Scott Mathis

Algodon Properties make “Fodor’s Choice”.

2012-02-06T13:17:00.000-08:00

Fodor’s recently posted their reviews for Algodon Mansion, Algodon Wine Estates’ Lodge, and for the tourism aspect of AWE, under the category “Resort”. All of our properties made the “Fodor's Choice” list! Their annual “Fodor’s Choice” selections recognize the top sights, properties, and experiences that they've found while traveling the world. These are properties they consider to be the "best of the best" by providing remarkable experiences as a destination.

We recently positioned our Relais & Chateaux placard on the façade of Algodon Mansion. Check out our press release here. We are also now officially listed on Relais & Chateaux’s website, here. Algodon Mansion has only been open for a little over a year, so were all very grateful and pleased to have been honored with membership. We look forward to an exciting 2012!

-Scott Mathis

Happy New Year Everyone!

2012-01-19T12:27:00.000-08:00

We are starting 2012 with some truly great news for Algodon across the board: Algodon Wines, Algodon Mansion, and Algodon Wine Estates! I am pleased to announce that two Algodon Wines have received high marks from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate. Our 2008 Malbec received a 91 point rating and the 2008 Bonarda received a 90 point rating! You can read more about our accolades here:

Algodon Wines Achieve 91 & 90 Point Parker Ratings!

We’d like to congratulate our winemakers and advisors for a job well done!

Algodon Mansion and Algodon Wine Estates were also recently awarded honors from TripAdvisor’s 2012 Traveler’s Choice awards. Algodon Mansion ranked #7 on the BEST HOTELS in ARGENTINA list, and ranked #13 on the BEST HOTELS in SOUTH AMERICA list, and Algodon Wine Estates & Champions Club ranked #3 on the RELAXATION/SPA HOTELS in SOUTH AMERICA listing.

Again, we’d like to congratulate everyone involved, from the service staff to the management. We are also very grateful to our guests who, without their warm recommendations, this honor would not have been possible.

- Scott Mathis

Marcelo Pelleriti on our 2010 & 2011 Algodon Wines: “The Bonarda! The Malbecs! What great wines!”

2011-12-06T09:34:00.000-08:00

Our Senior Wine Advisors, Marcelo Pelleriti and (Master of Wine) Antony Foster both had a lot to say after a recent tasting for our 2010 & 2011 wines! Marcelo took to his Twitter account and tweeted the following (roughly translated into English):

“Wine Tasting of 2010 & 2011 Algodon Wines. THE BONARDA! THE MALBECS! What great wines! PINOT !!!......”

“THE BONARDAAAA! Micro-vinification! I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT!”

“Attention: the Merlot from Algodon Wine Estates in San Rafael will surprise you, think HIGH END! “

“Finishing an incredible tasting at Algodon. Great Malbecs, Bonardas! And MERLOT!”

Anthony Foster followed up with a wonderfully encouraging report as well! Here’s some of what he said after our wine council’s recent tasting of 46 of our wines, all from the 2010 and 2011 vintages:

“From the quality of the 2011 vintage, there will be a premium line for 2011. A number of wines shone, most notably an amazing Pinot Noir and various parcels of each of the varieties we grow. There is not a weak link amongst them, as my tasting notes will show.”

This is great news for our products, but hopefully more so for the real estate from which they are born! Construction on our first homes are continuing nicely, and we are excited for our future residents and private vineyard owners!

-Scott Mathis

Algodon Wine Estates Construction Update

2011-11-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in Algodon’s recent newsletter, construction has begun on a number of homes at Algodon Wine Estates. You can see further progress here:

Things are moving along nicely. The estate’s hotel lodge and restaurant are approaching the high season, so you can imagine things are getting quite busy in San Rafael. We like busy.

I just received this beautiful photo of Algodon Wine Estates’ dessert vista, with the Sierra Pintada Mountains on the horizon. The Desert Village is a bit farther south on the property than where the current construction is taking place.

The Dessert Village of Algodon Wine Estates is comprised of 41 vineyard estates averaging 2.4 acres each, as well as 80 desert vista estates averaging 1.8 acres each. An additional 17 desert vista estates are situated “on the pond” and average 1.5 acres each. Each estate enjoys breathtaking desert and mountain views, as you can see for yourself in the photo. The Desert Village is situated on the estate’s highest ground, and offers some of the best unobstructed views of the surrounding estate and our neighboring properties.

-Scott Mathis

Algodon Wines on MyWinesDirect.com!

