In my ever-constant search for new wines to be enjoyed with the food in Bar Louis and The Delmonico Room, a keyword I use is “value.” Regardless of their price range, each wine needs to have the best value per dollar as possible.
One of the greatest grape growing regions of the world, also offering great values, is South America.
My venture to our southern neighbors started in Mendoza, Argentina at Kaiken. In the dessert plains at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, the vineyards are fed by the peak’s melting snow throughout the growing season. Kaiken is about red, creating some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec I’ve ever tasted. The Kaiken is a wild goose that criss-crosses the Andes between Chile and Argentina, symbolic of the Chilean Montes family that crossed the Andes to make these great wines in Argentina.
Achaval-Ferrer was founded on two sound principles: reaching for the highest quality in each wine, with the greatest respect for terroir. These wines are about the rich, luscious Malbec grape. Their goal is simple: to make the finest wine in the world. Argentina is just on the cusp its of harvest season and we had an opportunity to witness the Achaval-Ferrer family at work as the first grapes were being crushed. Not only did we taste their current wine releases, but we had the unique opportunity to taste wine barrel samples yet to be bottled.
Perhaps the most hospitable hosts in all of Argentina was Bodega Norton. We were invited to dance the Tango, and of course we drank great wine. The evening climaxed with fireworks high in the sky above the vineyard. Owner Gernot Langes-Swarovski states is best: “We recognize ourselves as instruments of nature. Each of our wines reveals the sum total of our climate, our soil, and our creative passion.” I’ve been a long-time fan of these wines, I drink and cook with them daily.
Argentineans are as passionate about their red meat as they are their red wines. At Pascual Toso beef and pork were grilled over wood fires as we tasted through their family of wines. The whites and rosé were as delicious as the reds. The backdrop of snow-capped Andes Mountains and the dry river bed set a perfect stage for this picnic afternoon, Argentinean style.
As the Kaiken flies, so did we, over the breath-taking snow-covered Andes Mountains into neighboring Chile.
First stop, Santa Ema. As we tasted their wines, Empanadas baked in the wood-fired adobe oven under the chestnut tree. The Pavone family has been growing grapes at Santa Ema since 1917, and it shows in the quality of all their wines. The afternoon found us horseback-riding through the vineyards, returning for an evening of more food and wine as the winery’s staff roasted Chivo (local baby goat) over a wood fire.
Our South American experience reached new heights at Montes. We started the day at the Marchigue Estate, riding up to the mountain-top vineyards, a glass of Montes Cherub Rosé in hand, for the most amazing vista. Chile’s finest Chef flew up from Patagonia to prepare for us one of the best seafood meals I have ever enjoyed. Later in the day, Aurelio Montes Jr. led us on a tour through their Zen-designed winery at the Apalta Vineyard, an experience I’ll never forget. Here we tasted through the complete Montes family of wines before riding up into the foothills high above the winery and vineyards for a barbecue that lasted well into the night. The evening was toasted with music and dancing, and of course, plenty of wine beside a roaring bonfire. A perfect end to a most amazing look into the wine and foods of South America.
Having lived most of my adult life immersed in the Spanish culture on the Caribbean island of Vieques, I love all things Latin and their wine is no exception. I look forward to sharing some new found wines and Latin cuisine with you in the months ahead.
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