Mendoza Wine Capital
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Mendoza Wine Capital to SALTA (846 MI) Potrerillos Dam Mt. Aconcagua a z Elev 22,800’ o d n MENDOZA Maipú e Elev 2,300’ Max Elev 2,600’ M Rio LA POSTA ARMANDO VINEYARD REGINATO Luján de Cuyo S Maipu GRAFFITO Elev 3,200’ E MENDEL / LUNTA D Luján de Cuyo Perdriel N San Martín A 7 7 LUCA Agrelo E. Mendoza Max Elev 2,400’ S Junín N Ugarteche I A T LA POSTA Santa Rosa PAULUCCI VINEYARD N Rivadavia Tupungato SANTIAGO U LA POSTA Mt. Tupungato Elev 3,900’ O FAZZIO VINEYARD n Elev 21,500’ Gualtallary yá nu M Max Elev 5,000’ 4040 u 7 LUCA G-LOT T ío S Uco Valley R E Max Elev 4,757’ Los Arboles D to BUENOS AIRES N Tunuyán TIKAL Vista Flores (648 MI) A LUCA LABORDE VINEYARD LA POSTA S La Consulta CHILE PIZZELLA VINEYARD E LUIS REGINATO VINEYARDS D LUCA PARAJE ALTAMIRA N Altamira San Carlos A Elev 3,200’ S 40 N I A T to NEUQUEN / N. PATAGONIA N (513 MI) U O M S E D N A SAN JUAN PROVINCE Mendoza Map Key Capital MENDOZA City CITY SAN LUIS Large Town PROVINCE CHILE Small Town Winery/Bodega ARGENTINA Vineyard MENDOZA Highway PROVINCE BUENOS AIRES River LA PAMPA PROVINCE NEUQUEN PROVINCE GET TO KNOW VINE CONNECTIONS Leading Importer of Premium ArgenƟne and Chilean Wine and Japanese Sake In 1999, Vine ConnecƟons pioneered the Įrst naƟonally imported porƞolio of arƟsan wines from Argen- 1 Ɵna. Of the iniƟal 5 brands and 12 wines released, the least expensive was $24 retail. In 2001, Vine ConnecƟons became the US’ premier Japanese ginjo sake importer, oīering sake from 11 family-run breweries spanning the length of the country from Hokkaido to Kyushu. Today, VC represents 2 16 family breweries and more than 30 diīerent sake. In March 2013, Vine ConnecƟons introduced the world to “The New Chile” with a porƞolio of 9 family-run 3 wineries with 11 brands from 12 diīerent regions within Chile. The prices range from $15 to $200 retail. In 2001, Food & Wine Magazine named Vine ConnecƟons one of three “Importers to Watch.” The com- pany was also recognized as an “Importer You Can Trust” by Slate Magazine (2009) and Details Magazine 4 (2010). In 2014, Wine Enthusiast Magazine nominated Vine ConnecƟons for “Wine Importer of the Year.” When Ed y Nick started Vine ConnecƟons, they told themselves, “When people who represent us go into an account, we never want them to have to worry about the quality of the wine in the boƩle.” This 5 mantra sƟll drives their daily pursuit to represent the best wines at all prices. MEET ED MEET NICK 1. I have been a wine lover since college and have worked in the 1. At 16, I lived in Fixin, France as an exchange student. Every wine business since 1986. I am geƫng preƩy good at it, but I sƟll night I would enjoy a boƩle of Burgundy with my host family, learn something new every day. which was my Įrst step into the world of wine. 2. My wine career has been in retail sales, wholesale sales, naƟonal 2. While aƩending Berkeley, I needed a job and found an opening at the North Berkeley Wine Co. I have never worked outside of brand markeƟng, direct-to-consumer, and naƟonal imporƟng. the wine industry since. 3. My boss once told me, “Edward, you should spend more Ɵme 3. I started Vine ConnecƟons as a brokerage/distributor in 1995. drinking Mouton-Cadet and less Ɵme drinking Mouton-Rothschild.” My Įrst client was Billington, the importer for Catena, and I grew That was 1993, and I have been my own boss ever since. California into a top-3 market. 