2011-10-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

Really great news! Algodon Wines are now available on mywinesdirect.com. We’ve worked hard to make them available to all of our fans here in the U.S., and now I’m happy to report that select 2008 and 2009 vintages are here. Mywinesdirect.com’s inventory includes our 2008 Gran Reserva, Malbec, Cabernet, and Cab/Syrah, and the 2009 Chardonnay, and Malbec Rosé. Our premium wines are crafted in small quantities, so that we can maintain our high standards. Due to our limited production and small inventory, our wines sell fast. Order now before they sell out!

By the way, our 2009 Malbec and Bonarda (not yet available on mywinesdirect.com) just won Gold and Silver Medals, respectively, from this year's 10th edition of VINANDINO, one of South America's most important wine and spirits contests. Our Algodon Extra Virgin Olive Oil also took home a Gold at this year’s OLIVINUS International Olive Oil Competition. Congratulations and big thanks to our winemakers and olive oil crafters. Nice work!

- Scott Mathis

Algodon Mansion joins Relais & Châteaux

2011-08-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

This week we received some really great news for Algodon Mansion. The luxury hotelier group Relais & Châteaux, who represent the highest benchmark in hotel accommodations and fine dining, has welcomed Algodon Mansion into their exclusive ranks. We are the only hotel in Argentina to be presented with this distinction. I am very pleased that in the short time since we opened, we have been invited to join such a world recognized, respected, and prestigious luxury brand. Established over half a century ago, Relais & Châteaux has set the standard for excellence in hospitality with over 500 member properties in 60 countries.

This is a wonderful opportunity to expand our presence in the luxury hospitality market. Algodon Mansion brings something very unique to Buenos Aires, and we feel honored that Relais & Châteaux has recognized our dedication to providing the highest quality of service, accommodation, privacy and security, all preeminent factors that have set us apart.

-Scott Mathis

Algodon Wine Estates Update: San Rafael named top place to retire!

2011-06-07T11:37:00.001-07:00

Wow! Fortune Magazine & CNN Money just named San Rafael, Mendoza (yes, where Algodon Wine Estates is located) as one of the world's "4 Great Places to Retire"! This is great news for all of our properties and our not-so-little town! Click here for the full article, which actually features a photograph of Algodon Wine Estates!

The article says retirees can find dramatically lower real estate prices in San Rafael, and an average cost of living that is significantly lower than in the U.S.:

"An hour and a half flight from Buenos Aires, San Rafael has plenty of amenities. It also has the feel of a small European town. Two major rivers flow from the Andes mountains toward the town, which means that rafting and fly-fishing destinations are a short trip away. Farms growing some of Argentina's best-known grapes surround the town and have lured expatriates, largely retirees, from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Enterprising oenophiles might even earn an income from a vineyard...if you're up for the adventure, the lifestyle can be ideal."

I'll see you in San Rafael!

-Scott Mathis

Travel+Leisure: "Algodon Mansion one of Best New Hotels, 2011"!

2011-05-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

Travel+Leisure just voted Algodon Mansion as its #5 choice (out of 50) of Best New Hotels of 2011! Yes, #5…and no, we’re not listed alphabetically- I checked! The story was also picked up in USA Today, and I’m guessing a number of other travel publications will carry the article as well. This is Travel+Leisure’s sixth annual list of "IT" hotels from around the globe. Congratulations to Algodon Mansion’s partners and staff! Nice work!

-Scott Mathis

Algodon Wines tour the U.S. this summer with Collectivo Felix

2011-04-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

I am happy to share that Algodon Wine Estates will sponsor Colectivo Felix’s fourth annual U.S. cooking tour that will run from June 1 - August 7, 2011 in the cities of San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York. Colectivo Felix’s multi course tasting menu will be paired with Algodon Wine Estates’ 2006 Bonarda, 2008 Malbec and 2009 Chardonnay.

The tour’s chef, Deigo Felix, is probably best known for his puertas cerrada (literally meaning “closed door” or private restaurant), called Casa Felix located in Buenos Aires, which has received numerous write-ups in major travel media including the New York Times, the Washington Post, W Magazine, The London Times, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian U.K., International Living, and many others.

For more information on the tour, visit www.colectivofelix.com.

-Scott Mathis

Forbes Magazine: Algodon Mansion is a grand palace that merges informal intimacy with white glove service!

2011-03-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

A wonderful write-up in a recent Forbes article on Algodon Mansion;

“Ever since Buenos Aires began its journey from crash-and-burn economy to southern capital of cool, its top hotels have fallen into two camps: grand palaces with white-glove services in the tony Recoleta neighborhood, and informally intimate hotels in edgier Palermo. Algodon Mansion, which opened in September, manages to merge the best of both.”

Click here for the article.

