Tasting Wine with the Robert Mondavi of Argentina

This was a full day of wine tasting. We started at Achaval-Ferrer with a 9:30AM appointment. Nothing like tasting Malbecs first thing in the morning after breakfast.

This winery, owned by four Argentine businessmen and two Italian wine industry veterans, has established a strong reputation in the U.S. for an excellent Malbec at around $20, a blend called Quimera in the $30-$40 price range, and a series of high end, single vineyard Malbecs in the $90-$110 range. We did barrel tasting of the wines about to be bottled for export (clearing space for the harvest that was about to begin).

We then had an appointment to meet Walter Bressia, known as the Robert Mondavi of Argentina. Bressia changed the wine industry around Mendoza several decades ago, by upgrading the growing practices and winemaking techniques. Argentina used to make cheap, bulk wine mostly for local consumption. Bressia changed that and helped make Argentina into a world-class wine producer and exporter.

We drove up to an unassuming building that appeared to be under construction (and in no hurry to be completed). Up drives Walter Bressia and his daughter. Inside the building is the winemaking equipment and a wonderful small cellar. We walked down into the cellar to find they were all set up for us with cheese, salami, crackers, and of course, several bottles of wine. What an experience!

We probably spent 90 minutes talking with Walter (thru his daughter as interpreter most of the time) about his family, the business, the wine industry in Argentina, his future plans, our comments on tasting his wines, and wines in the U.S.. The entire family (wife and children) all work in the business.

The construction is for a new tasting room and kitchen he is building to host more visitors in the future.

The annual production at Bressia is very small. They make a small series of varietals that sell for $20-$30 in the U.S. (if you can find them), a blend called Profundo that retails for about $50, and a limited production blend called Conjuro that retails for about $100. We picked up a bottle of Conjuro to stash in the cellar for a special occasion.

Tim really booked a full day for us. Next stop - Ruca Malen for lunch on their patio. And what a lunch - six courses, each served with a different wine. Kudos to Tim for also ordering up perfect weather. After a lot of food and wine, we weren't sure we wanted to (or could) get up.

But we had another stop to make - Finca Decero. This is a newer winery that is not yet exporting to the U.S.. Built by a Swiss businessman (the founder of Swatch), he spared no expense building this place. The architecture, the interiors, the equipment, and the location all indicate they intend to produce premium wines at this place. We'll have to keep our eyes open for their product in the U.S. later this year.