South American UK off-trade wine sales thrive

South American wine sales in the UK off-trade have thrived in the past couple of years, showing double-digit value growth, up 12% in 2019 and 24% in 2020 (year to 2 January, 2021), according to new NielsenIQ research shared exclusively with Harpers.

Buying into South America

Buyers are finding wine drinkers more than willing to take a chance on non-Malbec reds from Chile
and Argentina, as Lisa Riley reports

Condor pairs with Cooper, capturing stories behind SA’s 2020 harvest

A new advisory collaboration between South American specialist Alistair Cooper MW and importer Condor Wines has delivered its first result in the shape of a 2020 Harvest Report, delivering the stories behind a ‘unique’ vintage.

New role at Doña Paula for Atkin’s ‘Viticulturalist of the Year’

Doña Paula Estate’s Martín Kaiser has taken on a new role as director of viticulture and winemaking at Doña Paula, building on 14 years as viticulturalist at this Santa Rita Estate’s-owned Argentinian winery.

Catena chief winemaker calls 2019 vintage “one of the best in 10 years”

The chief winemaker at Argentina’s Bodega Catena Zapata has called 2019 “one of the best vintages of the last 10 years”.

Argentina report: The beauty of buying in bulk

Argentina is upping its game to become a major player in boutique bulk, as Chris Wilson reports. 

Argentina report: Darling of 
the on-trade

Argentinian wine continues to be a UK success story, fighting through currency woes and falling wine consumption, 
as James 
Lawrence reports

Argentina report: Country on the rise

In the first of our series on Argentina, James Lawrence reports (pre-coronavirus) on how the 2016 election has helped introduce the country to a new era of wine exports and global trade.

Q&A: Charles Tyler, Paladar

Friday read: Latitude, altitude and attitude – the quest for balance and personality in Argentina

Bodega Norton and Viñalba have both played key roles in Argentina’s vinous revolution, helping to establish the country as a beacon of quality and price on the world stage. Through the lens of these two Mendonza wineries in both Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo, Jo Gilbert charts how the country got to where it is today, and how a new wave of winemakers are heading outwards to explore Argentina’s terroir.

San Pablo receives official GI status

Mendoza’s San Pablo has received official Geographical Indication (GI) approval.

Importers collective SPOT portfolio offers streamlined buying

Sometimes the best ideas are the most straight-forward ones; at least that’s the hope of Solano Peña-Lenzi from specialist wine importer Hispamerchants.

The new Argentine wine map

Sommelier and wine writer Alejandro Iglesias traces the efforts of winemakers working within the country’s rigid GI system to highlight Argentina’s unique terroirs.

Austral Patagonia: the march to the world's most southerly winery

Argentina used to have the most southern vineyards in the world until Central Otago surpassed them. However today, the cultivation of vine at latitude 45 in Chubut province adds to the Argentina’s viticultural map, representing a new challenge for winemakers working in the mountainous regions and also in the Patagonian plains. Here, Alejandro Iglesias breaks down the new southernmost border of Argentine wine.

Hatch Mansfield appointed as exclusive UK agent by Zuccardi for its Valle de Uco wines

Hatch Mansfield has been appointed as exclusive UK agent by Argentinian wine producer Familia Zuccardi for its Bodega Zuccardi Valle de Uco wines.

Bodegas Fabre reports “exceptional vintage”

Bodegas Fabre has said its 2019 vintage in Mendoza has benefitted from excellent conditions at its vineyards in the Uco Valley and Lujan de Cuyo.

Santa Rita harvest reveals yields down, quality up

Santa Rita’s 2019 harvest has produced lower yields than normal but higher quality grapes, according to a report from the South American producer.

Doña Paula gains sustainability certification

Santa Rita producer Doña Paula has been certified as a sustainable winery.

Tim Atkin MW: Celebrating Creole

Compiling a list of the 10 best red and white grapes is an entertaining parlour game for consenting wine lovers. Should Chardonnay trump Riesling and Chenin Blanc? And what about Cabernet Sauvignon? Better or worse than Pinot Noir, Grenache or Nebbiolo? I’ve played this dozens of times around the world and the results differ more than you’d think. Yet some varieties never make the podium. There are more than 5,000 to choose from, but no one ever finds room for Aligoté, Dornfelder or Seyval Blanc.

Argentina currency collapse could boost premium wine exports.

In the last week of August there was more than a little flurry of activity for the emerging markets trading sector of Wall Street as the Argentinian peso collapsed yet again. Those in the UK and global wine trade tuned in to assess how this might affect the price and positioning of Argentina and its punter-pulling flagship Malbec.