-Scott Mathis

Algodon Mansion & Chez Nous Top Picks in Travel+Leisure and Blackbook Magazine!

2011-02-27T16:53:00.000-08:00

Wow! Even more press this month, as the ever-popular Travel+Leisure and Blackbook Magazine both recommend Algodon Mansion and Chez Nous restaurant, respectively, as top picks! Travel+Leisure ranks Algodon Mansion first on their list of “Buenos Aires: Best New Venues”;

“Algodon Mansion in upscale Recoleta became the city’s most exclusive boutique hotel when it opened in September…”

And Blackbook Magazine says Chez Nous is their “Top Pick” for Buenos Aires restaurants;

“Impressive restaurant in latest posh Recoleta hotel manages to succeed admirably at fusion dining. Executive Chef Antonio Soriano trained in Paris, and this is no class-B French flair. Elegant, well-executed menu manages to impress actual foodies and the nouveau riche alike, without resorting to tired plating tactics. Lamb, produce, wine fresh from hotel's sister property in Mendoza. Glass-enclosed patio with fireplace for chilly nights, intimate dining room for make-it-or-break-it dating scenarios. Fishbowl the cognac bar with a nice cigar before stumbling out into the ritziest section of Recoleta.”

-Scott Mathis

Algodon Mansion is Bon Appétit Magazine's Hotel of Choice!

2011-02-02T13:23:00.000-08:00

Bon Appétit, the very popular monthly food and entertaining magazine, recently published a Buenos Aires travel guide, and they recommend Algodon Mansion as their #1 place to stay!

“Tucked discreetly into an elegant belle epoque home in chic Recoleta, this four-month-old stunner comprises ten luxurious suites. Local moguls and bejeweled women sip Malbec under the curvy Gehry-esque ceiling at Chez Nous restaurant.”

You can see their article here. Fantastic!
-Scott Mathis

Thank you, Cuisine & Vins readers!

2011-01-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

This is really an honor! The readers of Cuisine & Vins Magazine (an Argentine lifestyle magazine focusing on fine foods, wines and the gourmand good life) have voted Algodon Mansion as “Best Boutique Hotel” and Chez Nous as “Best New Restaurant”! To everyone that voted: thanks so much for the votes of confidence! Congratulations to the staff of Algodon Mansion and Chez Nous, keep up the great work!

Marcelo Pelleriti, Algodon Wine Estates’ Senior Wine Advisor, also won the distinction of “Winemaker of the Year” from Cuisine & Vins Magazine readers. (That’s great news for our wines too!) Congratulations Marcelo!

-Scott Mathis

Algodon Wine Estates named the "best" in Argentina!

2010-12-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

Our real estate development just received some much appreciated recognition from the prestigious International Property Awards, in association with Bloomberg Television. The competition describes itself as being on a quest to be “the most outstanding projects and property professionals from around the world”, and Algodon Wine Estates won for “Best Mixed Use Development, Argentina”. This is very good news indeed! Click here for the press release.

We also had our first official tennis tournament recently, the “Algodon Wine Classic”, and everything went beautifully. Click here to see some photos of the event. The courts look fantastic!

-Scott Mathis

Algodon Malbec won a major award!

2010-10-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

This in fact might be the biggest award any of our wines have won so far! The International Wine & Spirit Competition is based in Europe and is arguably the world’s most important wine tasting competition of its kind. Our 2008 Malbec won the Silver “Best in Class” award for the 2008 vintage from a single vineyard. This is amazing news and puts us up with the big players. The judges’ tasting note is also very strong:

“Opaque inky purple red. The nose reveals an intense display of currants, dried thyme, mulberries, softly cooked fruits and smoked meat with an exotic overlay of clove and oriental spices. Beautifully rich and supple for such a strong wine, broad ripe flavours with some chewiness in the tannins and great length. This should have the ability to age very well.” - http://iwsc.net/product/view/4734/algodon-malbec-2008

Our 2008 Bonarda also won a prestigious Bronze rating, which in this completion really means something: http://iwsc.net/product/view/4733/algodon-bonarda-2008

Congratulations, everyone!

-Scott Mathis

More Press & Media Mentions for Algodon Mansion

2010-10-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Our own Jose Luis Clerc also celebrated his birthday at Algodon Mansion this month, which was attended by the mayor of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri, and his wife. The photos are scanned from Argentina’s Caras Magazine, which is the equivalent of Vanity Fair here in the US.

Top international Mexican star, Veronica Castro (who has a #1 tv show in Argentina), also celebrated her birthday at the mansion recently and over a dozen media outlets were invited to cover the event including Televisa & Telefe Argentina.

