Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to yet another Carpe Vinum Week in Wine! And this week’s Wines of the Week, for tomorrow’s tasting is South American Reds! Many people have had their eyes focused on this wine growing region as it develops into a wine-y force of its own. Over the years, many people have referred to Chilean and Argentinean wines as “Value-Driven” or “Competitively Priced”, which very well may be euphemisms for “Cheap, but kinda sucks.”

Now, I’ve tried a lot of wine. And I’ve tried a lot of wine from Chile and Argentina and noticed quite a difference in the quality of the wines in recent years. (For the better.) I personally find it a bit difficult to locate Chilean wines that are real values in my eyes. . .meaning that they are tasty, AND with decent prices. I’ve found a few, and those are the ones I include in the tastings. This considered, I see the Chilean wine industry with still loads of unrealized potential. But they do have penguins. . .and that has to count for something.

On the other hand, in my own opinion, Argentina is now the way to go with South American wines. I’ve tried some truly amazing wines from the region, and the prices were all reasonable. Just within the last 5 years, I’ve seen the wines getting better with the prices remaining decent. The Argentinean wine market is blossoming, much like a blossoming flower in the sun. But more like blossoming South American Wine Market in the Sun. And they also have penguins.

“But what of the other countries in South America?” you may be asking. “It’s a pretty big continent. . .we never hear anything about them. And do they have penguins, as well?”

“Good question,” I might reply. The wine industry that exists in the other South American countries is indeed older than that of the United States, considering that most of the vines were planted in the mid-1500 by the Spanish or the Portuguese. There are vines grown in almost every country in South America, with a bit more potential in South, with countries like Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru. (Peru has penguins.) There aren’t many wines available in the US from these countries, but they do occasionally pop up. (Like a penguin from a hole in the ice.)
So Friday, February 4th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

South American Reds from Countries with Penguins! (Not Peru, though.)
Vina Morande 2002 Carmenere, Valle Central, Chile
Pascual Toso 2003 Malbec, Maipu Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina
O Fournier 2002 Urban Oak, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
Mayol Winery 2002 Syrah, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina
Alta Vista 2002 Malbec Grande Reserve, Mendoza, Argentina

The Extra-Special Premium Pours:
Santa Rita 1997 Floresta, Maipo Valley, Chile
Bodegas Norton 2002 Privada Estate Reserve, Mendoza, Argentina

A stellar deal at $10 for the first 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Syrah/Shiraz!

And why Penguins? Because they’re cute. Haven’t you ever heard of the phrase “The Penguin Is Mightier than the Sword”? No? Hm. . maybe I have that wrong. . .