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Vail,Colorado
September 3, 2009
Argentina Takes Center Stage This Weekend
Join us Sunday, September 6th from noon to 3:30pm as we explore the lure of the wines of Argentina.
Argentina stretches over one million square miles or about four times the size of France. Its wide range of landscapes offer many ideal locations for grape growing. Argentina is the world's 5th largest wine producer, ranking only behind France, Italy, Spain, and the US. Major exportation did not begin, however, until the 1990s when domestic consumption plummeted to only 35 liters per capita from 92 liters in the 1970s. During that same period, US wine consumption almost doubled and many higher quality Argentine wines found their way to the US and Europe.
Attitudes toward vineyard management and winemaking have changed slowly, but there is now emerging a small cadre of winemakers, viticulturists and winery owners who have set their agendas around not only making the finest wines in Argentina, but also making wines that have the style and complexity to challenge the best in the world.
“This weekend we will offer a small sampling of these unique wines each with a story of their own to tell,” said Kristen Fannin, sommelier for the Wine Shop at Marketplace on Meadow Drive.
The first is the 2008 Crios Chardonnay, the proud offspring or “crios” of Susana Balbo. In a country dominated by male winemakers, Balbo stands out not only for her gender, but for her incredible skill and experience. She has been making wine since she earned her enology degree in 1981, and she has probably produced a wider variety of wines than any other winemaker in Argentina. Balbo was the first Argentine winemaker to be hired as a consultant to make wine outside of Argentina. She has made wine in Australia, California, Chile, France, Italy, South Africa, and Spain, and she spends a month each year in a different wine region of the world studying with local winemakers and growers. Wines under her Crios label display ripe fruit flavors, excellent balance and concentration, and are meant to be enjoyed in their vibrant youth.
They are also an incredibly good value. And like Susana's own crios (a boy & a girl), they are extremely lovable and fun to be around.
The second is the 2006 La Posta Bonarda. Each La Posta label illustrates a story of an individual family from the posta del vinatero, or "tavern of the grape grower". Here they drank wine and spoke passionately for hours about their soils, their vines, and their quest for superior flavors in their grapes. We salute the hard work and skill of these growers by offering these vineyard-designated releases made solely with their special grapes. One taste and you will welcome these growers into your own families, into your glass, and into your heart. Winemaker Luis Reginato is a highly trained and respected vineyard consultant and winemaker with long experience at his family's winery in Mendoza. He was our natural choice because of his close relationship with local small growers and his intimate understanding of the regions' vineyards.
And finally, we present the 2007 Ben Marco Cabernet. Owner and viticulturist, Pedro Marchevsky, may be one of the most educated, experienced viticulturists in Argentina, if not the world. He follows a simple philosophy gained from experience: grow grapes and make wines that are true to their place. The planting of the vineyards, varietal selections, vineyard management systems, water management, canopy management, and harvesting decisions are all managed personally by Marchevsky in order to achieve the highest quality standards for his wines. He combines this demonstrated method with the winemaking skills of Susana Balbo to produce wines that express the powerful fruit flavors, the ripe tannins and the incredible length and balance that can only come from this one place: Mendoza. BenMarco means "son of Marcos" in Hebrew. Pedro produces his wines as homage to his father Marcos who taught him how to plant, tend, and love the vineyards. The grapevine illustrated on the label is modeled after the wide-trellised vines that Pedro has planted on the borders of his vineyards.
The tasting will occur during Vail’s popular Farmers’ Market, where attendants can browse scores of unique vendors, including Marketplace on Meadow Drive, where a variety of food and drink options are available for purchase.
The Wine Shop at Marketplace on Meadow Drive features a wide selection of wines ranging from daily table varieties to collector vintages. The Wine Shop also provides spirits and a wide array of international and domestic beers.
“The Marketplace Wine Shop has had a wonderful summer with our new tasting events and our continuing efforts to find unique new options for all our patrons,” said Fannin.
The tasting event is free and reservations are not required. Parking is located at the Vail Transportation Center, where the parking is free. Marketplace on Meadow Drive is located in Vail Village, at the corner of Meadow Drive and Willow Bridge Road, just west of the International Bridge. From the Transportation Center, head west on Meadow Drive. For more information, call 970-477-4370.
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