The Vines of Mendoza

Four Common Wine Faults

By Stacy Slinkard, April 02 2020

It’s no surprise that the flavor and aroma profiles of wine are what deliver a significant piece of the pleasure and enjoyment found within the glass. These delicious aromas vary from fruit to spice and earthy to mineral-driven and are typically brought about by the specific grape varieties, growing conditions, fermentation and aging processes and unique cellar conditions. However, when these various growing and production processes go wrong, wine faults and off-aromas can result. Simple oversights and errors can happen to the best of producers resulting in wines that smell and taste like everything from wet dog to rotten eggs. Being able to identify faulty aromas in a wine is not always as easy as it sounds, because most consumers are not familiar with muted and off-aromas and can often pass them off as “earthy” or “musty and aged.” So, let’s dive into the most common wine faults and arm would-be wine buyers with the knowledge and nose to sniff out a seriously flawed wine.

Argentine Collector’s Wines

By Alejandro Lahitte, April 02 2020

For real wine lovers, having a personal cellar is not just a whim; it’s more like a necessity. The importance of having a space to store those wines that we collect is directly proportional to the quantity and the quality of the wines. But there is also another important factor that comes into play when filling your cellar: diversity. The true wine collector is the one who doesn’t just have in his cellar the most famous French wines, but also seeks out and treasures those hidden pearls from different corners of the world. The so called Wines of the New World are taking up more and more space in these collectors’ cellars. And among those wines, Argentina stands out for its offering of a wide variety of grapes, regions and styles for all tastes. If you’re looking to diversify your personal cellar by adding some of the great collectible Argentine wines, this article is for you:

Understanding Wine Scores and Ratings

By Stacy Slinkard, July 10 2019

Quick, succinct and informative, a wine’s score is perhaps the fastest method of communicating an individual wine critic’s impression and opinion of a wine to both consumers and colleagues alike. These quick number narratives are often bolstered, defended and substantiated by the reviewer’s tasting notes that typically appear alongside the rating. The 100-point scale is the gold standard for rating wines and has been the benchmark for scoring a wine’s quality. It has been the highly influential rating guide of both Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator magazine. It is interesting to note that a wine may be scored by an individual wine critic, a collective tasting panel review or a distinct online or in print wine publication.

When to Cellar and When to Drink that Wine

By Stacy Slinkard, May 23 2019

What factors determine if a wine is built to age well or not? Do most wines get better with time? These are key questions that surface regularly in wine circles and many consumers are under the impression that the majority of wines on today’s market do get better with time, propagated in part by the happy cliché that is passed around in a variety of contexts, “aging like a fine wine.”

Seven Fires

By Cathy Brown, May 23 2019

“Fire has its own language, spoken in the realm of heat, hunger and desire. It speaks of alchemy, mystery and, above all, possibility. It is a slumbering voice inside me, the ever- present beast within my soul, it is beyond words, beyond memory. It comes from a time long before I can recall.”

The Ultimate Wine Experience: Wine Camp

By Cathy Brown, January 04 2019

While you may be able to wrap your head around the fact that wine comes from grapes and that there is a part about putting it into barrels before you drink it, there is a whole lot that happens in between in order to make a fabulous wine. Visiting wineries and enjoying tastings can only take your wine knowledge so far, and unfortunately most wine lovers don’t have the luxury of taking off for months at a time to work in a cellar. In comes the Vines of Mendoza Winemaking Camp, where participants can get a hands-on experience of both harvesting and winemaking in one fun, action-packed day.

Rosé in Argentina: a world of possibilities

By Selva Manzur, December 04 2018

Worldwide, rosés already represent more than 15 percent of total still wine production, and the impact of this trend has been particularly strong in Argentina, where an increasing number of wines have been added to the category over the past two years. When visiting any wine bar, you’ll immediately notice that rosés are no longer just based on Malbec or Pinot Noir, nor are they simply varietals: consumption has grown in step with the creativity of oenologists and the continuous quest for innovation on the part of wineries.

Los Chacayes

By Diego Pernas /@ARGysusVinos, November 14 2018

Los Chacayes is between 1000 and 1400 meters above sea level. The East end starts at 1015 MASL and the highest cultivated area is around 1300 MASL. The strip where most of the projects are located is between 1170 and 1220 MASL.

