Get to Know San Rafael: Mendoza, Argentina’s Cooler Side
Mendoza wines have been captivating the world for decades, with Malbec leading the way. It’s easy to forget that Mendoza is a vast wine region, with more than 7 times as many acres planted to grapes as California’s Napa Valley wine region. This means that a Malbec from Mendoza’s northern reaches will likely have a […]
3 Reasons Why Drinking Chilean Wine Is a No-Brainer
We get it. Buying wine can be overwhelming. With so many countries making wine, so many hard-to-pronounce grapes on the labels, and so many shiny labels that scream, “Buy Me Now!”, it’s not a surprise that many consumers reach instead for that six-pack. We can’t demystify the world of wine in a single blog post, […]
Domus Aurea and the Making of an Iconic Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
When sommeliers and other wine professionals try to narrow down the list of truly great Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon producers, Casa Lapostolle, Errázuriz, and Domus Aurea will be among the first wine estates mentioned. Many of Chile’s 1970s-era Maipo Valley winemakers scratched their heads when Domus Aurea founders Isabelle and Ricardo Peña did something that few […]
Get to Know Jimena Lopez, the Trailblazing Female Winemaker at Funckenhausen Vineyards
Funckenhausen Vineyards has emerged as one of the top producers in Argentina’s San Rafael region, located in south Mendoza. From Chardonnay to Malbec, 750ml to 1L bottles, Funckenhausen is fiercely committed to charting its own course. That independence results in great Argentine wine. Great wine obviously starts in the vineyard, but it takes an extremely careful, […]
Anatomy of the Perfect Apéritif: The Vermouths of Vermut Flores
The Marichal family is internationally known for crafting some of Uruguay’s finest Tannat wines. Juan Andrés Marichal, a member of the family’s fourth generation, isn’t stopping there. Juan Andrés and business partners Alvaro and Salvador also run Basta Spirit, the company behind one of Uruguay’s elite vermouth brands, Vermut Flores, which GVI Wines is proud […]
A South American Twist for Your Summer BBQs
Most Americans are blissfully unaware that Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and many other South American nations have one of the greatest BBQ traditions on the planet: Asado. Asados can be family or community affairs. Depending on the size of the occasion, a single “asador” is appointed to grill a variety of meats over an open flame, […]
“Albamar refers to the synergy between sun and sea”: Catching up with Nelly Gutierrez, Albamar Export Manager
Chile’s cool Casablanca Valley has seen dramatic investment since its first vineyards were planted in the 1980s. The Valley’s proximity to the Pacific has made it one of the most exciting regions for Chilean wine. One of those investors was an American, William Cole, who founded his eponymous winery at which the Albamar label was […]
Does Environmental Sustainability Matter in Wine? Just Ask Viña Apaltagua
The answer is a resounding yes. It goes without saying that better, healthier grapes make better wine. Grapes are at their best when the environment that sustains them — that would be the vineyard — gives them everything they need to thrive and holds back anything that might hurt them. This is why farming sustainably […]
Get to Know Alejandro Leirado Heinlein, General Manager of Argentina’s Funckenhausen Vineyards
Many people outside Argentina don’t realize that the country is home to a substantial population of German immigrants whose culture is woven into many elements of Argentine life, including wine. Alejandro Leirado Heinlein is the grandson of Kurt Heinlein, a German-Argentine businessman who in 2003 founded Funckenhausen Vineyards in south Mendoza’s San Rafael region. San […]
Torrontés: The Delicious Antidote to White Wine Fatigue
It’s no longer a secret (thankfully) that South America is home to some world-class Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines. Chile’s Calcu, Argentina’s Aniello and Uruguay’s Marichal are standout producers. Whenever we reach for a bottle of white wine after a long day, it’s usually one of these beauties. South America’s extravagant gifts to the wine […]