4. I like wines that have the following three characterisƟcs: 4. I met Ed aŌer hearing a KFOG radio ad for his direct mail company 1) balance, 2) balance, 3) balance. "Passport Wine Club" while driving over the Golden Gate Bridge. 5. My favorite hangover quote: “You can never say, ‘I drank too much 5. I have been in the wine business for almost 30 years, but it feels wine last night.’ You CAN say, ‘I drank A LOT of wine last night!’” like yesterday when I was driving cases of wine in my Nissan Sentra making sales calls and deliveries to Southern California. MALBEC MADNESS HISTORY ARGENTINE MALBEC MALBEC REGIONS Malbec originally comes from Southwest France VS FRENCH MALBEC where it is called Cot and features a hard, tannic style. Malbec grapes are grown all over GRAPES: Arg has Argentina, but the best are produced Year that Malbec was brought to smaller grapes and in regions with broad daily tempera- Argentina by Michel A. Pouget, a tighter bunches ture ranges and calcareous, clay, or French agronomist who was hired sandy soils. by the Argentine government. FRUITS: Arg has more lush, fruity notes Acres of vines planted across the country. Argentina is currently and French has Luján de Cuyo the main producer of Malbec more rustic, tannic Malbec from here has an intense, in the world. characteristics dark cherry red color, which may look almost black. It shows mineral ELEVATION: Argentine Malbec has seen vast Arg is from expressions with black fruit and growth over the last decade, rising a higher elevation, sweet spice notes. from 1.3 million cases exported leading to more in 2003 to 9.1 million cases shipped balanced acidity and Uco Valley worldwide in 2013. riper tannins Malbec from Uco Valley’s subregions Tupungato, Tunuyán, and San Carlos RULES OF TASTE are elegant and display distinctive spicy and floral notes. Young unoaked Malbecs should be consumed young; Salta 1 those aged for a few months in oak may be kept for 2 to 3 Malbecs from this high-altitude years; “big” Malbecs can age well in the bottle for a decade. region have a more mineral mouth- feel, with a red fruit profile and high acidity. Argentine grapes have the longest "hang time" in the world, 2 which creates balanced wines with ripe fruit flavors and Salta smooth tannins. Lujan de Cayo Wines like Malbec from Argentina have the highest polyphe- Buenos Aires Uco Valley 3 nol counts of any wines in the world. Mendoza MALBECS OVER $10 ARE SELLING THE FASTEST 7,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000 Cases 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 0 2004 2008 2012 ARGENTINA’S TOP 10 “MUST-KNOW” WINE FACTS 1. PRODUCTION: ArgenƟna is the world’s 5th largest wine producer (behind France, Italy, Spain and the US). 2. HIGH ELEVATION: ArgenƟna’s vineyard elevaƟons range from 2,300-9,000 Ō. Intense sunshine and cool air temperatures create opƟmal grape ripening condiƟons and the longest hang-Ɵme of any region in the world. 3. TEMPERATURE SHIFT: Wide diurnal temperature shiŌs (hot days and cold nights) help grapes maintain their natural acidity and achieve well-balanced wines with full Ňavors. 4. SUN INTENSITY: ArgenƟna’s 300 days of sun yield grapes with excellent physiological ripeness and thick skins. This creates intensely aromaƟc wines with concentrated color and smooth tannins. 