Market Watch, April 2018
62 MARKET WATCH MARKETWATCHMAG COM APRIL 2018PHOTO BY TK TKaddition to its San Rafael estate vineyards which are at an elevation of about 2300 to 2950 feet above sea level Valen tin Bianchi also produces from a new estate in the Uco Valley About two years ago Quintessential began importing another Mendoza based winery with deep roots in the region Pascual Toso Founded in 1890 in the Maipu sub region the family owned winery exports Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varietals in its Alta super premium tier a Malbec and Cabernet in the premium Reserva line and a Chardon nay Malbec and Cabernet in the value priced Estate tier Pascual Tosos most popular wine in the U S is the Estate Malbec 14 a 750 ml Mendoza has a continental climate with the Andes Mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean more than 650 miles to the east says Felipe Stahlschmidt chief winemaker at Pascual Toso The altitude of our vineyards is another important factor rising from 2000 5200 feet above sea level For three decades Paul Hobbs has been a key player in build ing the Argentine category Hobbs established the Viña Cobos winery in Mendoza two decades ago with importer Paul Hobbs Selections now focused primarily on the wines he creates in Mendoza Viña Cobos produces a range of styles and price points from the introductory Felino range 20 22 a 750 ml which is the largest tier by volume in the U S to the Bramare Vineyard Series and Bramare Vineyard Designate series as well as the luxury small production Cobos wines But the company notes that while the sub 15 pricing tier is struggling in the U S wines above 15 a bottle are thriving as consumer education grows New HorizonsRegions like Tupungato and high elevation areas like Patago nia and Salta are starting to rise in prominence Winemakers in Argentina are moving away from overly fruity Malbecs to wines with more minerality and better balance and acidity says Folklores Villabona who says hes recently tried Argentine winery in 1928 and in the ensuing years the winery has gained international attention for its fruit driven wines Valentin Bianchis most popular wines include Don Valen tin Lacrado a blend of 34 Cabernet Sauvignon 33 Malbec and 33 Merlot as well as Bianchi Brut sparkling wine created using the méthode traditionelle the flagship Enzo Bianchi red blend premium Famiglia Bianchi wines New Age frizzante wines and value priced Elsa Bianchi range Since partnering with Napa based importer Quintessential Wines the portfolios popularity in the U S has grown In ARGENTINE BOTTLED TABLE WINEEXPORTS TO THE U S 2007 2017 millions of 9 liter case shipments Calendar Years Excludes bulk Source IMPACT DATABANK 2018 253035404550556065 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07Napa based importer Quintessential Wines co owner and national sales manager Dennis Kreps pictured left has helped boost the popularity of the historic Mendoza based Argentine winery Valentin Bianchi wine cellar pictured right in the U S market
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