Wine & Wine Shops

Have a look at our new Malbec label.  Nice!

 Algodon wines sold well in Buenos Aires in 2009, and we think 2010 will be even better.  Many of the city’s high-end wine shops, who just recently began carrying our wines, have already made second or third orders of our wine for their inventory.  Algodon Wine Estates 2009 & 2010 harvests were impressive to say the least, and with our wine panel’s expertise, I believe we are going to see some incredible results. 

Algodon Wine Estates Extra Virgin Olive Oil is now available in one of these wine shops, and we’re working hard to get them on the shelves of the rest of them very soon, as well.

-Scott L. Mathis

Algodon in the Media, del Potro, and More…

Algodon Mansion gets a nice mention in this month’s Delta Sky Magazine! The write-up acknowledges our restaurant, menu, and accompanying estate-grown Malbec. Although, the restaurant details are a bit outdated…we’re happy to have made an appearance. Delta Sky Magazine reaches 5 million readers each month! Algodon Wine Estates is also featured in Area 3 Magazine, a widely distributed publication in Mendoza. The article, which discusses our newly established international wine panel, is unfortunately not online yet- but I’ll be sure to share it with you once it’s up. In the meantime, here’s a scanned photo from the magazine’s hardcopy.

Score another one for the Argentines! Juan Martin del Potro’s U.S. Open win was a surprise to us all, but I’m not complaining! Argentina is everywhere is sports news these days, and that only means good things for Algodon Wine Estates & Champions’ Club! Our new tennis courts and newly expanded 18-hole golf course are literally weeks away from being ready to play. I wonder how del Potro feels about San Rafael, perhaps we’ll see him at Argentina’s first Algodon Malbec Classic!…In other sports news, Argentina’s Rugby team, Los Pumas, have been invited to join the Southern Hemisphere’s Tri Nations. If everything goes according to the plan, Tri Nations will become “Four Nations” in 2012. While we haven’t any immediate plans to construct a Rugby field at Algodon Wine Estates, you never know what the future holds…2016 perhaps?

Our Executive VP & CFO is in Buenos Aires this week and sent the following email to us soon after his arrival: “I only had a couple of minutes today to see the Mansion, but WOW – it’s a MANSION - it just looks fantastic. A person working on every corner, and the progress is enormous. The stairs are in and some of the rooms are basically finished (without furniture). The kitchen crew is working in the kitchen and the light-well is truly the “show-off” center piece. No doubt we still have a lot of work ahead, but things look great. The master suite bathrooms are enormous and the quality is 100%.” He also sent us some new photo updates from Algodon Wine Estates, including this one of the tennis courts, which by the way are looking tremendous. Thanks for the update, Tim!

-- Scott Mathis

Algodon Pool Tiles, Clerc for ESPN’s Open Coverage, and Media Mentions…

Get ready for blue tiles and sun- and bring your bathing suits! Algodon Mansion’s rooftop pool will soon be ready! We just received a very special shipment of SICIS mosaic tile, which has been imported from Italy, and our contractors will immediately begin laying the surfacing tile. We’ve all been looking forward to this stage of construction on our roof, as it’s the literal icing-on-top. Algodon Mansion’s pool terrace will also feature teak decks and poolside loungers, as well as an intimate open-air bar and lounge.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love tennis, so it will come as no surprise that I am excited about the US Open here in New York. Even more so because our own José Luis Clerc (Algodon Wine Estates’ Ambassador & Director of the Clerc Tennis Academy) will be covering play-by-play analysis for the Spanish-speaking audiences of ESPN International and ESPN Deportes. Algodon properties gets yet another media mention; Examiner.com’s J.S. Fletcher has given both Algodon Mansion and Algodon Wine Estates a nice write up in this week’s issue, which you can check out here.

In wine news, WineSur.com reported this week that Malbec exports have increased significantly this year. We already know this, of course, because we’ve been hearing about it for the last six months; however WineSur provides a chart detailing Malbec’s major importers. The U.S. is in first place with a whopping 52% of the pie chart.