The Vines Blending Session Experience

By Cathy Brown, September 29 2018

I’m not someone who likes to overthink my wine. Please don’t talk to me for hours about notes of blackberry and about how I should smell that Merlot more profoundly and how I should scrutinize the exact color of my Cab Franc for what seems like ages before I can even put it in my mouth. I don’t want a cold and calculated scientific experience, I want poetry. I want the laughter that accompanies a bottle of wine that is enjoyed with good company. I want to save the cork from really special moments to remind me of how I felt when I drank a certain wine – not to remind me that it was mildly astringent and should have ideally been consumed at 2 degrees warmer temperature. So with this in mind, I was a little hesitant to enter into a full-on wine blending class. I felt my time might have been better spent indulgently soaking in the Vines outdoor bathtub actually enjoying a glass of Malbec instead of creating one in a lab.

Biodynamic wines from Argentina

By Selva Manzur, August 30 2018

SuperUco, the Michelini brothers’ winery in Tunuyán, which is part of The Vines of Mendoza Winemaker’s Village, certified its vineyards as biodynamic with the aid of Demeter International, the most renowned certification organization for this type of agriculture.

An Easy Introduction to Argentina’s Cabernet Franc

By Stacy Slinkard, July 31 2018

With roots firmly planted in the Bordeaux region of France, Cabernet Franc has since ventured out into the wine world to become an international variety that shows remarkable diversity in vineyards across the globe. In Argentina, this rugged, early-ripening grape claims almost 2300 acres of vineyard space with our own Vines of Mendoza boasting 115 acres intentionally devoted to Cab Franc. It’s no secret that most consumers and connoisseurs associate the beloved Malbec grape with Argentina first and foremost, yet Argentinean Cabernet Franc is quickly garnering the recognition and celebration of enthusiasts near and far. While current trends show that over half of the country’s Cab Franc is still consumed locally, the export market is rapidly gaining ground as producers proudly plant more vineyard space to this charming red wine grape.

An Insider's Guide to the Uco Valley

By Sorrel Moseley-Williams, July 02 2018

While the Uco Valley has traditionally harbored small family-run winemaking projects, it has blossomed in the past decade, with numerous bodegas and restaurants opening their doors.

Beginner’s Guide to Malbec

By Stacy Slinkard, May 31 2018

We know most of you are already Malbec experts, but it is always good to go back to the basics once in a while. Brimming with ripe dark fruit character and inky black pigments, Malbec is a versatile, food-friendly red wine with significant roots in Mendoza’s Uco Valley. Malbec claims southwest France, specifically Cahors, as its original homeland where it is known simply as “Côt.” Included as a blending grape in Bordeaux for hundreds of years, this spicy black grape has found firm footing and considerable fame in the arid, high-elevation vineyards surrounding Mendoza. Today, Argentina is the lively home to 75% of the Malbec vines grown worldwide.

Marcelo Pelleriti - Mendoza’s musical winemaker

By Amanda Barnes, April 26 2018

If you were in the Uco Valley last month, there was the sound of more than just birdsong in Vista Flores as Bodega Monteviejo held the 8th edition of Monteviejo Wine Rock - the biggest wine and rock music festival in South America. With an impressive line up of some of Argentina’s most famous rock bands, along with a art and culture exhibition , this is always one of the hottest tickets in Mendoza’s events calendar.

Four Restaurants to Visit When in Mendoza City

By Selva Manzur, March 29 2018

Mendoza has long been the land of rich soil and fine wine, but during the past decade, the local cuisine has evolved considerably and is increasingly paired with the varietals and blends produced here, which it rivals in both variety and quality. In this way, the list of restaurants and gastropubs to recommend to year-round visitors to the Mendoza City is rapidly expanding. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a full-course dinner for two or a light lunch with friends and family, there are excellent options to suit every occasion and taste.

La Cayetana: A house going back in time

By Indira Thambiah, March 28 2018

By Indira Thambiah - Private Vineyard Owner - Silly Point Wines

Top 5 Gaucho Essentials

By Amanda Barnes, March 28 2018

The gaucho - the quintessential Argentine figure. Known for their masterful domination of cattle and horses, for playing lively folkloric music and telling colorful tales, and for their ability to rustle up a delicious asado in the mountains, the gaucho is so much more than Argentina’s answer to a cowboy.

