Tapiz 2010 Torrontes

During the three weeks I spent in Mendoza, Argentina’s primary wine producing region, I visited many wineries. Tapiz was by far my favorite.

Who could resist a horse-drawn carriage ride through vineyards, a tour of the facilities that included barrel samplings and the opportunity to taste clarified and unclarified wines, and tastes of some of the best wines that Mendoza has to offer? I was in love.

A highlight was the Tapiz Torrontes. I loved it so much that my husband and I brought back a few bottles for the in-laws… much to our chagrin, they are also available at Costco. (Eeek!) Then I realized that this is a good thing… I can get this wine when I come back to the States? Score!

Although we sampled the wine at the winery in Mendoza, the grapes that go in to the Tapiz Torrontes are grown in Famatina Valley, which is located in La Rioja. Torrontes grapes love hot weather and dry climates (at 3280 to 4598 feet above sea level and as one of the hottest areas in Argentina, they definitely get both!) The wine is a beautiful, classic Torrontes: bright yellow with hints of green, tropical fruits, white flowers, and a fruity palate. with vibrant acidity. There is no malolactic fermentation, meaning that the malic acids in the wine are not converted to softer lactic acids, thus keeping the wine’s acidity biting and intense.

I loved the wine as much as I loved my experience at Tapiz, and highly suggest that readers pick up a bottle… after all, it’s at your local Costco or BevMo! It retails for less than $20 a bottle, so it is quite a steal, and perfect for those warm summer months and summer dishes. (Make sure to check out the article on Torrontes for some suggested pairings!)