ARGENTINA IS OPEN & MALBEC REMAINS THE PREFERRED GRAPE
We decided to explore the home of the Malbec, starting with the highest elevated, and coolest area for winegrowing in the region: Uco Valley. To the south of Mendoza along the famous Route 40, the Uco Valley is the most emblematic of the Mendocino viticultural regions. The “Valle de Uco” as it is known in Spanish, is between 2,950–3,940 feet (900–1,200m) above sea level and has over 250 days of sun a year, with average temperatures of 57°F (14°C). This makes for a very long growing season, something of great benefit in the winemaking process. Our journey led us to one of the first wine lodges in the Uco Valley: Postales Boutique Hotel and the award-winning Finca del Nunca Jamas winery.
Featuring the breath-taking, snow-capped, world famous Andes Mountains, which border Chile, as a backdrop and vineyards as far as the eyes can see, the intimacy of the hotel offered the perfect glimpse of the wine-making process up close. Young grapes elegantly hanging from vines mere steps away from your door, were nestled amongst the most vibrant of roses all around the property which has less than 15 rooms and is located in the Tunuyan municipality also known as “Colonia Las Roses” (the colony of roses) in Mendoza. Sitting on 37 acres, the Finca del Nunca Jamas (Neverland Farms) winery produces a distinct selection of wines ranging from the traditional grapes like Malbec, Malbec Cabernet Franc (60% Malbec: 40% Cabernet Franc), as well as the Torrontes and Pedro Ximenez made from white grapes.
Over the course of four days guests are introduced to the vineyards offerings beginning with the flagship Capitulo I series, starting with an intense bright burgundy Malbec, with fresh red and black fruits and spice notes, round tannins, and harmonic distinct finish. Its robust purple red colour showcases aromas of plum, black cherries and violet within a pleasant structure, striking balance and long finish. The Cabernet Franc, also in the Capitulo I (Chapter 1) series featured an expressively strong mix of blackcurrant, blueberries, pepper and spice aromas with long complex finish. The third wine in the series, Capitulo I Blend, comprising 60% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon was a bright burgundy wine, with fresh red and black fruits and spices notes, and a harmonic distinct finish. Their white wine in the series, Capitulo I Pedro Ximenez, is fresh and light floral in nature along with tropical aromas mixed with white fruits. Another of the winery’s white wine offerings is the Torrentes Riojano which features grapefruit, pear and rose petal aromas and a fruity taste.
The property also boasts it's own organic farm within it's acreage that is home to a vast agro-ecological garden with more than 80 varieties of vegetables, including some rare, ancient plants and exotic fauna that are an ode to the seasons’ cycle. Guests can enjoy delightfully prepared local fare which almost always includes Argentine beef, the standard bearer in the region with exports hovering around USD$2 billion annually, earning a place in the top five global exporters. The soothing, relaxed vibe of the property echoes the general feel of the valley itself which has a desert to the south, small hills to the north that is picturesque and self-contained. Compared to the more traditional regions of Luján de Cuyo further north and Rivadavia to Mendoza’s east, Uco’s poplar-sheltered vineyards sit at a higher altitude of between 1,000m and 1,500m and so are relatively cool. So if you love wine and the outdoor life, the Uco Valley, with it's dramatic landscape, big skies, charming posadas and estancias, is worth exploring.
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