WANDERING WITH WILLIAM
  • Home
  • Blog

Uco Valley Wineries

3/6/2018

1 Comment

 
We have enjoyed Argentine wines for many years, and more so in the past two months while we have been here.  Since there are over 100 wineries in the Mendoza area a trip here would not be complete without a visit to some wineries.

We hire a private guide (Osvaldo) who picks us up at the apartment at 9am.  Osvaldo has taken care of making reservations at three wineries in the Uco Valley.  He drives through the Mendoza city traffic and soon has us on Ruta 40.  After a bit he turns onto Avenida San Martin in Ugarteche.  We pass by Chandon and Bogeda Catena Zapata, arriving at  Bogeda Budeguer shortly after 10am.  At the guardhouse Osvaldo provides information about our reservation, and the gate opens.

We are greeted by our guide, Jorgina.  This is a boutique winery owned by a family who produces sugar cane in the north and has contracts to provide Coca-Cola with sugar in Argentina and Chile.  The facility is top-class.  When we explained to Jorgina that we are amateur wine makers she tailors the tour to us.

The vineyards around the winery received rain last week and they are waiting perhaps another week before harvesting.  We discuss the netting system used to shield the vines from hail and as well as the irrigation system.  As we walk through the winery we meet the winemaker, who smiles and shakes our hands.  We then watch him listen for the fermentation occurring on a couple of barrels which have been pulled aside.
Picture
Maipu did not receive rain recently, and today the winery is processing grapes from one of their vineyards in that area.  All of the grapes are hand-picked, and sorted in the field.  When they arrive on the crush pad they go through a conveyor belt and then a destemmer which works totally by vibration, leaving the grapes whole.  Two people sort again as the grapes move along another belt to the small fermenter tanks.  These tanks are moved by forklift to the tops of either the concrete or stainless steel fermentation vats. The bottoms of the small fermenter tanks are opened and the grapes fall into the vats.  Very modern (and expensive).

Following our tour we have generous tastings of four of their wines: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and a Reserve Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot.  The Reserve is wonderful and we buy a bottle, complete with a hand signed label from their winemaker.
Picture
Our next stop is Bogeda Salentein.  This is a much larger commercial operation, and actually is part of a conglomerate with interests in agriculture, cattle, hospitality and winemaking.  We arrive a little late and a young man quickly escorts us to catch us up with our group.  Along the way he hits the highlights of the tour that we have missed.  We join the group in the cave, which is also used as an entertainment venue.  Later in the tour we are offered tastings of three of their wines.  They are okay, but none strike as as great.

Walking the grounds after the tasting gives us a chance to see the beauty of this location.  The grapes are almost ready for harvest and the tops of the mountains appear as if they are floating above the vines.
Picture
Our last stop is at a small family owned garage winery, La Azul.  Osvaldo has made a reservation for their five course wine luncheon. The luncheon is served outdoors and the owner, a man in his mid-30's wearing a polo shirt, jeans and a cap is there greeting people and serving tables.  He tells us that his grandfather owned a large property and when it was time for him to pass it on to his children he put five different colored papers into a hat, each corresponding to a tract of land.  His mother pulled the color blue, which was the best tract for growing grapes.  The irrigation system was installed and the first vines were planted in 1993.  The vineyard has now been passed down to the current owner by his mother.

The first courses are served with Azul's Sauvignon Blanc, unoaked Malbec, and unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon.  The main course (ribeye for William and braised pork for me) is served with a Reserva Malbec-Cabernet that sees 15 months in French and American oak.  Any (and all) of the wines are also offered with dessert.  Throughout the meal the owner and the wait staff are right there if someone wants another glass and also to talk about the wines and winery.  Wow - it is a wonderful meal and a whole lot of wine!
​
Between looking at the scenery William and I both catch small naps as Osvaldo drives us back to the city of Mendoza and our apartment.  We're very happy we hired him!
Picture
1 Comment
live career reviews link
11/8/2019 06:35:34 pm

I used to work for a winery when I was still young, and it was a great experience. Before I was able to become the person that I am, I used to do a lot of odd jobs. Well, if you have something that you want to do, then you need to do all that you can to do it. In my case, I had to save up a lot of money to improve my setup. I hope that my story motivates you guys.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Hi.  I'm Anne.  I wander around the world with William.


    Enjoy Some of our Favorite Links below
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014


    Categories

    All
    9138
    Albuferia
    Alicante
    Ambato
    Antarctica
    Argentina
    Armenia
    Atlantic And Islands
    Barcelona
    Cambodia
    Cartegena
    Chile
    Colombia
    Costal Rica
    Cuenca
    Easter Island
    Faro
    Hungary
    Iceland
    Jaco
    Jakarta
    Kuala Lumpur
    Lisbon
    Loule'
    Malta
    Medellin
    New Zealand
    Olon
    Panama
    Porto
    Portugal
    Santiago
    Scotland
    Seville
    Singapore
    Slovakia
    SouthEast USA
    Spain
    Taipei Taiwan
    Tavira
    Thailand Bangkok
    Thailand Chiang Mai
    Uruguay
    Usa
    Valparaiso
    Vancouver
    Vienna
    Vietnam Halong
    Vietnam Hanoi
    Vietnam Ho Chi Minh
    Vietnam Hoi An
    Vietnam Hue

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo used under Creative Commons from A Vahanvaty