PREVIOUS TASTINGS ARCHIVE – MARCH 2022
Argentinian Malbec? Chilean Carmenere? Yes, but there is so much more to South America, and that’s what this tasting will explore. The most awe-inspiring continent on the planet, South America’s wines have a reputation for quality at modest prices, but the story badly needs updating: young winemakers, new grape varieties and new regions abound as winemakers push out from the traditional heartlands in search of different soils, climates and wines.
Tom has been a regular visitor to both Argentina and Chile over the past 20 years and will lead this tasting as he explains the massive changes in those countries in two decades – a story that is not always told by the ‘everyday’ wines on supermarket shelves. Vineyards have been planted up into the Andes, much closer to the Pacific coast, down into the icy landscape of Patagonia and up to the edges of the Atacama desert.
Far removed from the original plantings, these bring new grape varieties too. This tasting won’t feature Malbec or Carmenere, but instead there are white wines made from Roussanne, Marsanne and Pinot Gris, reds from Petit Sirah, Carignan and Grenache, and even a sweet dessert wine that blends the indigenous Torrontes with Viognier. We’ll round things off with a nod to the glories of established wines with a suberb, French oak-aged Bordeaux-style red.
Tom says: “South America has stolen a big place in my heart after 14 visits there over the years, and I hope this tasting will tell a new and different story about the place, and its wines.”
This tasting runs over two sessions, from 7pm – 8:15pm each evening. The ticket price of £25 covers both sessions and is per household, not per person. We’ll open three wines each night, but they’ll drink just as well over the next couple of days so nothing is wasted.
The six wines are offered with a discount of £5.20, including UK mainland delivery. You are welcome to attend without buying the wines, and if a date doesn’t suit, we’ll send you a recording of the session to taste along in your own time.
Piedra Negra, Pinot Gris 2020
Alto Los Romeros, Roussanne/Marsanne 2017
L.A. Cetto, Petite Sirah 2017
Sutil, Grand Reserve Carignan-Grenache 2020
Cousiño-Macul, Antiguas Reservas 2018
Santa Julia, ‘Tardío’ 2019