Viñas Del Aconcagua - Mendoza - Argentina

Newsletters

View PDF >>

A family tradition that was put in place nearly a century ago.

As with much of Argentina's cuisine, the country's huge wine industry had its roots in Spain. The first documented record of a commercial vineyard was by Jesuit missionaries in 1557. Three hundred years later, French agronomist Miguel Aime Pouget brought the first cuttings of Malbec to Argentina that would eventually grow to become the country's signature varietal.

Argentina currently ranks fifth in annual production and eighth in production, making its wine industry a very important part of the national economy. Vineyards now stretch from the tiny Jujuy Region in the far north to the Rio Negro Region, south southwest of Buenos Aires and far to the south of most vineyard land. Mendoza, in the center of the country, is the highest-rated wine producing region in the country and is home to the first quality movement the country has experienced in the past thirty years.

In Mendoza, most of the vineyards are located at relatively high altitudes, ranging from 1900 to 3600 feet, much higher than most commercial vineyards in Europe and the United States. Many Argentine vintners place the altitudes of the vines on their front labels as a source of great pride and accomplishment.

For many hundreds of years, quantity, as opposed to quality, was the formula for most Argentine wineries. With huge national consumption, there was little need of extremely high quality wines to compete on the international markets. However, a number of new wineries have appeared during the past three decades, some of which are dedicated to producing extremely high quality wines. Buoyed by the international success of small start up wineries in neighboring Chile, these wineries have begun impressing in international competitions and shows.

Certain smaller districts such as the Maipu Department, which is home to Viñas del Aconcagua Winery, have gained additional exposure for growing and producing excellent Cabernet Sauvignon due to its cooler climate and the lower salinity found in its soils. In the Uco Valley to Mendoza's southwest, high altitude vineyards favor the Chardonnay grape. Like other Southern hemisphere producing countries, Argentina benefits from a season head start in growing and harvesting. Its annual harvest begins around February 15th and gives Argentine wines an extra six months in bottle or cask for the new vintages.

Like its neighbor Chile, Argentina is unique for the absence of phylloxera pests that decimated vineyards throughout the world. While no exact reason can be given for this phenomenon, the fact that Argentina's wine regions are bounded by mountains, deserts, and oceans that create natural barriers against the spread of the louse must surely be considered. Argentina's wine regions also benefit from an ancient irrigation system (begun by the Incas) that redirects massive snow droppings to the viticultural areas below through an intricate system of dams, canals and channels, and guarantees an endless supply of near perfect water.

Mendoza, Argentina None other than the New York Times has called the Mendoza Region of Argentina, "the Napa Valley of Argentina." This amounts to a great compliment since Napa Valley is considered among the world's finest growing areas. The two are very similar, and are joined together by the simple fact that neither has any appreciable rainfall during the most important growing season. It is therefore quite easy to control the water flow to the vines, arguably the most important factor affecting grape development and ultimate quality. The Maipu Department (sub region) is among Mendoza's most winery populated, with many wineries owned by outside (of Argentina) interests. It is also the home to the country's finer small wineries that have brought much attention to the area of late. Practically every European varietal can be found in Mendoza, along with many of the local varietals that had origins in Spanish viniculture. Mendoza accounts for more wine than any other region in Argentina, and its vineyards constitute approximately half of the United States' total planted acres and more than the planted acres of both New Zealand and Australia combined.