-Scott Mathis

5 stars for Chez Nous Restaurant at Algodon Mansion!

2010-10-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

No kidding- great news from La Nacion, Argentina’s leading newspaper: In addition to a full feature article on Algodon Mansion last week (which you can read here), the mansion’s restaurant Chez Nous received 5 stars from the paper’s critic, Alicia Delgado. I’m told that Ms. Delgado is the most important gourmet journalist in Latin America and only two other restaurants have ever received 5 stars from her. One was La Bourgogne in Alvear Palace. Here is an online link to the La Nacion published review (in Spanish), and you can read a translation of it below. Great job, everyone.

"Welcome to the trend of new-style hotels, with mansions and charming petits hôtels. The Algodon Mansion is even more, with a winery, vineyards and lodge in San Rafael, Mendoza; landscape shared with the mysterious Patagonia.

In Buenos Aires, the hotel is located in a four-story house built in the early twentieth century, in the most elegant district of Buenos Aires, that is not intimidating but inviting, from the wonderful Frank's Cognac Bar, with relaxing chairs, but not too many details to overwhelm you, in a harmony of materials, textures, light and colorful yet glamorous sober.

A huge work of the Mendocino painter Hoffmann marks the range of red tones and creates the atmosphere, rolling up to the ceiling and installed in a lovely box. In the mega kitchen Antonio Soriano reigns, 35, Argentinean, and also formed with argentines and then in old Europe, Grand Cordon Bleu Diploma in Cuisine and Patisserie, Paris (2000), and some time at the restaurant Lucas Carton with Alain Senderens ... Now here at Algodon Mansion, he is executive chef of Chez Nous along with Ramiro Fernandez and a brigade of fourteen professionals.

The fruits and produce, some coming from San Rafael are excellent and allow the menu to change frequently. Don’t miss tasting the exclusive mahi-mahi (Pacific Ecuadorian fish) in a lemon emulsion ($ 95), excellent lamb with polenta, lemon and thyme (115), lavender duck with couscous and chutney (105), all from the night menu. Sweet Wonders: Tour au chocolat- the best kind-, Baba au Senteurs des îles, cheesecakes and delicate sorbets (59), macaroons you would only dream of, accompany the coffee. Original Argentine menu (109). List of wines curated by the wine critic Osvaldo Sánchez Salgado, with labels such as Algodon Wine Estate, among others. Even the bread was warm to the perfect temperature.

The Sommelier-maître Ramiro Hernandez is impeccable as is the rest of the staff. Breakfast & brunch (180), lunch (90 and 120), tea, bar. Not to be missed a coffee or tea at Chez Nous, which deserves the highest rating if this excellence continues."

- Scott Mathis

Algodon Mansion is nothing short of fantastic!

2010-09-10T12:06:00.001-07:00

After my visit to Buenos Aires last week, I wanted to share my thoughts on Algodon Mansion’s Grand Opening and the final touches that have made our flagship hotel such a press favorite. The bottom line is we have collectively created quality in everything that makes up this project including the staff, the building’s renovation, fixtures, décor and certainly everyone’s positive attitude. I look forward to all of our clients and partners staying here and experiencing it firsthand.

We hope Algodon Mansion’s reputation will open doors for Algodon Wines and Algodon Wine Estates, as well! Here are some press and media links to the latest coverage of the recent Grand Opening. Enjoy!

USAToday.com (which gets a whopping 20,133,400 hits per month!)

Mirabaires (A spread on the main page!)

More here: http://www.elguardarropas.com.ar

And even more here: http://www.keomag.com

- Scott Mathis

San Rafael…Let it snow!

2010-08-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

For those of you that haven’t heard, Argentina has been experiencing a cold snap this winter, the likes of which is rarely seen. Algodon Wine Estates in San Rafael, Mendoza is covered in snow! While it’s not unusual for the region to see a little snowfall in the wintertime, the amount of snow received this year is a bit out of the ordinary. Here’s an online gallery with some great shots showing the estate in its winter wonderland:

-Scott Mathis

Art Selected for Algodon Mansion

2010-07-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on the mansion. As you can see from the photo, this is an example of some of the art that will be displayed in the hotel. The photo shows the wall of the main dining room of Chez Nous. Our goal is to highlight art only from distinguished Argentine artists and photographers. Each piece we’ve meticulously chosen complements the design aspects of the hotel itself.

Below, you’ll see a photo of the newly installed fireplace on the outside patio of Chez Nous. It’s very stylish and- with the patio’s glass ceiling- I think the nighttime dining experience under the stars might be very romantic, and very elegant.

-Scott Mathis

Grass Courts!

