Now is the Best Time to Try South American Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay still dominates the US white wine market, but it should fear Sauvignon Blanc. During the spring of 2020, as the pandemic gripped the world, Sauvignon Blanc sales surged 38% in the US alone. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is among the most popular versions, with its racy, in-your-face aromatics. In mid-2021, however, the New Zealand […]
South American Wine and Food Cheat Sheet
Don’t let winespeak get in the way of your enjoyment of South American wine and food. Here are some key terms to keep in mind as you explore the exciting gastronomy of this vast region. Because cheat sheets have to be short, we’ll focus on the three most commercially significant countries: Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. […]
Library Wines from Chile Now Available Direct from Top Estates
When wine lovers discuss which bottles they should age, the conversation usually begins with the great wines of Bordeaux, Barolo and Burgundy. This is understandable, but the reality is that every serious wine region — Old World and New — can produce ageworthy wines. The trick is knowing which questions to ask about the bottle […]
6 Cheeses that Soar with South American Wines
If you love wine, there is a good chance you also love cheese. Few combinations elicit as many flavor epiphanies. If you normally reach for a bottle of South American wine, whether from Chile, Argentina or Uruguay, you’re in a world of luck should you seek to impress at your next wine and cheese social […]
Chilean Ceviche: A Magical Match with Sauvignon Blanc
One of South America’s greatest gifts to the world is ceviche. The delicious combination of fresh fish or shrimp, lemon or lime juice, onions and peppers is so iconic that Peru has deemed June 28 as National Ceviche Day. Ceviche’s Many Sides Ceviche lovers relish the fact that the dish has so many variations based […]
Bonarda Wine from Argentina: Not Just for Wine Geeks
When Argentine wine comes up in conversation, Malbec is usually the main topic. Mention Bonarda, another red grape, and eyes will almost immediately glaze over. Which is odd, because Bonarda is the second most planted grape in Argentina after Malbec, representing nearly 10% of all grapes planted there. Bonarda, like Malbec, is not native to […]
Patagonia Wine: Southern Argentina’s Best Kept Secret
If the Mendoza region is the king of Argentina wine, then Patagonia is its crown prince. Most Americans recognize Patagonia as an elite outdoor apparel brand based in California, but to the Argentine people, it’s a bit like the Wild West. Known for its jagged mountains, plateaus, snow, rivers, plains and proximity to the sea, […]
Why Old Vine Carignan is One of Chile’s Greatest Wine Values
Chilean Carignan is enjoying a well-deserved renaissance. This red grape of Spanish origin has had a presence in Chile’s Maule Valley since at least the 1940s. The Ministry of Agriculture at the time believed that Carignan’s darker color and high acidity would enhance the region’s wines as a blending agent. They therefore decreed that it […]
4 Reasons Why Uruguayan Wine Is Captivating the World
When South American wine enters the conversation, Chile and Argentina are most likely to dominate, and for good reason. That conversation is evolving, thanks to Uruguayan wine. Uruguay has been making world-class wine for decades; it’s just taken a bit longer for the world to notice. Here are 4 reasons why Uruguayan wine is rapidly […]
Chilean Carménère: The Most Wonderful Wine “Mistake” Ever Made
When the infamous, root-destroying insect phylloxera wiped out most of France’s vineyards in the 1860s, it was presumed that it had rendered extinct the native Carménère grapevine. Carménère had factored heavily in Bordeaux’s red wines, but when the time came to replant post-phylloxera, French growers opted instead for the much-easier-to-work-with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc […]