The SOMM Journal

June / July 2017

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98 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } JUNE/JULY 2017 CONCENTRATING ON COURTESY OF ACHAVAL FERRER J ust days before the beginning of harvest in Mendoza, I had the absolute plea- sure of touring the vineyards and facilities with Achaval Ferrer Winemaker Gustavo Rearte. Perhaps it was the hovering beauty of Aconcagua or perhaps the rare opportunity to explore a wine region with a rising star winemaker's undivided attention, answering my deluge of questions gracefully, but my three days in Mendoza can only be described as enlightening. Mendoza overwhelmingly leads Argentina in its winemaking endeavor, producing well over half of the country's wine, and almost all of its fine wine. The city itself lies at almost 750 meters (2,460 feet), and the arid, continental climate is like no other wine region on earth. The high elevation encourages both ripeness of fruit and high acidity levels, while the primarily alluvial soils allow suitable drainage in an area that receives the bulk of its rain during the summer months. The Zonda winds, fierce and dry, come off of the Pacific and pick up speed when they hit the Andes, helping to combat fungal disease. Possessing a wealth of information and a great sense of humor, Manuel Louzada, Chief Winemaker for Achaval Ferrer and Arínzano and CEO of Tenute del Mondo, the Wine Division of SPI Group. Concentration by Allyson Gorsuch AT THE FOOT OF THE ANDES, ACHAVAL FERRER PRODUCES EXPRESSIONS OF BORDEAUX VARIETIES FROM SINGULAR SITES Achaval Ferrer aims to showcase the highest-quality Malbec from only the highest-quality Fincas, or single vineyards, of which they produce three.

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