Al Este
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| Al Este Bodega y Viñedos | |
|---|---|
| Location | Médanos, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Appellation | Médanos |
| Other labels | Al Este, Al Este Clasico, Terrasabbia Reserva, Terrasabbia |
| Founded | 1999 |
| First vintage | 2006 |
| Key people | Alberto Antonini, winemaker |
| Varietals | Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Tannat, Merlot, Cabernet Franc |
| Tasting | open to public for visits, special events by appointment |
Al Este Bodega y Viñedos is a winery in Médanos, Buenos Aires, Argentina. It consists of vineyards (in owned lands that exceed 300 hectares) and an adjacent winery, located 640km south of the city of Buenos Aires on the southern tip of the Buenos Aires province.
History
In the early 1900s several European immigrants arrived to Médanos and brought the wine making tradition with them. Although at some point a multitude of small growers planted a combined surface of approximately 200 hectares of vineyards, they were unable to successfully complete the wine making process given lack of scale, inadequate technology and the country’s ups and downs which lead to their disappearance[1].
The Médanos terroir, that had traditionally been dedicated to garlic and pastures, has striking similarities to Bordeaux, France in terms of its soil, weather conditions and proximity to the sea. More recently, the idea of starting a wine project in Médanos got reignited as a result of a trip to France which provided renewed confidence in the terroir’s potential[2].
In 2000, an hectare and a half was planted on an experimental basis with nine grape varietals. In a second stage, after analyzing the obtained quality standards for each grape variety at the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), 25 additional hectares were planted mainly with six varietals[3].
Grape varieties
Al Este produces several varietals.
Red: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tannat, Cabernet Franc
White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyards and winery
The vineyards are located at 39 degrees latitude south, where the Patagonia and Pampa converge, approximately 40 Km from the Atlantic Ocean[4]. Windy springs help develop thicker skins that contribute to the intense color of these wines. The geological foundation of the Médanos region is limestone, leading to a soil structure that is heavy in calcium. The soil has high sand content, which doesn’t retain as much humidity, and as a consequence this terroir absorbs and liberates heat faster creating a large temperature range which favors the development and growth of grapes[1].
Topography: Flatland with meadows (médanos)
Soil type: Sandy over a calcareous plate
Irrigation system: Dripping
Frost protection: Water spraying by aspersion
Harvesting and grape selection: Manual
Plant support system: Espalier
The winery produces red and white wines, which are aged in French and American oak and in bottles in its underground cellars. It is the first company to grow, produce and sell premium wines in the Buenos Aires Province. The project has been developed under the direction of the Italian wine maker Alberto Antonini[3] [5].
Internal links
References
- ^ a b wikio.es Pusimos en marcha la vinicultura en Buenos Aires, written by Mauricio Runno on 08/04/08Template:Es “We started winemaking in Buenos Aires” Cite error: The named reference "wikio" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ lanacion.com.ar Viñedos en los Médanos, written by Oscar Baltian, LA NACION 9/30/2006 Template:Es “Vineyards in the meadows”
- ^ a b winesur.com Buenos Aires is also interested in wine, written by Ma. Soledad Gonzalez on 8/19/08 Cite error: The named reference "winesur" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ fortuna.com El vino que llegó del mar Template:Es “The wine that arrived from the sea”
- ^ wikio.es Ahora se hace vino también en Buenos Aires, elaborado por Alberto Antonini Template:Es “Buenos Aires is now also producing wine, made by Alberto Antonini”