The ‘Criolla’ wine revival: a taste of South American wine history
The oldest grape varieties in South America have been sidelined for the past hundred years, but a new generation is now reclaiming its lost winemaking heritage as Criolla varieties re-emerge from the shadows. Amanda Barnes has the inside story… Published in Decanter Magazine, October 2018 When the Spanish first conquered the Americas in the 1500s, […]
A selection of His & Hers wines from Mendoza
Written for The Vines of Mendoza While it feels awfully sexist to try and generalize about the tastes of women, and men, we all know that there are certain attributes that make a wine more feminine, or more manly. You might struggle to gift a man a bottle of Rosé in public, or a shy […]
The dark knight of Mendoza
For the last three weeks in Mendoza, I’ve only been drinking one variety. It’s abounding with rich, dark fruit, grows particularly well here and is on the lips of most winemakers. Can you guess what it is yet? No, it’s not Malbec. It is the new dark horse of the eighth wine capital… a sort […]
Lunching in Mendoza’s wine country: Ruca Malen
Ever since moving to the sunny and pleasant land of Mendoza, my favorite pastime has been eating in wineries. Yes, the mountains are awe-inspiring, the sunny days permeate your skin to warm your soul and the people all flatter you till your knees melt; but for me, it’s all about lunch… Ruca Malen has been […]
My night in with Angelica…
When you have a good wine in your hands, it can actually be very difficult to open it. I’ve been harbouring a special bottle of 10 year old Angelica Zapata Malbec from Mendoza for a while now and although I have no doubt the wine would keep for a couple more years (I can’t say […]
Interview with Alberto Antonini
An interview with flying winemaker and international consultant, Alberto Antonini. Interviewed for Casa de Uco. Why is the Uco Valley such an exciting wine region? The location is by far the best valley in Mendoza. It’s where you get some very interesting calcareous spots and well drained soils, with warm days to ripen the fruit […]
Cherry picking Mendoza’s hotels
As a bonafide (if unofficial) resident of Mendoza for four years, I get a lot of emails asking about where to stay. Here are my top picks of accommodation in and out of the centre of Mendoza: In the city: Being in the city centre is the best place if you are relying on public […]
36 hours in Mendoza: Wine Lover
When you come to the land of sunshine and wine, there’s no excuse not to emerge yourself in the juice of the gods for the entire length of your stay. Whether you are a novice or a complete oenophile there are plenty of indulgent wine related activities to keep you merry for your entire trip. […]
36 hours in Mendoza: Living the high life
Mendoza is characterized by cowboys, vineyards and mountains; but aside from its great rustic charm, it also offers some of life’s ultimate luxuries. As a province that has boomed with international tourism over the last 10 years, there are no limits to the new heights of luxury travel available. Take your time to indulge in […]
36 hours in Mendoza: Life as a gaucho
Part of the real charm of Mendoza is its authentic rural vibe. You just need to get out of the city a bit to enjoy the real beauty of gaucho(cowboy) life: the air, the mountains and feel the wind on your spurs! Written for 36hrs.in Friday, 6:00pm Before you get ready for a gaucho weekend, you need […]
