Here are two very good and very well priced South American Wines that are great for summer barbecues. They go great with everything from hot dogs to a nice grilled rib eye.
The first is a Bonarda called Colonia Las Liebres by Altos Las Homigas of Mendoza, Argentina the second is Montes Malbec by Vina Montes Colchagua Valley, Chile.
Both are very reasonably priced.
Meat is a big part of South American cuisine especially in Argentina. Cooking Gaucho Style is also popular so wines made there are naturally suited for our style of outdoor cooking, BBQ.
Altos Las Homigas is one of the top wine makers in Argentina. The vineyard is the creation of Alberto Antonini, a well known Tuscan wine maker, and Antonio Morescalchi a young entrepreneur who on a visit to Argentina in 1995 were thrilled by the potential of the area. Friends Attilio Pagli, another well known Tuscan wine maker; Alan Scerbanenko, a Italo-Swiss management counselor; and last, but not least, Antonio Terni, Italo-Argentine who produces top quality wines in the Marche region of Italy, joined the effort. The result is very fine award winning wines. Their primary wine is made with Malbec. But this gem is made with Bonarda which has a story onto itself.
It turns out that the most widely-planted grape in Argentina isn't Malbec, but Bonarda. Experts disagree but as the story goes, the grape was originally from Italy where it has the names Corbeau, Croatina, Douce Noir or Dolcetto. We love Dolcetto de Alba. Apparently it is also grown in California where it is called Charbono. Read more here: Bonarda Argentina's Best Kept Secret, Will the Real Bonarda Please Stand Up?
South American Bonarda is a great simple yet interesting wine. Everyone I know who has tried it loves it. It starts with plumb flavors with a touch of vanilla and then opens up into cherry and spice. It has a full finish. These flavors sound complex but they come together to be a great contrast and compliment to smokey meat.
Montes Vineyard in Chile has also earned many accolades. They produce a wide range of wines that are enjoyed worldwide. Formed in 1987 by Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray who were joined in 1988 by Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand, Montes has been a significant force in putting Chile on the world wine map.
This is one of thier low end wines. It is very good, I can only imagine what their better wines are like and intend to taste them all one of these days.
Malbec is a perfect wine for Barbecue.
Jay Miller of Wine Advocate adwarded this wine 86 Points and said, "The 2008 Malbec Classic Series is a fruity, forward expression of this increasingly popular grape. It has a degree of elegance, spicy, black cherry flavors, good balance, and a fruity finish. Drink it over the next three years."
Read more about Malbec here: $50 Malbec, Wow, You have come a long way
Things to do, places to see, with food and booze
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