| Having already been to Mendoza two years ago to discover the fleshy and generous malbec, it is the region of Salta this time that held our attention. The sensual elegance of Argentina was once again appealing: it is well beyond Buenos Aires and the voluptuous tango of La Boca. It was not only about women with great presence or about the parade of the gauchos, the legendary cowboys of the Pampa, the general seduction was in harmony with their distinction. |
| This second stay reminded us how much the Argentine beef, on its own or with a honey gravy was soft and divine. The fondant lomo jugoso and the delicious bife de chorizo, alive in our gustative memory, were still a real festive tradition. Many a time, we gathered around the asado, this authentic and gargantuan barbecue. With a song by Mercedes Sosa, it made our evenings so enjoyable, especially after a whole day of tasting. Living among the Argentinian people, even shortly, it was easy to witness how their consumption of wine was comparable to those of our European producing countries. |
| Located up North, the wine growing area of Salta showed itself through its Andean mountains and its picturesque village of Cafayate. At an altitude included between 4 900 and 6 500 feet, this vineyard benefited from an incomparable purity of the air and from a strong thermic amplitude. This difference of temperatures between day and night was great to grow grapes: it helped, indeed, the maturation of the berries while contributing to the good synthesis of their aromatic compounds. |
| The torrontes, the most common grape variety of this area, gave us the opportunity to taste white wines, with exuberant fruit characters. Quite seduced by the floral intensity of the cuvée of José Luis Mounier and Michel Torino, we did not forget to quench our thirst. We had true home made limonade and yerba mate, an infusion well spread throughout Argentina. The greed imposed it to us, at the end of February, especially after having a crêpe coated with dulce de leche. |
| Cafayate: Etchart, Michel Torino, Domingo Hermanos, Jose Luis Mounier. |
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argentina
wine picker chewing coca
San Francisco church in Salta
torrontes at Jose Luis Mounier in Cafayate valley
optimum ripeness at Etchart
July 9th square in Salta
colonial style at Michel Torino