Author

Amanda Barnes

Amanda Barnes is a British journalist who has been living in the Southern Hemisphere since 2009, has tried over 500 Malbecs, eaten over 600 Chilean oysters and still has a functioning liver and kidneys (as far as she knows).

Wine

Terroir Talk Series: Meet the winemakers & dig into terroir wines

by Amanda Barnes December 23, 2020

written by Amanda Barnes

Starting from December 2020, we’ve launched a new Terroir Talk Series discussing specific and fascinating terroirs of South America with some of the best winemakers on the continent. We’ll be regularly hosting these talks and discussions over Instagram Live with winemakers from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and beyond in order to discover some of the grand crus of Latin America.

Please do join us and feel free to send in any questions before the interview so we can get to grips with some of the most exciting wines and wine regions of South America. Keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook where we’ll be promoting the talks, and here are some dates to pencil into your diary!

Uco Valley terroir & Bordeaux-inspired blends

Terroir Talk with Karim Mussi of Bodega Alandes

31st March, 8pm

Karim Mussi is one of the foremost winemakers in the Uco Valley, having worked in La Consulta for over 23 years. Today he has a family of Uco Valley wine brands under his Karim Mussi Wines stable, including the impressive Bodega Alandes label which is focused on making high quality, Bordeaux-inspired blends.

In this Terroir Talk, Amanda Barnes interviews Karim about the terroir of the Uco Valley and what grape varieties he thinks work best in this wine region in Mendoza. They discuss the art of making blends, both white and red, and why Bordeaux is one of his great loves in the wine world.

December 23, 2020 0 comment

Wine tourism in times of Covid, Susana Balbo winery

Wine travel in times of Covid: Wine tourism in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay

by Amanda Barnes December 23, 2020

written by Amanda Barnes

It’s been a rather impossible year for wine tourism with most of Latin America closed off to the world for a large part of 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. However, as the Covid-19 infection rate begins to get under control wineries are beginning to open their doors in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, welcoming local tourists now and preparing to welcome foreign tourists in the months to come.

This article will be updated on a rolling basis:

Wine tourism in Uruguay

Uruguay is not yet open to international tourism with restrictions still in place to curb any spread of Covid-19. With a population of just 3.5 million people Uruguay usually relies on the 2.5 million foreign tourists they receive a year for most of its tourism activities, although many wineries in Uruguay and open for local tourists.

“We are entering a rather strange summer without tourists!” explains Pia Carrau about her family’s winery which is the most-visited in northern Uruguay, Bodega Cerro Chapeau. Most of the tourists in Rivera are usually coming from Brazil and with Uruguay’s closed border at the moment, any travel between countries is restricted.

December 23, 2020 0 comment

Guide to Maldonado wines and the wines of Uruguay

Uruguay Features Beyond Featured Posts Uruguay Wine Guide Wine

A guide to Uruguay’s Maldonado wine region

by Amanda Barnes December 3, 2020

written by Amanda Barnes

The Maldonado wine region of Uruguay is one of the continent’s most exciting — offering a distinctive style of refreshing coastal wines. Get to grips with the unique terroir and delicious wines of Maldonado in our quintessential guide.

Guide to Maldonado Wine Region

Notable Producers in Maldonado

Quick Guide to Maldonado

Best Wines to try from Maldonado

Map of Maldonado

Guide to Maldonado wine region & its refreshing coastal wines

Maldonado is a region of great contrasts. On the one hand, there’s the ostentatious seaside resort of Punta del Este, home to some of the most luxurious hotels and wealthiest casinos in Latin America and on the other, there is sweeping farmland with modest homes and tiny villages, which seem to have remained grounded in the last century.

While I’m not a fan of the superficial veneer that makes Punta del Este stand out in sharp juxtaposition to the otherwise authentic and unassuming charm that Uruguay exudes elsewhere, millions of people are. In fact the population of this elite playground known as the ‘St Tropez of Latin America’ swells fivefold every summer.

Punta del Este and Maldonado, a guide to visiting the wine region and the wines of Uruguay

A major silver lining to having ‘St Tropez’ on your doorstep is that the huge tourism industry is a great bedfellow for Uruguay’s wine industry, and Punta del Este is the main market for Uruguay’s wineries. The growing wine route in Maldonado has also developed thanks to this steady stream of affluent tourists cruising in. Fortunately for them, Maldonado is home to some of Uruguay’s most exciting wines today, which have completely revitalised the wines and image of the country as a whole.

December 3, 2020 0 comment

Wine

Ready for some festive cheer? Me too!

by Amanda Barnes November 30, 2020

written by Amanda Barnes

This year has been rather miserable hasn’t it? 2020 will probably go down as the worst year in living memory for most… The Coronavirus pandemic has brought misery all over the world with a loss of freedoms, economic strain and an illness to boot. But, as we reach the end of the year, there’s definitely a reason to celebrate! And we want to make sure you have some fine South American wine to ring in the end of a miserable 2020 and cheers to a better 2021!

Countdown to Christmas & a wine wishlist

To help inspire you with some Latin American wines to enjoy this festive season, we’ll be counting down to Christmas with some of our favourite wines from the past year so you can get into the mood for the holiday season and uncork some rather special wines with family and friends (either in person or virtually!)

Keep your eye on our social media, where we’ll be sharing a daily wine from South America with some of our favourite pairing tips and some interesting information and the vineyards, varieties and producers.

Join us on Instagram @southamericawineguide and on Facebook @southamericawineguide

Cheers to the end of 2020, and a happier, healthier and much more vinous New Year!

November 30, 2020 0 comment

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