--Scott Mathis

Algodon Mansion’s Kitchen, and more…

I received word today from Pedro Lagleyze that the mansion’s kitchen has been completed. We’re just waiting for the gas to be connected, after which the operating staff of Chez Nous will move in and start cooking. We’re still waiting on finalizing certain menu items. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ll be sure to share the finalized menu soon. You’ll see it both here and in the next newsletter.

I stumbled upon a Brazilian blog that features a write-up of Algodon Mansion. Apparently, even in Brazil we’re getting publicity and getting recognized! The blog (written in Portuguese) belongs to Alexandra Forbes, who regularly writes for Wish Report (the Brazilian equivalent to Robb Report), Vogue, Prazares da Mesa (Brazil’s #1 food magazine), Air Canada’s in-flight magazine and IN (Lan’s in-flight). You can see more about her here: http://www.alexandraforbes.com/. Hopefully we can have her down in person after we’re open.

We are seeing even more articles about the popularity of Argentine wine! The first comes from WineSur.com, and is a brief interview with Napa Valley’s Paul Wagner; president and founder of Balzac Communications & Marketing (a marketing and PR firm representing some of Napa’s most prominent wineries.) Says Mr. Wagner; “Argentinian wines are the new trend and latest fashion; we say that they are "hot" since everybody wants to try them. Malbec's sensory profile is ideal for the Americans' palate since US consumers prefer fruity and easy-to-drink wines. Moreover, prices are competitive and a noticeable growth has been perceived since some years ago.” The second article is from Bloomberg.com and, as the title of the article suggests, is another recession spun piece; New Yorkers Swap Bordeaux for Argentine Malbec as Recession Red. From the article; “These days, people in the Hamptons, a Long Island retreat for financiers and celebrities, aren’t indulging as they used to in high-priced brands…U.S. consumption of Argentine wines is rising as the global recession spurs even the wealthy to hunt for bargains. In the first six months of 2009, imports from the South American country rose 34 percent from a year earlier to $103 million, while mainstays Italy, Australia and France recorded U.S. sales slumps of as much as 30 percent.”

Lastly, on the Argentine economy Reuter’s recently reported that “Argentina can meet its debt obligations this year and in 2010 and a $2.25 billion coupon payment this week proves the government's ability to pay, Economy Minister Amado Boudou said…”

---Scott Mathis

Organic wine, Olive Oil, Grass Courts, and Hitting the Slopes

According to WineSur.com, Argentine organic wines are growing in popularity. In case you missed our last newsletter, Algodon Wine Estates has set aside 2.1 acres of Malbec vineyards and 2.1 acres of Bonarda vineyards for organic treatment. Organic certification for these vineyards won’t be achieved for three years; however it is yet another income-generating and value-building aspect of our versatile wine estate.

Diego Coll Benegas (Algodon Wine Estates’ Director of Project Development, Tourism & Hospitality) wrote me today to tell me that our olive oil is bottled! I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying it while dining at the estate’s award-winning restaurant; it is truly delicious and is the perfect complement to our wines. The new Algodon Olive Oil labels look great as well. I hope we can show them to you in the next newsletter, which is due out in just a few weeks.

I’ve been in conversations with our design architect, Gerhard Heusch, regarding a new design for Algodon Wine Estates’ entrance/gate in the next phase of construction. I like the idea of incorporating, or rather I’m inspired by, the conceptual design of a traditional Argentine Estancia. My feeling is that this will give the entrance a warm and welcoming aesthetic. Once we have some preliminary sketches, I’ll be sure to share them with you. Also, as construction on our tennis courts continues, we decided to add one more grass court (at no significant added expense), which will give us a total of three grass courts. Had we decided to only construct two, we already would have been highly regarded as an important tennis destination. Three grass courts just ups-the-ante; as we will be the only three-court facility in all of Argentina.