2010-06-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

Wow! The grass courts at Algodon Wine Estates & Champions Club are really looking great! After its first season of growing, our new grass courts are finally looking like “grass” courts. There are two different types of grass planted here. The strategy is that one of the grass types grows well in the summer, while the other hibernates…and vice versa. That way there will always be healthy grass growing. Currently, tennis lovers can play on our new clay courts, but the grass court lovers will still have to wait. In a few more months these courts should be ready for their inauguration, and you can be sure that we’ll have an official tournament to start things off. In fact we already have two tennis events scheduled, which you can read more about here, both featuring José Luis Clerc. We believe these events will bring in many visitors to Algodon Wine Estates & Champions Club in the coming season, and we hope that these visitors will love the estate (how could they not?!) and frequent our Algodon Properties, potentially buy our real estate and our wines and - in doing so - propagate the Algodon brand itself. Tennis anyone?

-Scott L. Mathis

Algodon 2008 Bonarda is the Champion!

2010-06-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Algodon 2008 Bonarda won the Double Gold and the (Bonarda) Category Champion at the International Wine & Spirits Competition VINUS 2010! We won five awards in all- our other winners were our 2008 Gran Reserva -Double Gold, 2008 Malbec -Gold Medal, and our 2009 Semillón -Silver Medal. Congratulations to our winemakers and our partners! Great work!

We were recently interviewed for a travel radio program “Travel with Stephanie Abrams”, where we discussed Algodon Wine Estates. Stephanie Abrams is a nationally syndicated radio travel talk show host and media resource for travel-related issues, and is recognized as an expert in the travel industry. She’s been named to "Travel Agent Magazine's" list of the "100 Most Powerful Women in Travel." You can listen to the interview here if you’re interested.

- Scott Mathis

Algodon Wine Tasting at the Argentine Consulate General

2010-06-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

I’m very happy to say that our recent Algodon Wine tasting at the Argentine Consulate General here in New York City went very well. This was an opportunity for members of the press, as well as some of our clients to taste our new 2008 and 2009 wines, and to meet our winemakers in person. We were very fortunate that our winemaker Mauro Nosenzo, and wine consultant Marcelo Pelleriti could join us all the way from Mendoza. We were also happy to have our Director of Project Development, Tourism & Hospitality, Diego Coll Benegas, as well as our Executive Chef from Algodon Wine Estates, Gastón Langlois join us as well.

In addition to our winemakers, we were honored to see Alejandro Bertolo, Consul General of Argentina there, as well as Ines Segarra, New York’s Director of Argentina tourism office.

All in all, it was a terrific evening!

-Scott Mathis

European Wine Fair at ExCeL London

2010-05-19T12:24:00.001-07:00

Here’s a new YouTube video posted recently, which showcases Algodon Wine Estates. The video features various shots of the estate including the vineyards, the surrounding mountains, and the winery.

This week, Anthony Foster, our esteemed Master of Wine, and Fernando Coelho, Algodon Wine’s Sales & Marketing Coordinator, attended the 2010 London International Wine Fair where they introduced our 2008-2009 wine list. The event is lauded as one of the most important industry events on the international wine and spirits calendar as it brings together Europe's importers, merchants, producers, agents, restaurateurs, wholesalers, and sommeliers under a single venue. Antony tells me there seems to be great interest in our Malbec and Bonarda!

Under the invaluable guidance of oenologist Marcelo Pelleriti (whose own wines have won ratings on the Parker scale of up to 98 points), select vintages from this year’s Algodon Wine list will retail for the highest they ever have as a result of their superb quality. We’re all very excited about the evolution of our wines, and I am personally very proud of everyone at Algodon Wine Estates who have worked so hard to maintain- and even advance -our high standards. Thanks everyone, great work!

-Scott Mathis

Tennis & Golf!

2010-04-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

Have a look at this Google Maps snapshot of Algodon Wine Estates new Tennis Courts! In the photo, you can clearly make out our 7 new clay courts, the blue and green hard court, and just to the left of that is the area where the 2 grass courts will be (though when the photo was taken, it appears the grass hadn’t started growing yet.) All of those little green dots surrounding the courts are olive trees from the half century old olive orchard. The black roof of the building in the middle is the Clubhouse.

This next photo shows the growth of our new back nine holes on the golf course. Like the grass court, these are still growing in of course. But they already look amazing. The cleared rectangular space on the left is where our future polo fields will eventually go. And at the very bottom, you can clearly see the estate’s newest water reservoirs, which appear black in the photo.

You can visit Google Maps yourself and explore the estate at this address: Link

-Scott Mathis