y encontré esta descripción en ingles y la traduje:
“Para un vino bastante nuevo, es muy suave. El color es un morado oscuro con una intensidad moderada y una claridad superior. Con aromas de cuero, frambuesa, y un poco de una especia, este vino es muy similar a algunos Zinfandels desde climas más frescas. El sabor tiene mucha fruta, con taninos muy suaves y un nivel de acido muy moderado, terminó muy rápido aunque disfruté mucho. Con taninos tan suaves, no es probable que vaya a madurar mucho, ¡así que tomá ahora!" http://www.corkd.com/wine/view/12692
Compré el vino por 12 dólares – una matanza en términos de pesos argentinos según Guia Vinum – pero es bastante barato por un vino tan bueno y usualmente se venden por 14 dólares.
Para los lectores que tienen un interés en el evento de tomar el vino, puedo compartir la descripción muy típica para un universitario. Los vasos fueron regalos de mi “mama argentina”, los platos eran plásticos que saqué del centro de comer de la universidad, y las servilletas eran pañuelos. ¿Me preguntan que comida fashion que comimos? Pollo parmesano de la pizzería local, por supuesto. Y para el poste comimos alfajores Jorgito que había traído desde Buenos Aires. ¡Que cena romántica!
t it was smooth, had a little bit of spice, and had a short finish. I googled it and came back with this description:“For a relatively new wine, this one is very smooth. The color is a rich purple of moderate intensity and superior clarity. With scents of leather, raspberry, a hint of spice, and a light background of oak, this wine bears more than a passing similarity to some cooler-climate Zinfandels. The taste is all fruit, with very mild tannin and a moderate acid level, and a short but enjoyable finish. With such soft tannins, it's unlikely this wine will do any serious aging, so drink now!” http://www.corkd.com/wine/view/12692
So there you have it. I also got it on sale for 12 dollars, a pretty good price to quality ratio. Of course, in Buenos Aires I bet this wine costs about 15 pesos (5 dollars), as Guía Vinum told me about another Trapiche Malbec 2004.
For those of you wondering, this whole event was your classic college student affair. The wine glasses were given to me as a gift from my Argentine host mother, the plastic plates were taken from the dining hall, and the “napkins” are actually tissues. What fine cuisine did we enjoy you ask? Well, chicken parmesan sandwiches from the local pizzeria, of course. And dessert? Jorgito alfajores! For those of you who don’t know, these “alfajores” are little Argentine chocolate treats with dulce de leche in the middle.
Jamás disfrutaba el Día de San Valentín. Siempre decía las quejas normales como el proceso de explotación capitalista sobre el amor. Este año tenía la suerte de usar el día por comprar un vino argentino – un Trapiche Broquel Malbec 2004. También, estaría en problemas si no menciono que el vino fue muy rico porque pasé la cena con mi novia linda.
Confesé en algunos de los posts primeros del blog que no sé nada sobre el vino. Tal vez estás un poco confundido porque estás leyendo este blog, sé un poco sobre el desarrollo de la industria vitivinícola y por las “investigaciones” aprendí un poco sobre el vino. Así que la única cosa que puedo decir sobre este Malbec, que es aparente que es un sinónimo por el vino argentino en Gran Britana (que malditas piratas…), es que fue suave, tenía un poco de especia, y el sabor terminó rápida en la lengua. Googleé (si, googlear es el verbo, mirá a esta nota en Clarín) el vino y encontré esta descripción en ingles y la traduje:
“Para un vino bastante nuevo, es muy suave. El color es un morado oscuro con una intensidad moderada y una claridad superior. Con aromas de cuero, frambuesa, y un poco de una especia, este vino es muy similar a algunos Zinfandels desde climas más frescas. El sabor tiene mucha fruta, con taninos muy suaves y un nivel de acido muy moderado, terminó muy rápido aunque disfruté mucho. Con taninos tan suaves, no es probable que vaya a madurar mucho, ¡así que tomá ahora!" http://www.corkd.com/wine/view/12692
Compré el vino por 12 dólares – una matanza en términos de pesos argentinos según Guia Vinum – pero es bastante barato por un vino tan bueno y usualmente se venden por 14 dólares.
Para los lectores que tienen un interés en el evento de tomar el vino, puedo compartir la descripción muy típica para un universitario. Los vasos fueron regalos de mi “mama argentina”, los platos eran plásticos que saqué del centro de comer de la universidad, y las servilletas eran pañuelos. ¿Me preguntan que comida fashion que comimos? Pollo parmesano de la pizzería local, por supuesto. Y para el poste comimos alfajores Jorgito que había traído desde Buenos Aires. ¡Que cena romántica!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
A new book on the Argentine wine industry / Un nuevo libro sobre la industria vitivinícola argentina
Professor Steve Stein, Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Miami, is currently co-authoring a book with Professor Ana María Mateu of the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo on the Argentine wine industry. It will be published in Spanish in Argentina by the Editorial de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. For the Argentine readers out there, keep an eye out for El vino y sus revoluciones: Una antología histórica sobre el desarrollo de la industria vitivinícola argentina. It should be hitting bookshelves sometime this year.
Profesor Steve Stein, Director del Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos de la Universidad de Miami, está en el proceso de publicar con Profesor Ana María Mateu de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo una antología sobre la industria vitivinícola argentina. Será publicado en castellano en la Argentina por la Editorial de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Para los lectores argentinos, que tengan buen ojo para El vino y sus revoluciones: Una antología histórica sobre el desarrollo de la industria vitivinícola argentina. Debería estar en las librerías este año.
