Are the Argentine wines that impressed the elite of the world's sommellerie – 22/03/2019

They do not like being designated as elite, but they are. From 1969 to today, only 255 professionals worldwide pbaded the rigorous examination of the Master Sommelier's Cup, an international educational institution that grants one of the most prestigious certifications from the gastronomic universe, created with the aim of achieving excellence in the service of beverages in hotels and restaurants.

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Summoned by Wines of Argentina, the entity that promotes the national wine in the world, fifteen of these experts visited Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Salta to learn about and learn about local winemaking. They attended seminars where they were trained in the identification of grape varieties and soils and They tasted no less than 300 wines.

For request of ClarinMember States (the initials with which they identify their know-how) indicated which strains and labels had impressed them most during the trip. The surprise? Although they appreciate the high quality of Malbec, the flagship wine, the majority prefer the less popular varietals they predict "a lot of potential".

Alpana Singh (United States)

Born in California and currently a resident of the city of Chicago, where she has her own restaurant (Terra and Vine), Alpana is the youngest woman to obtain her MS certificate (in 2003, at age 26). During her fourth visit to Argentina, she says she is fascinated by the discovery of Creole grapes for the production of reds. "I live in Chicago, a very hot city in summer, where everyone wants to be outside. The Argentinian reds are fruity, fresh and shiny enjoy in warm climates as an alternative to rosé or white wine. They were unique and interesting to me. "

Brian K. Julyan (Great Britain)

Veteran master sommelier graduated in 1972, jury of competitions and author of several specialized books, Brian is currently president and financial director of the Master Sommelier Court in Europe, as well as international consultant in the sector of the gastronomy. On his fourth visit to the country, he says that every time he comes, there is a "revelation". In this case, there were two strains that were not widespread even among Argentines: Garnacha and grape Pedro Giménez. "These are varieties that I really did not expect to taste here." "They continue on this path, I think they're doing very well," he says.

Frank Kämmer (Germany)

Frank Kämmer said that when he had graduated from MS in 1996, Argentina "did not exist" on the international wine list. That's why this sommelier, author of books, consultant and educator, highlights the evolution of Argentine wine in recent decades, especially in the north of the country. "I think that the combination of the altitude, the thermal amplitude and the type of soil that they have there is what allows them to produce exceptional bottles," he said. . In addition, he is happy to have discovered the Tannat of Salta ("it's incredibly good"), the Bonarda and whites love Torrontés, Riesling and Sémillon.

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Kyungmoon Kim (South Korea / USA)

Born in South Korea but residing in the United States, Kyungmoon Kim has been a master sommelier since 2016. He is currently a sommelier for The Modern, the MoMA's two-Michelin-starred restaurant. Although he confesses that he loves the terroir of the Uco ValleyIn Mendoza, he was shocked to learn that Argentina was producing wines on the coast of Buenos Aires. "I tried it Chardonnay and the Riesling and they were fresh and elegant. It seems to me that we usually do not like white wine as much as we should and it's an excellent appetizer that leaves your palate ready for red wine. I liked these wines from the coast and I think they are and at the apogee of any world market. "

Nicolas Clerc (France / England)

Although born in France, Nicolas Clerc developed his career in Great Britain, where he was named "sommelier of the year" in 2007. He obtained his MS certification in 2010 and was a member of the jury of famous Decanter award, in addition to working as a consultant. During his stay in Salta and Mendoza, he was dazzled by the landscapes and culture, while taking a few surprises during the tastings. "I had come in 2011 and I was impressed by the fact that the style of the wines has changed a lot. There is certainly a development of white wines, with new varieties like the Albariño, that I found very interesting. As for the reds, eight years ago, they were mainly oriented towards an international style and it is now possible to find more tension, more vivacity, more purity of the fruit, "he explains.

Christopher Bates (United States)

Named Best Young Sommelier in 2012, Bates graduated from MS in 2013 and works in Finger Lakes, New York, where he owns a wine bar, restaurant and brewery. During his first visit to the country, and like many of his colleagues, he was impressed by the production of wines with Creole grapes: "I've noticed a very wide range, a great diversity and variety, frankly I think it's a group of grapes that has a lot of potential. are wines that have the capacity to be quite serious, elegant and balancedThey are cool and fun at the same time. It is interesting to see what happens in the future with this strain. "

The wines chosen by the master sommelier in Argentina

These are some of the labels that the master sommelier has brought to light after the seminars they attended in Mendoza, Salta and Buenos Aires.

• Vallisto extreme Criolla 2018 – Bodega Vallisto (Cafayate Valley, Salta).
• Pala Heart, Criolla Argentina ink – Niven wines (Junín, Mendoza).
• Cara Sur Criolla 2018 – Bodega Cara Sur (San Juan)
• Criolla Cadus Signature Series – The wines of Cadus (Mendoza)
• Tigerstone Garnacha 2017 – Producer Estancia Los Cardones (Salta).
• Alma Gemela Pedro Ximenez 2018 – Onofri Wines (Mendoza).
• Pedrito 2015 – Finca Las Moras (San Juan).
• Las Perdices Albariño 2018 – Viña Las Perdices (Mendoza).
• Costa & Pampa Riesling – Trapiche Winery (Chapadmalal, Buenos Aires)
• Costa & Pampa Chardonnay – Trapiche Winery (Chapadmalal, Buenos Aires)
• 2018 Amalaya Torrontés Riesling – Amalaya Winery (Calchaquí Valley, Salta)
• Laborum Tannat Unique Vineyard Finca El Retiro 2016 – Bodega El Porvenir (Cafayate, Salta)