5. IRRIGATION: While receiving less than 10 inches of rain per year, Mendoza has plenty of irrigaƟon water from year-round snowmelt in the Andes. The pure mountain water is channeled down to the vineyards through a series of dam and canal systems originally built by the Huarpe Indians. 6. SOIL: Vineyard soils vary from sand to clay, but are predominantly loamy with excellent drainage. Most soils are low in organic material due to elevaƟon and climate, creaƟng desirable vine stress. 7. REGIONS: 80% of ArgenƟna’s wine comes from Mendoza. The region is divided into 4 disƟnct grape-growing areas: Lujan de Cuyo, Maipu, Uco Valley, and Eastern Mendoza. ArgenƟna’s other well-known regions include Salta (north) and Neuquén (south). 8. ECO-FRIENDLY: Due to high alƟtude and a desert climate, vineyards rarely face the problems of insects, fungi, molds, phylloxera, and other diseases that aīect grapes in other countries. PesƟcides and herbicides are barely needed and are used sparingly. 9. MALBEC: Malbec arrived from France in the 1850’s when Michel A. Pouget, a French agronomist, was hired by the ArgenƟne government to bring the Bordeaux varietal across the AtlanƟc. It is now ArgenƟna’s Ňagship grape. (See below for ArgenƟna’s other star reds.) 10. WHITES, TOO!: ArgenƟna is known for its impressive reds but also shines with its whites. Cooler temperatures at higher elevaƟons produce varietals like Chardonnay, Torrontés and Semillon with outstanding character. Data from InsƟtuto Nacional de ViƟvinicultura, 2014 CRITICS APPLAUD VINE CONNECTIONS’ ARGENTINA PORTFOLIO 22 WINES SCORE 90+ POINTS "Attractive, "Balanced, elegant, delicious." well-defined, very composed.” - Wine Advocate - Wine Advocate Red Blend 2014 89 VIN 2013 Malbec 2013 91 WA 90 WA Cabernet Franc 2015 2012 88 VIN 90 WA Pizzella Malbec 2014 “Value Brand of the Year, 2015” 90 WA 89 VIN 2013 - Wine & Spirits 90 VIN 2012 90 WA 90 IWC Double Gold: Fazzio Malbec 2013 90 W&S 90 WE Packaging Design Award Armando Bonarda 2014 -SF International Wine Competition 90 WE Nico 2011 93 WA 91 VIN 2010 93 WA 2009 94 WA 93 IWC 93 JS Pinot Noir 2013 91 WA 90 JS 2012 92 WA 91 WS 91 JS Beso de Dante 2013 92 WA 91+ VIN 2011 92 WA 92 WS 91+ IWC Malbec 2014 90 VIN 2013 93 JS 91 WA Chardonnay 2014 "Compelling...Impressive...Very Satisfying." - Tanzer 91 VIN 2013 93 WA 90 VIN # Syrah 2013 19 OF TOP 100 WINES, 2012 Malbec - Wine Spectator 91 JS 90 WA 90 VIN 2012 93 JS 91 IWC 91 WS Malbec Paraje Altamira 2013 92 VIN "These are splendid, intellectual Mendoza wines." # - Wine Advocate 45 OF TOP 100 WINES, 2012 Patriota - Wine Spectator "Great finesse & sophistication." Unus 2013 91+ VIN - Wine Advocate 2012 93 WA 93 WE Malbec 2014 Jubilo 2014 90 VIN 91 VIN 2013 2013 93 JS 92 WA 90+ VIN Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 2012 VIN 94 WS 90 WA 91 Natural 2014 2013 90 VIN 93 WA 90+ VIN 90 JS 2012 Finca Remota 2013 93 JS 91 WA 90 IWC 93+ VIN Patriota 2014 2012 90 VIN 92 VIN 2013 Semillon 2015 90 VIN 90 W&S 90 VIN 2012 2014 91 WS 91 WA 90 VIN 90 W&S Amorio 2013 Lunta Malbec 2014 90+ VIN 89 VIN 2012 2013 90+ IWC90 WA 92 W&S 90 JS WA = The Wine Advocate VIN = Vinous reviewed by Stephen Tanzer IWC = Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine APRIL 2016 Cellar W&S = Wine & Spirits WS = Wine Spectator WE = Wine Enthusiast JS = James Suckling IMPORTED BY VINE CONNECTIONS VineConnections.com Argentina's best small-family growers invite you to experience the passion of Argentina while sipping their distinctive, grower-specific Malbecs.