The Argentine Post has an informative piece on skiing in Argentina. Although Bariloche is featured in the article, Las Leñas is also mentioned. As you may already know, Las Leñas, one of the best ski resorts on the continent, is just a 2 hour drive from Algodon Wine Estates. Something to keep in mind when planning your next trip to Mendoza!

Property Updates, Delta Air, and chilled Malbecs and more…

I received some tennis court update photos from our hard working crew in San Rafael. All I can say is wow!

I think this is the first time I’ve ever actually seen a tennis court constructed from scratch. The speed with which this is moving along is very impressive. You can really get a sense from this photo of how unique our tennis center will be; set right in the middle of a beautiful 50 year old olive grove. It’s really going to be an amazing place, and we look forward to our guests playing on those courts in just a few short months!

I also received a great Algodon Mansion update from Gerhard Heusch. The glass for the six-story lightwell (which will include a waterfall descending to the lobby) is now being installed. Here’s picture of them working on it:

This aspect of the Mansion is very unique. Each suite has either door or window access to the lightwell, which offers sky views.

Good news for us in NYC: starting mid December of this year, Delta Air Lines provide flights between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Buenos Aires, Argentina! The flights will operate five times a week!

The Washington Post’s recent article titled “Ah, a Cold, Refreshing ... Red?” talks of the surprising joys of chilled Malbecs on a hot summer day. From the article; “Malbec is very much the red wine of the moment, responsible for a stunning surge of imports into the U.S. from Argentina…Malbec has spicy, black-pepper tastes and we really weren’t sure ourselves how well it would stand up to a chill. The answer: fascinating…With a steak right off the grill or a rare hamburger, it would be hard to beat this taste on a hot day.”

I also found two articles this week regarding the U.S. debt and the weakening dollar. The first is from Yahoo! Finance, and the second The Washington Post. Both are worth the read as the country prepares for next year, and on. This is what I have been saying all along, it is prudent and timely that investors diversify outside the U.S. economy and into global assets. The dollar is still strong against the peso, and Argentine properties remain undervalued.

--Scott Mathis

Malbec scores, more Malbec, Cabrera, BA, New York Mag...

Great news! Anthony Dias Blue, in association with the James Beard Foundation, rates Algodon Wine Estates 2004 Malbec with a score of 90 points! Mr. Blue is one of the most influential food and wine personalities in the U.S., and his media reaches an audience of more than 30,000,000 global consumers each month. The review will appear in the next issue of The Tasting Panel Magazine’s “Blue’s Reviews” section, where every month Mr. Blue tastes approximately 500 wines and chooses the best 35 to publish his reviews of. I’ll be sure to repost the web address once it’s up. In the meantime, you can read more about Mr. Blue’s broadcast and media affiliations here.

From The Washington Post, here’s another great article about Argentine Malbec; “Ask a retailer or restaurant sommelier which wines are most popular today, and one of the first answers you're likely to get will be…Malbec from Argentina. Ask which wines over-perform for their price, and you'll probably get the same answer.” The author of the piece, which is aptly titled “Argentina's Andes Advantage”, specifies three main ingredients for the success of the Argentine wine; value, quality, and altitude. That’s what we’ve been saying all along, but what they fail to mention is that San Rafael’s district of Cuadro Benegas- where Algodon Wine Estates is located- provides unparalleled soil quality that is ideal for growing red varietals such as Malbec and Bonarda. In case you missed it in the last newsletter, here’s an informative elaboration on that topic written by Algodon’s Winemaker, and Director of Project Development, Tourism & Hospitality.

With Angel Cabrera’s major title win at the recent U.S. Master’s, he has singlehandedly brought the words “Argentina” and “golf” together in many a conversation around the world. I believe his win will prove to be good news for us and our 18-hole championship course in San Rafael, as well as for Argentine golf in general. As many of you already know, Cabrera is the first Argentine- let alone the first South American- golfer to win the Master’s; considered by many to be golf's most prestigious tournament. Here’s a recent article in TWP that describes his homecoming.

