First off I want to mention the Argentine wine award winners. To boil it down, 18 judges: 3 from US, 3 from Canada, 3 from the UK,3 from Brazil and 6 from Argentina tasted 512 Argentine wines (128 wineries) which included 392 red wines, 87 white wines, 8 rose wines, 11 sparkling wines and 11 reinforced wines, which resulted in 28 gold medals, 203 silver medals and 138 bronze medals, many of which are profiled in The Vines of Mendoza Tasting Room!
Also in the news, on a random note, Argentina's broadband is set to double this year, which in effect has a direct correlation to ecommerce within the country, which means that Argentina is on the brink of creating an infrastructure of buying power! http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?id=1006954
And just for kicks I am including a link to a Argentine telecom commercial, it will give you a little taste of the Argentine culture- http://creativity-online.com/work/view?seed=f9f03081
The last two notes are in spanish so if you can translate these are interesting articles:
Argentine Wines conquer the US in relation to price and quality: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1107245
For those that would like a follow up to The Vines cabalgata experience, we set the trend and now it is becoming a destination tourist adventure trip (well, only for some) http://www.mdzol.com/mdz/nota/109732-El-cruce-a-Chile-por-el-Real-se-afianza-como-ruta-tur%C3%ADstica-internacional/
AWARD WINNERS!
Grand Reserve Pasionado 2004 from Andeluna Cellars (red blend, 20-50 dollars), Antigua Bodega Syrah 2007 from Antigua Bodega de San Juan (Syrah, 6-9.9 dollars), Bramare Luján de Cuyo Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 from Viña Cobos (Cabernet Sauvignon, 20-50 dollars), Decero Amano Remolinos Vineyard 2006 from Finca Decero (red blend, more than 50 dollars), Doña Paula Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc 2008 from Viña Doña Paula (Sauvignon Blanc, 6 to 9.9 dollars), Etchart Torrontés Late Harvest 2007 from Bodegas Etchart (dessert wine, 10-20 dollars), Ayres de Cafayate Torrontés 2008 from Bodegas Etchart (Torrontés, 10-20 dollars), Doña Silvina Reserva Malbec 2006 from Bodegas Krontiras (Malbec, more than 50 dollars), Gran Lurton Corte Friulano 2008 from Bodega François Lurton (white blend, 20-50 dollars), Limited Edition Bonarda 2007 from Bodegas Nieto Senetiner (Bonarda, 20-50 dollars), Norton Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 from Bodega Norton (Cabernet Sauvignon, 10-20 dollars), Santa Ana Chardonnay/Viognier 2008 from Bodegas Santa Ana (white blend, 6-9.9 dollars), Trapiche Finca Las Palmas Chardonnay 2007 from Bodegas Trapiche (Chardonnay, 20-50 dollars) and Trapiche Malbec Single Vineyard Viña Federico Villafañe 2006 from Bodegas Trapiche (Malbec, 20-50 dollars).