1st Wine Barrel Program Shipment!

This week I’d like to share some photos related to our personalized wine barrel program. The following pictures are from our partnered winery, Bombal & Aldao, where much of our wine is barreled. The personalize vintages of our first wine barrel program (from our 2007-2008 harvest) have officially been sent to barrel owners, who will be receiving their bottles soon. The above photo is of several barrels assigned to, and labeled with the name of, individual barrel owners. Each barrel contains the custom blend or varietal of each individual’s choosing. The next photo gives you an idea of what our cellar looks like. The following photo shows the custom hand-labeling of our barrel program’s bottles. Each label is customized to the specifications of the barrel owner, including their name, design, and any description or text they might want to appear. As a barrel owner myself, I’m personally looking forward to receiving my “Mathis Estates” bottles any day now! Our bi monthly newsletter is due out soon, and it’s packed full of Algodon Property updates. You’ll be very pleased with Gerhard Heusch’s new rendering of the Grand Center Court for Algodon Wine Estates’ tennis center. The one time dream of hosting Mendoza’s top tennis tournament, The Algodon Malbec Classic, is slowly turning into a reality. Look for our latest online issue of The Algodon next week! --Scott Mathis

Algodon Wine Estates updates, and other news…

Here is a preview of what our tennis courts may look like after construction is completed in just a few short months. I came across this photo in my email archives, and wanted to share it. These courts were built by the same contractors who are currently building ours. It’s exciting to try and picture. Obviously ours will look even better than this with our Grand Center Court that seats nearly 700 people and is sunken into the ground for panoramic views from above. We’ll also have 8 clay courts, 2 grass courts, and 1 hard court.

Rubén Barsamian sent me the next photo earlier in the week. It shows one of our contractors leveling the courts. As I may have mentioned before, except for the Grand Center Court, as of today the land has all been leveled:

I also received photo updates on the two new reservoirs on our (recently expanded) golf course this week. Here you can see that they have lined the pond in anticipation for its filling:

Very exciting, and all of this will only add even more value to our already remarkable estate.

Earlier this week the New York Times ran this piece on the revitalization of the Barracas barrio in Buenos Aires. This neighborhood is experiencing “spillover rejuvenation from neighboring Puerto Madero and San Telmo, two areas that have benefited from a rise in tourism and a real estate boom. Barracas, near the city’s old ports, means barracks or warehouses. Long since abandoned, many warehouses are being renovated into luxury housing…” Sounds like the “Soho effect”. I’d be curious to know if the article had any immediate impact on real estate sales for the area. I’m betting it did…

--Scott Mathis

Algodon Wine Estates Tennis Center

Algodon Wine Estate homesite owners who are fortunate enough to live in this area will love it, I’m sure. The homesites included in this area we’re calling the “tennis villas”. The concept we’re working with combines a modern townhouse sensibility with the appeal and traditional design of an Argentine villa. There will only be about 12 of them, so I’d recommend that tennis lovers reserve their places sooner than later. Those are the tennis villas at the bottom, and you can see the pool’s location in the upper left corner. Just below and to the right of the pool, you can see the clubhouse, and directly below that is the in-ground stadium- so you can see how, from the clubhouse’s 2nd floor dining terrace, you’ll enjoy those unobstructed views of stadium games. All of the green dots are olive trees, so you can also really get a sense that this entire area exits within the actual orchard. This entire area is also immediately bordered by the Wine & Golf Village and the Vineyard & Polo Village, so I imagine it will be one of the estate’s more social places to reside- being so centrally located. Here’s another link to Algodon Wine Estates in the news, featuring coverage of José Luis Clerc’s partnering with us: TennisWeek.com

Algodon Wine Estates Tennis Center

The clubhouse that exists now at Algodon Wine Estates will be getting a major construction overhaul and will eventually include locker-rooms, more dining space, a second floor dining terrace, and an integrated golf and tennis pro shop. As I mentioned a while ago, the area will also include a large pool, which I’m sure estate residents will appreciate given San Rafael’s 300 days of annual sunshine. On his most recent visit to the estate, José Luis Clerc suggested creating the courts in two phases, which will include a center court stadium as well as 6 additional clay courts, 3 hard courts, and 1 grass court. (I’ll include a preliminary rendering in the next post.) The mini-stadium, which will be lowered for unobstructed panoramic views from above, as well as from the clubhouse restaurant’s second-story dining terrace, is based on an “in-ground” design from a popular tennis club in Monaco. The entire area will be surrounded by an olive orchard that is nearly 50 years old. It’s quite beautiful. The above photo is the inspiration for the in-ground stadium design at the future Algodon Wine Estates Tennis Center. The tennis courts should be in and ready for play by May, 2009. Tennis anyone?

