Happy New Year Everyone!

We are starting 2012 with some truly great news for Algodon across the board:  Algodon Wines, Algodon Mansion, and Algodon Wine Estates!  I am pleased to announce that two Algodon Wines have received high marks from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate.  Our 2008 Malbec received a 91 point rating and the 2008 Bonarda received a 90 point rating!  You can read more about our accolades here: 

Algodon Wines Achieve 91 & 90 Point Parker Ratings!

We’d like to congratulate our winemakers and advisors for a job well done! 

Algodon Mansion and Algodon Wine Estates were also recently awarded honors from TripAdvisor’s 2012 Traveler’s Choice awards.  Algodon Mansion ranked #7 on the BEST HOTELS in ARGENTINA list, and ranked #13 on the BEST HOTELS in SOUTH AMERICA list, and Algodon Wine Estates & Champions Club ranked #3 on the RELAXATION/SPA HOTELS in SOUTH AMERICA listing. 

 

Again, we’d like to congratulate everyone involved, from the service staff to the management.  We are also very grateful to our guests who, without their warm recommendations, this honor would not have been possible.

- Scott Mathis

Marcelo Pelleriti on our 2010 & 2011 Algodon Wines: “The Bonarda! The Malbecs! What great wines!”

Our Senior Wine Advisors, Marcelo Pelleriti and (Master of Wine) Antony Foster both had a lot to say after a recent tasting for our 2010 & 2011 wines!  Marcelo took to his Twitter account and tweeted the following (roughly translated into English):

“Wine Tasting of 2010 & 2011 Algodon Wines.  THE BONARDA! THE MALBECS!  What great wines!  PINOT !!!......”

“THE BONARDAAAA!  Micro-vinification! I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT!”

“Attention: the Merlot from Algodon Wine Estates in San Rafael will surprise you, think HIGH END! “

“Finishing an incredible tasting at Algodon. Great Malbecs, Bonardas! And MERLOT!”

Anthony Foster followed up with a wonderfully encouraging report as well!  Here’s some of what he said after our wine council’s recent tasting of 46 of our wines, all from the 2010 and 2011 vintages:

“From the quality of the 2011 vintage, there will be a premium line for 2011. A number of wines shone, most notably an amazing Pinot Noir and various parcels of each of the varieties we grow. There is not a weak link amongst them, as my tasting notes will show.”

This is great news for our products, but hopefully more so for the real estate from which they are born!  Construction on our first homes are continuing nicely, and we are excited for our future residents and private vineyard owners!

-Scott Mathis

Algodon Wine Estates Construction Update

As mentioned in Algodon’s recent newsletter, construction has begun on a number of homes at Algodon Wine Estates.  You can see further progress here:

Things are moving along nicely.  The estate’s hotel lodge and restaurant are approaching the high season, so you can imagine things are getting quite busy in San Rafael.  We like busy.

I just received this beautiful photo of Algodon Wine Estates’ dessert vista, with the Sierra Pintada Mountains on the horizon.  The Desert Village is a bit farther south on the property than where the current construction is taking place.

The Dessert Village of Algodon Wine Estates is comprised of 41 vineyard estates averaging 2.4 acres each, as well as 80 desert vista estates averaging 1.8 acres each.  An additional 17 desert vista estates are situated “on the pond” and average 1.5 acres each.  Each estate enjoys breathtaking desert and mountain views, as you can see for yourself in the photo.  The Desert Village is situated on the estate’s highest ground, and offers some of the best unobstructed views of the surrounding estate and our neighboring properties.

-Scott Mathis

Algodon Wines on MyWinesDirect.com!

Really great news!  Algodon Wines are now available on mywinesdirect.com.  We’ve worked hard to make them available to all of our fans here in the U.S., and now I’m happy to report that select 2008 and 2009 vintages are here.  Mywinesdirect.com’s inventory includes our 2008 Gran Reserva, Malbec, Cabernet, and Cab/Syrah, and the 2009 Chardonnay, and Malbec Rosé.  Our premium wines are crafted in small quantities, so that we can maintain our high standards.  Due to our limited production and small inventory, our wines sell fast.  Order now before they sell out!

By the way, our 2009 Malbec and Bonarda (not yet available on mywinesdirect.com) just won Gold and Silver Medals, respectively, from this year's 10th edition of VINANDINO, one of South America's most important wine and spirits contests.  Our Algodon Extra Virgin Olive Oil also took home a Gold at this year’s OLIVINUS International Olive Oil Competition.  Congratulations and big thanks to our winemakers and olive oil crafters.  Nice work!

- Scott Mathis

Algodon Mansion joins Relais & Châteaux

This week we received some really great news for Algodon Mansion.  The luxury hotelier group Relais & Châteaux, who represent the highest benchmark in hotel accommodations and fine dining, has welcomed Algodon Mansion into their exclusive ranks.  We are the only hotel in Argentina to be presented with this distinction.  I am very pleased that in the short time since we opened, we have been invited to join such a world recognized, respected, and prestigious luxury brand.  Established over half a century ago, Relais & Châteaux has set the standard for excellence in hospitality with over 500 member properties in 60 countries.

This is a wonderful opportunity to expand our presence in the luxury hospitality market.  Algodon Mansion brings something very unique to Buenos Aires, and we feel honored that Relais & Châteaux has recognized our dedication to providing the highest quality of service, accommodation, privacy and security, all preeminent factors that have set us apart.

-Scott Mathis

Algodon Wine Estates Update: San Rafael named top place to retire!

Wow!  Fortune Magazine & CNN Money just named San Rafael, Mendoza (yes, where Algodon Wine Estates is located) as one of the world's "4 Great Places to Retire"!  This is great news for all of our properties and our not-so-little town!  Click here for the full article, which actually features a photograph of Algodon Wine Estates!

The article says retirees can find dramatically lower real estate prices in San Rafael, and an average cost of living that is significantly lower than in the U.S.:

"An hour and a half flight from Buenos Aires, San Rafael has plenty of amenities. It also has the feel of a small European town. Two major rivers flow from the Andes mountains toward the town, which means that rafting and fly-fishing destinations are a short trip away. Farms growing some of Argentina's best-known grapes surround the town and have lured expatriates, largely retirees, from the U.S., Canada, and Europe.  Enterprising oenophiles might even earn an income from a vineyard...if you're up for the adventure, the lifestyle can be ideal."

I'll see you in San Rafael!

-Scott Mathis

Travel+Leisure: "Algodon Mansion one of Best New Hotels, 2011"!

Travel+Leisure just voted Algodon Mansion as its #5 choice (out of 50) of Best New Hotels of 2011!  Yes, #5…and no, we’re not listed alphabetically- I checked!  The story was also picked up in USA Today, and I’m guessing a number of other travel publications will carry the article as well.  This is Travel+Leisure’s sixth annual list of "IT" hotels from around the globe.  Congratulations to Algodon Mansion’s partners and staff!  Nice work!

-Scott Mathis