Itata valley in Chile is turning heads for being one of the most unique in the country. Winemaker Marcelo Retamal for De Martino winery is on a mission with fellow Chilean winemakers to keep the old vines and not lose this precious resource of …
Amanda Barnes
Amanda Barnes
Amanda Barnes has been writing about wine and travel since 2003. South America has been her home since 2009, but she is currently on a mission to unlock the world of wine by traveling Around the World in 80 Harvests!
Argentina is famous for its asado (BBQ), and in particular its steak… Mendoza and the Uco Valley are home of great Malbec and succulent steak. We head to the parilla (grill) of Casa de Uco in the heart of the wine region to salivate …
Winemaker Matias Michelini was one of the first few winemakers in Argentina to purely focus on the Uco Valley. He is also a rule-breaking winemaker who has pioneered a new style. Ten years ago he started paving the way for a fresher style of …
Mendoza in Argentina has always been known for Malbec, but that isn’t the only grape variety that does well here. The Uco Valley is the up-and-coming region of Mendoza and there are some worldclass Chardonnays emerging from top producers, such as Catena Zapata‘s White …
Itata is a very particular place in Chile and as well as a source for beautiful old vines, it also has an important cultural heritage and experience for anyone visiting the region. Enzo Pandolfi is a wine producer that grew up in the region …
Winemaker Sebastian Zuccardi sees Malbec as a vehicle for expressing the different terroirs found in Mendoza and in particular in the Uco Valley. This is the ultimate Uco Valley Malbec interview where Amanda Barnes asks him about the particularities of Malbec wine and the …
Itata has a very specific viticulture which is quite unique in Chile. Agronomist for De Martino winery, Renan Cancino, explains the terroir of Itata from their vineyard in southern Chile. In this interview (in Spanish, with subtitles) he tells us what is unique about …
Winemaker Francisco Carrau is possibly the man who has studied Tannat wine most in the world. Tannat is the emblematic grape variety of Uruguay and since its arrival in 1870 it has become the most planted variety in the country. In this extensive interview …
Viña VIK in Cachapoal Chile was virgin territory before the Nordic family planted 1000 acres of vines, creating a new wine region in Millahue. Amanda Barnes interviews winemaker Patrick Valette, who was part of the project from the very start, about how you set …
If you want to know what the Puente Alto vineyards are like, we’ll take you right there! Jump into the vineyard with us in this 360 degree vineyard tour video. Amanda Barnes asks Almaviva winemaker Michel Friou all about the conditions of the vineyard …