FEATURED WINES

	Solemne 2007 Malbec Viñas del Aconcagua’s 2007 Solemne Malbec comes from the famed Mendoza region of Argentina, a region that is remarkably influence by the Andes while enjoying warm, dry summers. Malbec in particular is outstanding from Mendoza, and Viñas del Aconcagua is responsible one of the premeir bottlings. With intense red and light violet color, the 2007 Solemne Malbec has soft fruit flavors, warm earth notes, and hints of rustic oak nuances that distinguishs Mendoza’s characteristic style. Try pairing the Solemne 2007 Malbec with empanadas, roasted lamb, and casseroles. Enjoy now until 2012.
	Solemne 2010 Torrontés The history of the Torrontés grape is a bit of a mystery. While some Argentines claim the grape is native to their country, some wine experts believe that it was brought to the New World many years ago by settlers from Spain as a descendent of the Muscat grape. In any case, Torrontés truly is uniquely Argentine and no other country in the world produces it. Torrontés thrives in the high altitude regions of Argentines, especially within Mendoza where the wines are made with more concentrated flavors of melon and tropical fruits. The Solemne 2010 Torrontés offers lively notes of green apple, roses, white flowers and rich tropical fruits. Crisp, refreshing, and bone-dry with a hint of minerality on the finish, the Solemne Torrontés is a wonderful partner to smoked meats, light pastas, and medium cheeses. Enjoy now until 2015.
	Aconcagua 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve The Viñas del Aconcagua 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a special bottling for the winery’s top quality Cabernet program. Berry red in color, this Cabernet Sauvignon is bursting with intense red and black berry fruit flavors, pepper, and cassis balanced by sweet oak nuances and soft, ripe tannins that linger on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon is gaining popularity throughout Argentina and in addition to being made as a varietal wine, it is also being blended with Malbec, Merlot and Syrah at many wineries. Try pairing the Aconcagua 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve with grilled burgers, chili, and hearty stews. Enjoy now until 2015.

ABOUT THE WINEMAKER

Esteben Roldan and Marcelo Cazzasa
Esteben's career is similar to many winemakers in Argentina. After attending the Don Bosco Winemaking University in Maipu, he entered the wine business and worked for a number of wineries during his early years. His wines have been recognized by Britain's Decanter Magazine and have been awarded numerous gold medals in international competitions. Vineyard-wise, Marcelo Cazzasa has extensive experience in Argentina and abroad, particularly in France where he assisted at Pomerol's highly regarded Chateau Clos l'Eglise and also at Moet and Chandon. These top viticulturists assure the Viñas del Aconcagua of top small production wines for the future.

Ramon Giache
Almost one hundred years ago, Nicolas Giache and his son Ramon relocated from their native Ancona Region of Italy to Argentina in search of a better life. In 1944, Ramon purchased some vineyard land in the then laid back wine producing Argentine region of Mendoza. The plot was called finca (vineyard) El Chanar, and was planted in Malbec, Argentina's leading varietal.

Through the years, the El Chanar Vineyard gained status as a world-class piece that garnered awards for the wineries that bought its fruit. With their location in the bosom of the eastern side of the Andes Mountains, the succeeding generations of the Giache Family continued the tradition of growing superior grapes and selling them to the wineries that comprised Argentina's growing wine industry.

In 2000, the fourth generation of Giaches decided to build their own winery and the magnificent Viñas del Aconcagua portfolio of wines. The original winery releases were small, and today's Viñas del Aconcagua is still classified as a boutique winery that produces slightly over 16,000 cases each year. Compared to many of its neighbors, the winery is a small proverbial drop in the Argentina wine industry bucket that ranks as the fifth largest in the world. While family icon Ramon Giache still continues to attend to the now venerable El Chanar Vineyard, his grandsons Alberto and Ruben run today's modern state-of-the-art winery that was completed shortly after the turn of the century. Even though he possesses an electrical engineering background, Alberto Giache serves as the company's day-to-day general manager while Ruben tends to handle human resources and oversees the vineyards. Both grandsons have continued their family's tradition of participating in the wine business.

The winery was named in honor of the nearby great Monte Aconcagua, at 6,962 meters (22,841 feet), the highest peak in either the western or southern hemispheres. It is the dominant feature of the Mendoza, Argentina wine region. A portion of the Viñas del Aconcagua production has always
been made in the form of limited edition wines, selections that show the true character and terroir of its land and vineyards. "It is the Family's intention to feature great wines from El Chanar and our other award winning vineyards," commented Gabriel Chavarria, the company's import director for the United States. "Our vineyards, and El Chanar in particular, are revered inside Argentina for their greatness, and we felt it was time to offer them to the rest of the world." Additional acreage (30 hectares) was added during the past decade that will allow the winery to grow, depending on market conditions and international demand for its wines.

The new winery facility is capable of producing close to one million bottles a year if demand warrants." When it comes time to finalize the blends for each year's wines, the entire Giache family takes part. "It's a wonderful time around the winery. Everyone collaborates and gets into the action," added Chavarria. "It's all about the spirit and caring the family has for our wines." Even though Viñas del Aconcagua is still comparatively young in years, the fact that its wines have risen so rapidly in esteem tends to speak well for the future. The winery is fortunate to have established vineyards to fill its current releases, and seems poised to increase production in the near future.

