Six years ago now, I travelled to South America setting out to expand our range of wines from Chile and Argentina.
The wines have gone so well and continue to. Late last year, we landed three new containers packed with loads of great wines.
All of course refrigerated containers, the temperatures monitored as the wine comes to NZ. Once here, unpacked into our temperature-controlled, purpose-built storage before being sent as required to our stores.
Our fine South American wines housed in our temperature-controlled cellars. With these new wines here, they form part of this month’s new publication (you’ll find it here from the 5 February): www.glengarrywines.co.nz/newissueoutnow
The old adage that Argentina and Chile are all about cheap reds and juicy malbec, has definitely been replaced by a quality of wines that rivals the best in the world. It was the Spanish who first brought the grape vine, then shortly after, the French varieties arrived. Fortunately, what has never arrived is phylloxera, the little pest does not like the soil or the Andes. The Chilean wine industry has historically been centred around Santiago and the central valley – easy access saw winemaking boom.
Old areas in the south that were first populated, were often planted with the white variety pais, the main stay of Chilean white wine for many years. The central Maipo Valley continues to be very important to the Chilean wine industry.
There’s been and continues to be much change though. New ‘old’ varieties are being championed – Chilean cinsault. The regions of production wider and more diverse, from right by the coast to up in the Andes, to the north and south.
What makes all this even more fascinating is that Chile’s such a long and narrow country. A short travel north or south, the climate, land, aspect, soil, you name it, it’s different.
It’s like a whole host of different winemaking countries tied together into one narrow strip. Expertise and skill are at an all-time high in Chile, the new regions, varieties and new generation all making a difference. It’s through pioneering individuals such as Edouardo Chadwick, that this message, one of diversity and quality, has spread around the world. Chile is a mecca for fine wine and it’s one to sit up and take notice of. Sure, the great value entry level wines are there, but the top end is too and, what’s more, the quality continues through the price points.
Financially, Argentina is less prosperous. Locally, producers are struggling, the government not pro a strong wine industry and the youth turning to craft beer. Malbec is still king in Argentina; where it’s grown the big talking point and how it’s made.
Mendoza sits at pretty high altitude anyway, it’s a desert at the foothills of the Andes, so to talk of high altitude in Mendoza, seems crazy. The varietal diversity story continues here, the grape variety to watch, cabernet franc. As with Chile, fine wine’s from Argentina have already made a name for themselves and demand attention.
Whilst there’s so much more to South America than just the value wines, they do still exist and gosh they are good. You’ll find the value wines along with the fine wines of Chile and Argentina in store and on promotion through February. Pop on in for an instore tasting, we can’t wait until you try these wines. (LIZ WHEADON)
#ponsonbynews #iloveponsonby #ponsonby #auckland #aucklandshippestrip #onlyponsonby #ponsonbyroad #Greylynn #freemansbay #westmere #ponsonby #hernebay #stmarysbay #archhill #coxsbay #westernsprings #argentinawines #chileanwines #winemaking #glengarrywines
February 2024