José Luis Clerc

As I’ve mentioned in an earlier post, we’ve partnered with José Luis Clerc, who happens to be one of the most recognized and revered professional tennis players in Argentina’s history. He will be promoting Algodon Wine Estates’ tennis center, and will also be overseeing the construction and design of the tennis center’s courts, clubhouse, and the overall tennis program itself. His official titles are Director of the José Luis Clerc Tennis Center (at Algodon Wine Estates), and Ambassador of Algodon Global Properties. The latter title is appropriate since he will also serve as a public relations conduit and provide his personal and professional international contacts with the goal of developing tennis exhibitions with former and/or top world players and futures tournaments to be held at Algodon Wine Estates. The fact that José is a very personable gentleman combined with his impressive place in the history of tennis truly makes him a uniquely qualified individual to represent our Algodon brand, both on and off the court. His player’s history can be found here on Wikipedia. José began playing professionally in 1977, and won 25 ATP Titles, and retired in 1988. His highest rank was World No. 4 in August 4, 1981, following a run of 27 victories and 4 titles in one month, and had year-ending rankings 8th in 1980, 5th in 1981, 6th in 1982, and 8th in 1983. José represented Argentina for the Davis Cup from 1976 to 1989. He currently runs a tennis school in Argentina was recently a featured commentator for ESPN Latin America’s coverage of the 2008 US Open.

Golf, Tennis & Polo

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Viñas del Golf’s original 9 hole course is currently being expanded to 18 holes. We thought it a top priority to push all of the construction for the sporting facilities to the front of our “to-do” list. Algodon Wine Estates is, after all, a resort as well as a boutique winery and gated living community, and we want to make sure the draw of it being an incredibly equipped and versatile sport center was finished- or least well on its way- before we have people living on the property. I’m very pleased to say that most of our plans for the new facilities are underway and construction for most of the projects will be finished by or around May of 2009. That’s a little over 6 months away from the day that I write this post. I’d say we’re doing pretty well. Every time I get back down to San Rafael, I’m always amazed at how much they’ve accomplished since my last visit. And keep in mind; I’m usually down there these days about once or twice a month. The sporting facilities are just another aspect of the estate’s family friendly draw. In the next few posts I’d like to explain a little further about what exactly we’re building, and hopefully I can find a few renderings to post, as well. --Scott Mathis

Personal Update

I am pleased to report that the "bill of sale" for the estate homesites will be complete this week, and as a result we can begin selling the estate homesites immediately. We already have approximately 27 estate homesites that people have reserved, and we anticipate executing those transactions as soon as possible. Regarding our golf course; as you know we started with nine holes and recently began building the back nine. The new nine holes of the golf course have now been completely excavated and shaped, with the fairways, greens, and tees complete. The drainage piping and sprinkler system are now being installed, and grass will be planted within the next 2 months. The complete 18-hole championship course will be open by April/May, 2009. We are working fast over here! That progress alone should add some nice value to the project! We have 300 estate lots for sale (ranging from 1 to 15 acres) roughly averaging about 2.5 acres (1 ha) located on the vineyards, golf course, polo fields and tennis center with views to the mountains. As well as 50 luxury Villa Townhomes with great views of the vineyards, golf course, and mountains, and 12 Tennis Villas (approximately 2,000 sq ft each, and situated in a beautiful 50 + year old olive orchard), which are really nicely located and look over the tennis complex and center court stadium, and are also adjacent to the golf course with more great views of the mountains. As far as the Algodon Tennis Complex goes, we have been working with José Luis Clerc (# 4 ATP in the world from 1979 - 1985) who is now one of Argentina's most recognized and respected sports figures, and was recently featured as an ESPN commentator for the 2008 US Open. He will be operating a tennis academy and bringing exhibition and tournament play to our estate. The restaurant expansion will have a view over the center court (similar to the court set-up in Monte Carlo) so that persons who wine and dine can enjoy the match play from their table. Our project is truly "coming together" and I look forward to showing you the amazing progress in the very near future! As with any project, there have been numerous changes, delays, and problems, etc., but overall I am very pleased with the progress and what the team in Argentina has accomplished. The Algodon Mansion in Buenos Aires is moving forward nicely and will be open in less than 5 months. Get ready to book your rooms!!! The mansion is small (20,000 sq. ft.) but it will certainly be one of the most exquisite hotel properties any of us have ever stayed in (and I make that a promise!) On the next trip down to BA you will see that the scaffolding/cover on the building will be gone and our 1912 Mansion is truly the most beautiful building on the Street. More updates to come!!! --Scott Mathis