Profesor Steve Stein, Director del Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos de la Universidad de Miami, está en el proceso de publicar con Profesor Ana María Mateu de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo una antología sobre la industria vitivinícola argentina. Será publicado en castellano en la Argentina por la Editorial de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Para los lectores argentinos, que tengan buen ojo para El vino y sus revoluciones: Una antología histórica sobre el desarrollo de la industria vitivinícola argentina. Debería estar en las librerías este año.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Old World Consumer, New World Producer / Un pais del consumo del viejo mundo y productor del Nuevo mundo
Argentina is a funny wine country. While it often grouped into the New World producers – the United States, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa – its consumption patterns look very much like that of an Old World country – Italy, France, or Spain. In this paper (PDF) from researchers at the University of California Davis Viticulture and Enology Department in Nature, tells an interesting story of increasing consumption in the New World while per capita consumption declines in the Old World. The paper says New World wine drinkers tend to drink more high quality wine in lower quantities, while Old World wine drinkers drink cheaper wine at higher quantities. This has certainly been the case in Argentina, even though the consumption of table wine has sharply declined during the past twenty years due to the popularity of beer and soda.
Nevertheless, Old World/Argentine wine drinkers certainly consumer a LOT more wine than the U.S., per capita.
Graph: Linda, Bisson, et all. “The Present and future of the international wine industry.” Nature 418. August 8, 2002.
The University of California Davis Viticulture and Enology Department: http://wineserver.ucdavis.edu/
Argentina es un caso distinto en el mundo del vino. Es usual para ver la Argentina en el grupo de productores del nuevo mundo – los EE.UU., Chile, Australia, Nueva Zelandia, y Sur Africa – pero sus ritmos de consumo parecen mucho más como los de un país del viejo mundo – Italia, Francia y Espana. En este articulo (PDF) en la revista Nature, los investigadores de la facultad de Viticultura y Enología de la Universidad de California Davis nos cuentan del consumo que aumenta en el nuevo mundo mientras que el consumo per capita declina en el viejo mundo. Continúa diciendo que los consumidores del nuevo mundo tienden a tomar vino de una calidad más alta en cantidades menores, mientras que los consumidores del viejo mundo toman vino más barato en cantidades más grandes. Este es el caso en la Argentina, aunque el consumo del vino de la mesa ha declinado drásticamente durante los 20 años pasados debido a la popularidad de la cerveza y la gaseosa.
No obstante, consumidores del viejo mundo y la Argentina toman MUCHO más vino que los EE.UU, per capita.
Gráfica: Linda, Bisson, et all. “The Present and future of the international wine industry.” Nature 418. 8 de agosto, 2002.
La facultad de Viticultura y Enología de la Universidad de California Davis: http://wineserver.ucdavis.edu/
Nevertheless, Old World/Argentine wine drinkers certainly consumer a LOT more wine than the U.S., per capita.
Graph: Linda, Bisson, et all. “The Present and future of the international wine industry.” Nature 418. August 8, 2002.
The University of California Davis Viticulture and Enology Department: http://wineserver.ucdavis.edu/
Argentina es un caso distinto en el mundo del vino. Es usual para ver la Argentina en el grupo de productores del nuevo mundo – los EE.UU., Chile, Australia, Nueva Zelandia, y Sur Africa – pero sus ritmos de consumo parecen mucho más como los de un país del viejo mundo – Italia, Francia y Espana. En este articulo (PDF) en la revista Nature, los investigadores de la facultad de Viticultura y Enología de la Universidad de California Davis nos cuentan del consumo que aumenta en el nuevo mundo mientras que el consumo per capita declina en el viejo mundo. Continúa diciendo que los consumidores del nuevo mundo tienden a tomar vino de una calidad más alta en cantidades menores, mientras que los consumidores del viejo mundo toman vino más barato en cantidades más grandes. Este es el caso en la Argentina, aunque el consumo del vino de la mesa ha declinado drásticamente durante los 20 años pasados debido a la popularidad de la cerveza y la gaseosa.
No obstante, consumidores del viejo mundo y la Argentina toman MUCHO más vino que los EE.UU, per capita.
Gráfica: Linda, Bisson, et all. “The Present and future of the international wine industry.” Nature 418. 8 de agosto, 2002.
La facultad de Viticultura y Enología de la Universidad de California Davis: http://wineserver.ucdavis.edu/
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Flying Trout Winery / Bodega Flying Trout
I came across the Flying Trout Winery in a Google Alert. It looks like they have a vineyard in Mendoza and Walla Walla, Washington. I wonder how many other wineries are located in both the U.S. and Argentina (and I’m not referring to large multinationals like the Mondavis). They also have a blog to check out.
Encontré la bodega Flying Trout en una alerta de Google. Parece que ellos tienen una bodega en Mendoza y Walla Walla, Washington. Me pregunto cuantas bodegas están ubicados en ambos países, y no estoy refiriendo a un multinacional poderoso como los Mondavi. Ellos tienen un blog también.
Encontré la bodega Flying Trout en una alerta de Google. Parece que ellos tienen una bodega en Mendoza y Walla Walla, Washington. Me pregunto cuantas bodegas están ubicados en ambos países, y no estoy refiriendo a un multinacional poderoso como los Mondavi. Ellos tienen un blog también.
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