There is so much to see and to do in Mendoza that we have to dedicate much of our free time discovering new pleasures. Searching for more of them, we went to visit other two wineries last Saturday.
We started with a small winery located in Maipú, just 26km away from Mendoza city.
Maipú is a department and municipality located in the north west of Mendoza Province in Argentina; its capital is also called Maipú. It covers 617 km² and has a population is about 153,600 (2001).
The department was created in 1858 and named in memory of the Battle of Maipú (or Maipo), which took place in el Valle del Maipo, nearby Santiago - Chile, 1818 during the South American Wars of Independence.
It is a quiet, peaceful and very much country-side-style area. It is not difficult to see people calmly cycling and apprenticing all of these.
Our visit on the idyllic district was in a winery named by a constellation CarinaE., owned by a French couple, Brigitte and Philippe Subra, who came from France in 1998.
CarinaE (Latin, “from carina”) is a constellation of the southern sky. It contains a multitude of stars and other splendors of the night sky. It appears during the summer, particularly during the harvest season
CarinaE was opened on January, 2003. Its vineyards are located in the traditional high area of the Mendoza River, where it has an 80-year-old productive vineyard of 11hectares, producing Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and mostly Malbec.
It also has 3 more hectares of 85 years old Malbec vineyards at Cobos Street in Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo.
This “boutique” winery has a vat capacity of 260,000 liters. The vats are made of concrete and are epoxy coated - as seen in many wineries of Mendoza, new and old. There is also a wine cellar; with a gorgeous small and colorful stained-glass-window; at present containing 25.000 liters of oak casks, French – of course.
The total wine process, from the management of the vineyards to bottling, is supervised by Michel Rolland’s team in Mendoza, via his consultant firm named Enorolland.
We were guided by Brigitte, the passionate and lively owner, who stills keeps a strong and charming French accent. She took us to the winery, cellar and with the same enthusiasm lead us to the tasting room.
The whole place is very down to earth, relaxed and simple. Brigitte welcomes all visitors with a sparkle on the eyes.
Their dogs are always around and lying down on the floor, in a ‘siesta’ mood.
We tried all ranges of their hearty wines:
Octans (named after the most austral constellation) - a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon only sold at the winery.
CarinaE – Young fruity wines, in two versions of Malbec, red and rose.
CarinaE Reserva – Varietal wines 12 months oak aged from all grapes they grow: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and also the only they buy: Torrontes.
CarinaE Gran Reserva – The most selected Malbec and Syrah made the varietals of these range that stays more than 13 months in the oak barrels.
CarinaE Prestige – The blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah of this wine rests more then 15 months in the oak barrels.
This is a great winery to visit if you want to try wines just find ‘in situ’. Furthermore it has a warm, friendly and casual hospitality. CarinaE is not fussy about a formal visit, they are very busy making good wine and enjoying the whole process of it. "Vive le joie de vivre!"
After a short stop to eat on the way, we headed to Lujan de Cuyo.
At this time, the winery was a truly Argentine-family-run-business - Finally I got to visit one!!
Bonfanti is the winery and family name. You can see all the relatives involved on the company, from vineyards to the tour guide.
They have been on the field for many years, however, only selling their grapes to other prestigious wineries. It was only in 2004 when they were able to produce their very own wine at the new built winery – which is absolutely modern and beautiful, though small - so is the production. Bonfanti has a tiny production, as they sell grapes to other producers yet. However, the best of them are kept for their beautiful own wines.
We had the pleasure to be hosted by Sebastian Bonfanti, who is charge of the technical part of the business.
We started from the vineyard – no better place to start - where he patiently explained about the process used on the field, from irrigation to canopy management.
Among the vines are Arauco olive trees, an Argentine variety, planted in the middle of the vineyard about 100 years ago to make the most of the space and the harvest – as grapes and olives are not harvest at the same time.
The winery was the next step. There we confirmed the dedication of this family on doing a good work and wines to match.
Sebastian; always clear and enthusiastic; guided us to the underground cellar, where the oak barrels keep some beauties, with nearby bottles of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon laying down to rest.
Some of the vines have about 100-years-old age, so then you can have an idea about what you can get on the glass. Furthermore, there is a full commitment of the family, resumed on a phrase at their portfolio, which I loved and describe here: “Each bottle of Bonfanti wine keeps inside the secret of men effort”.
There are three ranges of wines, all under the Mendocino enologist Rolando Lazzaroti responsibility and craft:
Bonfanti Malbec Rose – a 100% Malbec do be drink young and fresh, best pair would be a smoked salmon dish – I reckon.
Familia Bonfanti – It presents two varietals Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, both with 12 months oak aging.
Roberto Bonfanti, Malbec, Alfa, Gran Reserva – Named after the owner and winery’s founder, the grapes on this wine come from the 100 years old vines and take 24 months on the in French oak barrels, plus 12 months of bottle rest. The 2006 vintage scored 92 on the Wine Advocate, in December 2008 and the price is – trust me - a bargain for what you get. Well, at least the price you pay on the winery.
They have two tasting room, and the one on the second floor has a beautiful view of the vineyards, the olives trees and the old house where the family used to leave for decades.
It was time to leave. Sebastian greeted with the same smile that he had from the beginning.
