The good harvest in Argentina and musings on how wine making is different in South America
Sometimes I get the feeling it is quite different to make wine in the southern hemisphere and in the northern one. I started thinking about that when I read recently that the harvest in Argentina had finished in early May.
We were in Argentina and Chile in mid-February on the wine and food tour to those two countries earlier this year. At that time, February, grapes were already quite ripe. Not ripe enough to be harvested but not far away. Or so it seemed.
When we were there in February we had absolutely fabulous weather. Just what you need during cold winter days in “The North”. It was like summer in Europe. Or better. Not surprising, since it was summer down there. It was like an energy boost.
Contributing much to the energy boost was, no doubt, also all the food and wine that we consumed.
Growing and making wine is different in many other ways too in Argentina and in Chile. They grow vines differently. For example, you can see quite a lot of pergola. Vineyards are often less densely planted. Etc etc. Wineries are different. Often bigger, but not always. Often in spectacular surroundings. (OK we have that in Europe too!) Most wineries are prepared to receive visitors in a way that is not so common in Europe; restaurants, shops etc.
But there are also many similarities. The major one is of course that they make excellent wines there too!
The best way to discover it is to come on a wine tour (and food tour!) to Argentina and Chile. The next one is scheduled for February. Book now!
