Clos de los Siete is a wine community in Vista Flores, set in an 850-hectare estate with five different wineries inside. The concept was orchestrated by renowned flying winemaker Michel Rolland who invited six other Bordeaux wine families to invest in the virgin territory in 1999 and plant a large vineyard.
Four of the five wineries make a wine together each year – the Clos de los Siete blend. These four wineries are also open for tourism and can be visited as part of a Clos de los Siete tour:
Michel Rolland is famous for making wine all over the world but it is here in Mendoza’s Uco Valley where he decided to open his own winery – Bodega Rolland. At the end of the Clos de los Siete property, Rolland has just over 60 hectares of his own there planted with a range of white and red varieties which make up the Mariflor portfolio of wines.
Bodega Rolland winery isn’t much to look at from the outside but, on the inside, you’ll see that it was designed with the winemaker in mind. You can visit the deeply functional and technical winery by organising a visit at Clos de los Siete.
One of the Clos de los Siete wineries, Cuvelier los Andes winery is set in the middle of a large vineyard estate in Vista Flores. This is the Argentine outpost for the Cuvelier family from Bordeaux who own St Julien’s Leoville Poy Ferret.
Cuvelier los Andes focuses on making age-worthy red blends from their vineyards in the Uco Valley. Their Grand Vin is aged for a minimum of five years before release. The Cuvelier los Andes winery can be visited for wine tastings.
The best things in life come in their own time. Diamandes is one of the jewels in the crown of Clos de Los Siete and it arrived, in its own time, as the last project to be completed. One of the modern architectural masterpieces of the Uco Valley, the centre piece is a stainless steel diamond. Timeless.
The very last piece to the Diamandes puzzle to arrive, just recently – over 5 years after opening – is the wine bar and private restaurant. The upstairs bar and space has been designed to welcome guests into the Bonnie family’s home. With sofas and rugs, it could be a living room. However this is one classy living room. All neutral but warm colours from natural materials: leather, wool, linens, granite and concrete. The architects and design team have woven art and artisanship into a modern space.
The menu is set out to reflect that relaxed ‘at home’ pace, however the cuisine is strictly fine dining. It starts out with a couple glasses of wine and a few nibbles. Bites like Camembert drizzled in local honey and pistachio nuts with their fresh but voluptuous Viognier. It whets the appetite and still gives you time to enjoy the view.
This is the view that convinced the Bonnie family to invest in the Uco Valley. Originally from Belgium, Alfred and Alexandre were always wine lovers and took their passion into profession when they bought Château Malartic-Lagravière, a Bordeaux chateau in 1996. Living in Bordeaux they became close friends with famous winemaker and consultant Michel Rolland who invited them to be part of his Clos de Los Siete project, which is his Diamandes was born.
Díamandes is their largest of their wineries, however the aim of the new wine bar is to create an intimate space and a personal experience. With only a handful of tables, the experience is more akin to private dining than a restaurant. The next five courses are a parade of local ingredients and flavours presented in a beautiful and artistic way.
The menu aims to give you a taste of Mendoza beyond the obvious. Dishes like organic rabbit with Cabernet Sauvignon, or Polenta and tapenade with Malbec, all make a nice break from empanadas. And the lamb loin is a welcome change to beef steak!
The main course comes with Diamandes icon wine, the Grand Reserva, which is another release worth the wait. Diamandes wait until the wine is just right to release it, and today it is 2009 that is on the market. After several years in bottle, the wine is a delicious, smooth and mouth filling blend that worked perfectly with lamb and roast mushrooms.
The finale was an indulgence sphere of chocolate and flowers with their buttery Grand Reserve Chardonnay. And then it is time to sit back on the sofa with a coffee, and enjoy that picture perfect view again.
To visit Diamandes or their restaurant (book 48 hours in advance) fill in the contact form on the Diamandes website.
