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Two New Wine Projects Coming From South America
As interest in the continent's wine regions continues to grow, South America continues to generate new wineries and product lines.
Caliterra, the joint venture of California's Robert Mondavi and Chile's Errazuriz wineries, has announced a new line, Arboleda. Arboleda will include bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenhre, Merlot and Syrah; all will retail for about $20 a bottle. In contrast to Caliterra's bottlings from the broad Central Valley, Arboleda will focus on more specific sources for its grapes, including the Maipo Valley for the Cabernet and its own estate vineyard in Colchagua for the Syrah.
From Argentina, California winemaker Paul Hobbs has started his own project, Viña Cobos. Viña Cobos will produce small amounts of vineyard-designated Malbec from Argentina's Mendoza region. Viña Cobos' first release, scheduled for April, is a 1999 Malbec, of which 525 cases were made with fruit from the Marchiori vineyard. The brand's offerings will be expanded beginning with the 2001 vintage. It will retail for about $60 a bottle. Hobbs is no stranger to South America, having consulted for Bodegas Esmeralda and Valdivieso. He also currently consults for Chile's Viña MontGras and its new Ninquin project.
# # #Read James Molesworth's recent tasting report on South American wines:
March 31, 2000
South America's Peaks and ValleysRead recent news reports about new South American wines:
Oct. 13, 2000
Laura Catena Launches New Label Oct. 10, 2000
Chile's Viña Santa Rita Expands, Plans New High-End Cabernet Oct. 7, 2000
Chile's Concha Y Toro Releases Two New Brands Aug. 17, 2000
Two Chilean Wineries Are on the Move
