As many of you may remember, this past March I embarked on a grand adventure through various wine regions of Argentina and Chile with my husband and our friends, Tanya and Kent. I am still in the process of exercising away the calories from our indulgence in the “meaty-licious” cuisine and voluptuous malbecs that accompanied them!
One particular winery visit stands out in my mind, and I believe it always will.
DiamAndes is a winery that is located in the Uco Valley, which is in the southwest region of the Mendoza wine region. This area is considered one of the greatest wine regions in all of Argentina, with long growing seasons, high elevations, rocky soils rich with clay, and vast temperature differences between day and night, all contributing to the full expression of the grapes. All of the irrigation comes from the Andes Mountains, and throughout our travels from vineyard to vineyard we saw the vast aqueduct systems that supply the properties with the moisture from the melted snow from the mountains.
Aldana Gallardo was our gracious host who walked us through the winery, the product of artists and architects, explaining every part of the winemaking process along the way. We then sipped the 2010 DiamAndes de Uco Chardonnay as we enjoyed homemade empanadas out on the veranda, right off the formal dining area of the Bonnie family, the owners of the winery. It is their belief that guests must enjoy a full experience of hospitality with a visit to DiamAndes. The outdoor wood-burning grill contained a beautiful selection of five different meats that we enjoyed, coursed out individually, during our meal in the dining room. Once again, the homemade chorizo and blood sausage were spectacular, as were the pork ribs, beef tenderloin, and beef short ribs. We were joined by Silvio Alberto, the winemaker for DiamAndes, which was a spectacular and almost nerve-wracking surprise. We chatted about the perfect acid-fruit balance of the 2010 DiamAndes de Uco Malbec, and then we swooned over the elegance of the Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon blend in the Diamandes de Uco Gran Reserva 2008. Needless to say, the hospitality was unparalleled, the wines were the treat of a lifetime, and we furthered our wine education with a great winemaker.
There is even a bonus in this for all of you! DiamAndes is part of a group of French winemakers in Uco Valley who combine their spectacular vintages into a blend called Clos de los Siete. It is a blend of Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petit Verdot. It is a luscious bargain at around $18, and we are going to feature it on our wine list at The Chopping Block. You will be doing yourself a big favor if you stop by and pick up a bottle to try!
