Banana Split a La Parilla with Dulce de Leche Drizzle and Candied Walnuts In Argentina, cooking by fire is both culinary skill and social necessity, all tangled together in the wispy warm smoke of the parilla (grill). Asado, or Argentine-style BBQ is a method that requires exceptional patience and entertaining conversation. The slow burning blaze of the Asado is a far cry from the north american BBQ method,...
Competitive kayakers rarely find themselves land-bound, but in the case of Diego Valsecchi, the vineyard is as much a home as the world´s most adrenaline-inducing rapids. This long-locked winemaker from Buenos Aires doesn´t quite look the part of CEO and founder of a high-art, premier wine label. But innovators rarely do. As he crisscrossed continents in search of the best white water, he inadvertently...
Though they may seem like a perfect match, wine and chocolate don’t always make an ideal couple. As with people, each bottle and every bon bon comes equipped with its own nuances, subtitles and complexities. Finding the right combination can take a few tries, but when it emerges, there is scarcely a more tantalizing romance for the palette and the senses. Speed Dating – How to...
To take full advantage of the Harvest season, Carolyn, Gilda and I spent a day outside of the office and under the abundant vines at CarinaE Viñedos & Bodega. We have been aching to get out into the field and get our hands on the charished fruit of Mendoza, so when the owners of Carinae told us the date of their first harvest, we...
The largest event of the entire Vendimia celebration, Fiesta Nacional, takes place on Saturday night at Mendoza’s Greek style theatre, in San Martin Park. Back in February, Mendocinians lined up a night before tickets went on sale and every seat was sold within hours the following day. Although the stadium holds 22,000 people comfortably, thousands more hike the surrounding hills to enjoy the captivating...
Walking through the center on Friday afternoon, I could feel the excitement in the air as people in downtown Mendoza prepared themselves for the biggest weekend of the year. Law enforcement officials lined the streets Mendoza, anticipating the masses of people who would attend this year’s famous “Via Blanca” and “Carrusel” parades. This year the Vendimia celebration will also honor the 200th anniversary of...
For three nights of the Vendimia, the Italian community of Mendoza hosts a “Festa de la Piazza,” taking place in the charming Plaza Italia downtown. With about 42,000 Italian residents in the Mendoza region, it is a great opportunity to come together and celebrate their heritage. The protagonist of this event was not the wine because the traditional Italian food easily stole the spotlight. ...
Vendimia 2010 is in full swing in Mendoza, Argentina and I am experiencing it for the first time as an American long-term visitor, amateur wine drinker turned Argentine wine fanatic. Never before have I seen an entire community come together to celebrate the art and science of wine making. Over the past 10 years, Argentina has achieved world-wide recognition as a viable wine region,...