THE WINE REGION

Argentina is one of the largest and most exciting wine-producing countries in the world. Stretching from rainforests to frozen glacier fields, and high altitudes to semi-desert landscapes, Argentina's geography is quite extensive.

The country's warmer inland region encourages vine growth down the entire length of the country's western border. The vineyards extend over 2,000 kilometers, varying in altitude depending on their closeness to the Andes Mountains. Due to the modest rainfall of the region, irrigation is vital, and water from the Andean range creates a natural irrigation system for the vineyards.

The most notable wine region of Argentina is Mendoza, which is responsible for producing over 80% of the country's total wine production. Following a family tradition that was put in place nearly a century ago, Viñas Del Aconcagua is a rising start among Mendoza's high-altitude wineries.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Argentinean Empanadas

Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
2 onions, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
2 tsp. Hungarian sweet paprika
3/4 tsp. hot paprika
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 Tbs. distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup pitted green olives, chopped
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
salt to taste
1 (17.5 oz) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed

Preparations:
In a saute pan melt the shortening and add the chopped onions. Cook the onions until just before they begin to turn golden. Remove from the heat and stir in the sweet paprika, hot paprika, crushed red pepper flakes and salt to taste. Spread the meat on a sieve and pour boiling water on it for partial cooking. Allow meat to cool. Place meat in a dish, add salt to taste, cumin and vinegar. Mix and add the meat to the onion mixture. Mix well and place on a flat dish to cool and harden. Cut puff pastry dough into 10 round shells. Place a spoonfull of the meat mixture on each round; add some of the raisins, olives and hard boiled egg. Avoid reaching the edges of the pastry with the filling because its oiliness will prevent good sealing. Slightly wet the edge of the pastry, fold in two and stick edges together. The shape should resemble that of a half-moon. You should have a 2/3-1/2 inch flat edge of pastry to work with. Seal by twisting edge, step by step, between thumb and index finger, making sure to add pressure before releasing the pinch and moving on to the next curl. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place empanadas on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Prick each empanada with a fork near the curl to allow steam to escape during baking. Glaze with egg for shine and bake until golden, about 20-30 minutes.

Argentinean Locro

Ingredients:
1 cup dried white corn (hominy)
2 ears of fresh yellow corn, cut the kernals off the cobs
2 medium white onions, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 1/4 inch thick slices of smoked pancetta or slab of bacon, cubed
2 chorizos colorados or other slightly spicy
sausage, sliced
2 one inch thick pieces of osso buco (beef shanks)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. sweet paprika
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 cups of butternut squash, peeled and diced small
1 1/2 cups of yams, peeled and diced small
2 plum tomatoes, cut in small wedges
salt to taste
green onion for garnish
chili oil

Preparations:
Soak the dried white corn in 2 cups of water overnight. The next day, prepare the chili oil in advance by soaking a tsp. of red pepper flakes in a Tbs. of olive oil for 2-3 hours. Place the onions, garlic, bacon, sausage, and osso buco in a large stewpot. Cook over medium heat until the onions are translucent. Add the fresh yellow corn, paprika, cumin, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.

Continue to cook, stirring regularly, for roughly 10 min. Add the soaked white corn kernals, including the soaking water. Add hot water to the pot to about 2 inches above the level of the ingredients.

Add the remaining vegetables, stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, stirring every 15-20 minutes for at least 2 hours. Uncover the pot and remove the bay leaves. Remove the pieces of osso buco and discard the bones. Cut the meat into bite-d pieces, and then return it to the pot. Continue to stir over low heat, and using the back of a wide spoon or spatula, press the ingredients up against the sides of the pot so the starchy vegetables and tomato break down into the soup. As you continue to stir, mash, and cook, the soup should gradually thicken. Continue until locro reaches the rich consistency of a stew. Add salt to taste. Serve in bowls, garnish with green onions, and a touch of chili oil.

Live Chat Live Help Software for Website

SecurityMetrics for PCI Compliance, QSA, IDS, Penetration Testing, Forensics, and Vulnerability Assessment