Category: Mendoza

If someone asks you for a wine from Argentina, they would probably mention a bottle of Malbec, from a producer, such as Catena, Norton, or Luigi Bosca, but did you know that this red grape originally comes from the Bordeaux and Cahors regions in France?  It is a permitted blending grape in Bordeaux, but it had a hard time ripening,…

My final two wines I’m tasting as my tribute to the Vancouver International Wine Festival are from Argentina, as the theme region for this year’s Festival would have been South America. I have the Bodega Vistalba Corte C 2017, a Malbec with Cabernet Sauvignon blend, and the Bodega Luigi Bosca Malbec 2018.  Malbec is the signature red grape of Argentina,…

I was very busy at the Vancouver International Wine Festival 2020.  There were lots of terrific wines from France and around the world, plus the dinners, seminars, and Masterclasses were top notch.  I worked very hard making tasting notes, interviewing winery principals, and trying to learn more about wine so that I can educate you as well.  Below is a…

I’ve always been a fan of the wines from Bodega Catena Zapata in Argentina for a long time.  I was first introduced to their wines when I was part of the South World Wine Society in Vancouver.  I did not know much about Argentina or Malbec, but I learned a lot as part of the Society. So it was a…

Although France was the theme country this year at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, there was a great contingent of wineries from around the world and from BC to pour their wines for us.  Below are wines that I enjoyed from countries other than France.  Enjoy! White and Sparkling Wines Cantine Giacomo Montresor Rose Royal Brut NV, Italy – Light…

What is meant by a “Cru” in wine?  The term “Cru” is most often used for the French classification system, but the “Cru” concept can apply to any vineyard region recognized for their superior wine quality. My last seminar during the Vancouver International Wine Festival was on the topic of “cru”.  What it is and how it is expressed.  We…

Certain regions of the world are well-known for producing exceptional wines. Burgundy producing Pinot Noir, or Napa Valley producing Cabernet Sauvignon for example.  There is usually something about their terroir that brings out the best of their grapes, which then makes it into the wines. What is it about Argentina that makes Malbec special?  There are a few factors: altitude,…

If you want to taste top-shelf wine from around the world, attend Top Drop Vancouver.  I’ve attended the last two years and can vouch for the wines that you will enjoy.  Here is my review of last year’s event: Top Drop Vancouver 2017 – An Authentic Experience And here is the announcement of the upcoming Top Drop event, along with…

We all can learn.  Nothing stays the same.  Things change.  This is true about ourselves, but also about wine regions.  In this case, I attended a seminar to learn about what changes have been going on the last few years in Argentinean wine making.  Barb and Ian Phillps, from Barbarian Wine Consulting, were our hosts for this seminar; both having…

A Bit of Argentine Wine Background Argentina is a large country that can boast over 300 sunny days a year and a dry semi-desert climate, and irrigation canals from the Andes mountains which helps them to be the 5th largest wine producer in the world.  Grapes were brought over by French, Spanish, and Italian immigrants. Believe it or not, nearly…