The rise of Mediterranean varieties in Mendoza

By Amanda Barnes, February 28 2018

While Mendoza has always been a friend of the Bordeaux varieties beyond Malbec (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to mention a few), in recent years there is an increasing trend towards Mediterranean varieties too.

The art of cooking on a fire, with Diego Irrera

By Amanda Barnes, November 29 2017

As the master chef at Siete Fuegos restaurant, Diego Irrera knows a thing or two about fire. Having learned how to cook on an open flame as a small child, he has mastered the art of the Argentine asado and today is Francis Mallmann’s right hand man in Mendoza. His career with Mallmann began at his 1884 restaurant in Godoy Cruz. Diego starting working at 19 years old as a waiter, and progressed to the kitchen as a trainee chef at the age of 21. Since then he has gone on to be Head Chef at 1884 and now heads up the team at Siete Fuegos in the Uco Valley which specialises in cooking in several (more than 7!) fire-cooking methods.

Trend tasting, what to sip in 2018

By Amanda Barnes, November 08 2017

Although you will probably find the same old bottle of your ‘go to’ Malbec from Argentina being sold in your local wine shop, within Argentina the wine industry is constantly reinventing itself with new wine styles, varieties and vineyards. As we head into the last couple of months of 2017, here’s our tip off for 3 new wine trends in Argentina that are well worth tasting.

Six Argentine white wines to liven up your weekend

By Amanda Barnes, September 29 2017

Argentina may well be the land of Malbec and steak, but that doesn't mean you should eschew its white wines. There's been a boom in top end white wines that go far beyond your average Torrontes. White blends are on the rise and there’s a wide range of white wine varieties being grown across the Uco Valley in particular. The Vines winemaker Pablo Martorell and I have pulled together six of our top recommendations for Argentine whites to get your hands on. Salud!

The Vines of Mendoza is recognized with the Gold-Medal in Argentina Wine Awards

By Vines of Mendoza, September 14 2017

The iconic wine of The Vines of Mendoza, Recuerdo Gran Corte 2013, obtained Gold-Medal in the category Red blends USD 50+ del valle del Uco.

Wine Camp: The Disneyland of Wines

By Erica Scott, March 27 2017

Walking into The Vines of Mendoza is awe-inspiring; just the grandeur of the front entrance itself can stop you in your tracks. The dominating Andes Mountains frame seemingly infinite, impossibly saturated, lush-green rows of grapes that extend beyond a turquoise pool lined with shaded wooden canopies. Relaxed guests sit below, stemmed-glasses in hand. It’s basically a view of paradise.

Top Juice: Exploring Perdriel

By Mariana Onofri, July 02 2015

Located on the south bank of the Mendoza River, in the department (town) of Lujan de Cuyo, Perdriel is one of the most ancient and well-known regions in Argentine viticulture. With endless vineyards and 100–year-old bodegas, Perdriel has become the source of great, classic Argentine wines throughout the 20th century.

The Vines to Offer Heli-Skiing in The Andes

By Sharon Nieuwenhuis, May 26 2015

Top Juice: Exploring Vista Flores

By Mariana Onofri, May 06 2015

The Uco Valley, located southwest of the city of Mendoza at the foot of the Andes mountains is today one of the most promising regions for Argentine wine. With approximately 26,700 planted hectares, 900 - 1400 meters high, it is a region with a considerable soil diversity that is home to very important terroir.

Interview with Wine Enthusiast Editor, Susan Kostrzewa

By Amanda Barnes, March 07 2015

Inside the Villas at The Vines Resort & Spa

By Sharon Nieuwenhuis, March 03 2015

We wanted to take a moment to step inside from the beautiful view in the Uco Valley to focus on our resort’s Villas and the philosophy behind them ...

Winemaker's Night returns with Casarena

By Amanda Barnes, February 18 2015

Winemaker's Night is back for 2015! Read on for Amanda's interview with Casarena winery's winemaker, Paula Gonzalez.

Your Wine Camp Itinerary

By Sharon Nieuwenhuis, February 09 2015

It’s an exciting time in Mendoza. The grapes are getting more purple every day; harvest is almost here. March and April will be chock full of wine camps, special guest activities, great cuisine at Siete Fuegos and adventures at The Vines Resort & Spa.