Reuters recently published an article headlined Some pick Argentina as haven from economic blues, which specifically talks about the younger generation – people in their 20s and early 30s - moving to BA for its financial benefits; “Buenos Aires, a sophisticated, European-style capital in South America that long has been popular with savvy tourists and artistic bohemians, is now a haven for some young adults from Europe and the United States who find their savings go further here…”

On a similar theme, New York Magazine’s Real Estate section asks “What If You Left New York?”: “New Yorkers have a special affinity for the similarly cosmopolitan lifestyle of Buenos Aires, where real estate is cheap and the weather is currently 70 degrees and sunny.” The piece compares real estate prices for the two cities – specifically BA’s Avenida del Libertador vs. NYC’s Fifth Ave., saying; “For a comparable apartment here, you’d have to pay eight times as much…” This of course puts me in mind of our own comparison from a few months ago of Algodon Mansion vs. Manhattan’s Upper Eastside mansion.

--Scott Mathis

Malbec & Buenos Aires Restaurants

Two articles that I recently stumbled across are worth pointing out. Once again we see praise for Mendoza and its signature grape, Malbec. The first piece comes from the Guardian.co.uk - it’s more of an editorial- titled Argentina is giving malbec a good name. The other appeared in the Chicago Tribune, and is titled Malbec’s star turn.

In another article from the not too distant past, The Washington Post did a feature on an American expat now living in Buenos Aries, Layne Mosler. She’s a freelance food writer and columnist for South American Explorer and a regular contributor to Time Out Buenos Aires. Here’s her unique angle: She’ll hop in a Buenos Aires cab, ask the driver to drop her off at his (the driver’s) favorite restaurant, and then she’ll eat there and write a review of it. She considers this the best way to learn about all of the hidden, great places to eat in the Argentine capital. If you’re visiting Buenos Aries and looking for an insider’s scoop on where to eat, check out her blog at www.taxigourmet.com. It’s very interesting.

--Scott Mathis

New Wine Labels, New Media Articles

Our new wine label designs have been finalized, and they look great. We will be utilizing them on all of the wine bottles from now on. There is a significant difference between the new labels and our previous ones in that we have chosen to discontinue the “Viñas del Golf” name and design in the marketing of the wine, and strictly use the Algodon Wine Estates branding from here on out. The Viñas del Golf name and logo will still represent the resort itself, however we wanted to establish a clear and distinct difference in the marketing of our wine and winery.

There is a great article on WineSur.com regarding the surge in popularity and recognition of Argentine Bonarda; “2008 could be remembered as the year of the ‘re-discovery’ of Bonarda”. You can read the full article here: Bonarda: a new Malbec? While on the subject of WineSur, we’re also mentioned in a recent online article regarding Argentine wine tourism here: Wineries renew programs to attract tourism. Both articles are good reads, and the latter addresses the concern of 2009’s potential decline in tourism numbers, and our strategy to combat that possibility.

- Scott Mathis

New Wine Labels, New Media Articles

Our new wine label designs have been finalized, and they look great. We will be utilizing them on all of the wine bottles from now on. There is a significant difference between the new labels and our previous ones in that we have chosen to discontinue the “Viñas del Golf” name and design in the marketing of the wine, and strictly use the Algodon Wine Estates branding from here on out. The Viñas del Golf name and logo will still represent the resort itself, however we wanted to establish a clear and distinct difference in the marketing of our wine and winery. There is a great article on WineSur.com regarding the surge in popularity and recognition of Argentine Bonarda; “2008 could be remembered as the year of the ‘re-discovery’ of Bonarda”. You can read the full article here: Bonarda: a new Malbec? While on the subject of WineSur, we’re also mentioned in a recent online article regarding Argentine wine tourism here: Wineries renew programs to attract tourism. Both articles are good reads, and the latter addresses the concern of 2009’s potential decline in tourism numbers, and our strategy to combat that possibility.