07
Oct
2009
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
To see previous visit of Catena click here.
In 1902 Nicola Catena planted his first vineyard on 4 hectares in Argentina; today his heirs own 500 hectares of estate vines on 5 vineyards throughout Argentina, have made long term deals with countless other growers, and their name stands at the top of all Argentinean wineries. Today we met with the personable and gregarious Laura Catena, whose father Nicolas has just been named Decanter Magazine’s 2009 Man of the Year. She took us on a tasting tour of Catena’s high-end wines and explained the reason for Catena-Zapata’s success: high altitudes and a pioneering spirit.
According to Laura, most Argentinean wineries aren’t interested in single vineyard production, or even showing the concept of “terroir” (sense of place) in their wine; but, she argues, if any country should be showing off it’s terroir it’s Argentina, and that is due to the uniqueness of the ‘terroir’: “We should be more Terroir-ists than they are in Burgundy,” she claims, “it’s because of our soils that we should be concentrating more on showing off our terroir.” She explains about the make up of Argentine soil vs. that in France (Bordeaux and Burgundy). Because it rains so much in these French locales the soils have a way of settling and layering: sand on one level, then lime, clay, and rock; but in Argentina they have far less rain, so the soils remain mixed together – they have the same components, they just have a different pattern and no layered stucture.
Tasting Terroir … (read about the difference 400 meters makes)
To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.
04
Oct
2009
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
Savour Stratford is one of those events you have to experience to believe. No amount of description can truly tell you about the extraordinary food and delicious drink that you can find there. Sure I can tell you about Distinctly Tea’s carbon filter cup lid – an ingenious invention (unfortunately not of their own invention) that filters out, not only the loose leaf tea leaves they us to brew their tea, but the harsh tannins and bitter flavours from over-steeped tea … I tried to prove it wrong, I couldn’t.
I could tell you about the Swedish Mini Burgers sauced in Merlot-Ketchup and topped with Radish Sprouts, but you’ll scratch your head with a “really?” When I asked the guy behind the table about the sauce he said, “It’s really difficult,” he then smiled, “believe it or not it’s red wine and ketchup, that’s it.” “Shut up and get out,” was my response, but he showed me the recipe, it was actually Merlot and Ketchup; and it was delicious.
How can I describe a Rheo Thompson’s milk chocolate smoothie to you, or Duck Confit Ravioli? Elk skewers swerved with four different sauces, or the delicious breads of Rundles restaurant? There was such a multitude of exquisite foodstuffs that it is making my mouth re-water just thinking back on it. The answer is I can’t describe them. What I can tell you is that 9 breweries, 7 wineries and 29 food booths equal up to one amazing event. And if pictures are really worth a thousand words, then here are 8000 words to describe the event ... (see what all my fuss is about)
To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.