I left sure to be back shortly, but that is another story to be told soon after…
We started with a small winery located in Maipú, just 26km away from Mendoza city.
Maipú is a department and municipality located in the north west of Mendoza Province in Argentina; its capital is also called Maipú. It covers 617 km² and has a population is about 153,600 (2001).
The department was created in 1858 and named in memory of the Battle of Maipú (or Maipo), which took place in el Valle del Maipo, nearby Santiago - Chile, 1818 during the South American Wars of Independence.
It is a quiet, peaceful and very much country-side-style area. It is not difficult to see people calmly cycling and apprenticing all of these.
Our visit on the idyllic district was in a winery named by a constellation CarinaE., owned by a French couple, Brigitte and Philippe Subra, who came from France in 1998.
CarinaE (Latin, “from carina”) is a constellation of the southern sky. It contains a multitude of stars and other splendors of the night sky. It appears during the summer, particularly during the harvest season
CarinaE was opened on January, 2003. Its vineyards are located in the traditional high area of the Mendoza River, where it has an 80-year-old productive vineyard of 11hectares, producing Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and mostly Malbec.
It also has 3 more hectares of 85 years old Malbec vineyards at Cobos Street in Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo.
This “boutique” winery has a vat capacity of 260,000 liters. The vats are made of concrete and are epoxy coated - as seen in many wineries of Mendoza, new and old. There is also a wine cellar; with a gorgeous small and colorful stained-glass-window; at present containing 25.000 liters of oak casks, French – of course.
The total wine process, from the management of the vineyards to bottling, is supervised by Michel Rolland’s team in Mendoza, via his consultant firm named Enorolland.
We were guided by Brigitte, the passionate and lively owner, who stills keeps a strong and charming French accent. She took us to the winery, cellar and with the same enthusiasm lead us to the tasting room.
The whole place is very down to earth, relaxed and simple. Brigitte welcomes all visitors with a sparkle on the eyes.
Their dogs are always around and lying down on the floor, in a ‘siesta’ mood.
We tried all ranges of their hearty wines:
Octans (named after the most austral constellation) - a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon only sold at the winery.
CarinaE – Young fruity wines, in two versions of Malbec, red and rose.
CarinaE Reserva – Varietal wines 12 months oak aged from all grapes they grow: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and also the only they buy: Torrontes.
CarinaE Gran Reserva – The most selected Malbec and Syrah made the varietals of these range that stays more than 13 months in the oak barrels.
CarinaE Prestige – The blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah of this wine rests more then 15 months in the oak barrels.
This is a great winery to visit if you want to try wines just find ‘in situ’. Furthermore it has a warm, friendly and casual hospitality. CarinaE is not fussy about a formal visit, they are very busy making good wine and enjoying the whole process of it. "Vive le joie de vivre!"
CarinaE
After a short stop to eat on the way, we headed to Lujan de Cuyo.
At this time, the winery was a truly Argentine-family-run-business - Finally I got to visit one!!
Bonfanti is the winery and family name. You can see all the relatives involved on the company, from vineyards to the tour guide.
They have been on the field for many years, however, only selling their grapes to other prestigious wineries. It was only in 2004 when they were able to produce their very own wine at the new built winery – which is absolutely modern and beautiful, though small - so is the production. Bonfanti has a tiny production, as they sell grapes to other producers yet. However, the best of them are kept for their beautiful own wines.
We had the pleasure to be hosted by Sebastian Bonfanti, who is charge of the technical part of the business.
We started from the vineyard – no better place to start - where he patiently explained about the process used on the field, from irrigation to canopy management.
Among the vines are Arauco olive trees, an Argentine variety, planted in the middle of the vineyard about 100 years ago to make the most of the space and the harvest – as grapes and olives are not harvest at the same time.
The winery was the next step. There we confirmed the dedication of this family on doing a good work and wines to match.
Sebastian; always clear and enthusiastic; guided us to the underground cellar, where the oak barrels keep some beauties, with nearby bottles of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon laying down to rest.
Some of the vines have about 100-years-old age, so then you can have an idea about what you can get on the glass. Furthermore, there is a full commitment of the family, resumed on a phrase at their portfolio, which I loved and describe here: “Each bottle of Bonfanti wine keeps inside the secret of men effort”.
There are three ranges of wines, all under the Mendocino enologist Rolando Lazzaroti responsibility and craft:
Bonfanti Malbec Rose – a 100% Malbec do be drink young and fresh, best pair would be a smoked salmon dish – I reckon.
Familia Bonfanti – It presents two varietals Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, both with 12 months oak aging.
Roberto Bonfanti, Malbec, Alfa, Gran Reserva – Named after the owner and winery’s founder, the grapes on this wine come from the 100 years old vines and take 24 months on the in French oak barrels, plus 12 months of bottle rest. The 2006 vintage scored 92 on the Wine Advocate, in December 2008 and the price is – trust me - a bargain for what you get. Well, at least the price you pay on the winery.
They have two tasting room, and the one on the second floor has a beautiful view of the vineyards, the olives trees and the old house where the family used to leave for decades.
It was time to leave. Sebastian greeted with the same smile that he had from the beginning.
I left sure to be back shortly, but that is another story to be told soon after…
Bonfanti
Cheers,
Marcia Amaral
Marcia Amaral