Discovering Familia Vicente Pearce: A Journey of Passion, Wine, and Connection

In this latest episode of Uncork Your Mind, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Shawn Pearce from Familia Vicente Pearce, a unique winery that bridges the cultures of Buffalo, New York, and Mendoza, Argentina. Shawn shared his inspiring story of how he met his wife, Celia, and eventually sparked their joint venture into winemaking in the heart of Mendoza.

Shawn's journey into wine began while studying at Wake Forest, but it was his connection to Celia, who grew up in Argentina's wine-rich Mendoza region, that truly set the stage for what would become Familia Vicente Pearce. Together with Celia's brother, Juan Pablo, they’ve developed a winery focused on creating premium wines from sustainably farmed vineyards.

We delved into Mendoza's rich terroir, where vineyards sit 3,000 feet above sea level. Cool nights and alluvial soils provide the perfect conditions for growing classic Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Gamay. Shawn also discussed the company's commitment to organic farming, using drip irrigation, and sustainable practices to reduce its environmental footprint while producing exceptional wines.

Their wines are a testament to their passion, with each bottle reflecting the family’s love for both the land and the craft. From their limited-production, Gamay Rosé to their crowd-pleasing red blend, Corte, Familia Vicente Pearce offers a diverse range of wines that are perfect for any occasion.

If you're curious about wine from Argentina or looking for something new to try, be sure to listen to the full interview where we also discuss the creative artistry behind their labels, Celia’s design talents, and of course, our shared love for the Buffalo Bills!

Listen to the podcast or watch the webinar now and discover more about Familia Vicente Pearce!

Watch the Webinar

Listen to the Podcast

Keeping Warm on a Cold Snowy Winters Night with Art of Earth Wines

 

It was a cold and snowy winter night, and I reached for Argentina's Art of Earth Wines. It’s summer in Argentina, so at least I can think of warm weather and sunshine.

Art of Earth Wines is the largest viticultural group in the world. With 29 cooperatives and 5,000 winegrowers, they manage 25,000 hectares of vineyard plantings throughout the top-growing regions of Mendoza and San Juan.

Their wines strive for a pure expression of the region, true to their origins and free of pesticides and herbicides.

Art of Earth Chardonnay SRP $11.99 - You can’t beat the price and the taste. The grapes are carefully selected and undergo vinification in stainless steel tanks with no oak. My first sip took me poolside on a warm summer day. Aromas of lime and slate. Crisp with a nice roundness on the palate shows the malolactic fermentation with a great grape expression. Juicy pineapple and tropical fruit with hints of minerality. A nice lemony finish. I served this with Shrimp and Grits, and it was a perfect meal!

Art of Earth Cabernet Sauvignon SRP $11.99 - This Cabernet Sauvignon truly reflects the region's unique terroir, characterized by the influence of the Andes Mountains and the semi-arid desert conditions. The wine undergoes vinification with controlled temperature fermentation and aging in stainless steel tanks, preserving its bold and complex flavors true to the grape. This is a drink now, wine. Lovely black currant with a hit of cocoa and spice. Straightforward drinking and a good everyday Cabernet.

Indulge in the Virtual Journey to Argentina's Malbec Magic with Winephabet Street!

Join us on our journey to South America, where the rich soils of Argentina have produced some of the world's best Malbec wines with guest Veronica Kathuria from Wines of Argentina.

Argentina it's located in the southern most corner of South America the South American content And it's about in a better way I have I will speak kilometers and miles because I still go to kilometers but it ranges about 38 kilometers distance from extreme north to extreme south.

A Brief History: Malbec's Journey to Argentina Malbec's origins can be traced back to France, especially in regions like Cahors and Bordeaux (It's one of the Bordeaux 5). However, the grape variety found its true calling in Argentina, where it thrives.

It was in 1868 when Michel Aimé Pouget, a French agronomist, introduced Malbec to Argentina. He had been hired to help improve the country's wines. Today, Argentina is the leading producer of Malbec, with the province of Mendoza being where the concentration of Malbec is grown. The high-altitude vineyards provide Malbec with the ideal conditions to develop deep colors, velvety textures, and an incredible range of flavors.

Understanding Malbec: The DNA Deep Dive
In 1992 it was discovered that Malbec is a sibling of Merlot. They share the same mother, Magdeleine Noire des Charentes, and its father is Prunelard.

What Does Malbec Mean to Argentina? For Argentines, Malbec is more than just a wine; it's a symbol of national pride and a celebration of their unique terroir. Argentina has become synonymous with this varietal with over 75% of the world's Malbec acreage. Don't forget to mark your calendars for World Malbec Day, April 17

Our conversation with Veronica will provide insight into the Malbec grape, the growing climate in Argentina and travel to Argentina. Veronica is a wealth of knowledge and kept of captivated for an hour! Our conversation could have gone longer and we hope to have her back again. I hope you enjoy the episode.

PS. My Boykin Spaniel Gigi makes her Winephabet debut during our tasting.

Malbec Wines Tasted:

Argento Single Vineyard Finca Agrelo Organic Vineyard Malbec 2021 - Notes of cooca, stewed tomates, smooth with black fruit, baking spice and nice acid on finish.

BenMarco Sin Limites Valle de Uco Organico Malbec 2020 - Intense color. You’ll get purple teeth color. Medim bodied. Not a heavy heavy red. Will drink nice in the summer with steak. More austere, nicely structured with dark plum and black fruit and refreshing acidity. Hint of cinnamon on finish.

Alta Vista Single Vineyard Albaneve, Campo De Los Andes, Valle De Uco, Malbec 2018 - Alta Vista was the first Argentinean vineyard to produce single vineyard wine. Nice structured wine with big tannins and bouncing acidity. Notes of plum, blackcherry, leather and tobacco.

Webinar

Podcast

Celebrate Malbec Day with the Colomé Family

World Malbec Day is celebrated on April 17th to commemorate the day back in 1853 when Argentina’s President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento officially made it his mission to transform Argentina’s wine industry. He then asked French soil expert Michel Aime Pouget to bring over new vines from France. One of those vines was Malbec. The Malbec vines flourished in Argentina’s dry and sunny weather and grow really nice in the higher elevations. Today when you speak Malbec you think Argentina.

Celebrate the 2019 World Malbec Day with some Malbec selections from the Colomé family of Malbec that also includes Amalaya Malbec.

About Bodega Colomé

Bodega Colomé is one of the oldest working wineries in Argentina. Based in the Calchaqui Valley in the Salta region, it is also home to some of the highest vineyards in the world. Malbec grown in the higher altitude receives more sun and produces a thicker skinned Malbec grape. This creates a more robust taste with nice acidity.

About Amalaya

Amalaya began as an experiment at Bodega Colomé. Founded in 2010 means “Hope for a Miracle” and that is what they were doing when they planted new vines on land that never had been planted. They hoped for a miracle and it was granted!

World Malbec Day

Tomorrow, April 17, when you celebrate World Malbec Day, stop by your wine store and purchase one of these Malbecs. They range in price from $16 to $30, so it will fit just about anyone's price range. My favorite pairing with Malbec is ribs!

2016 Colomé Estate Malbec - This wine, 100% Malbec spent 15 months in French oak barrels and 6 months in the bottle before it was released. Intense dark red in color the aromas escaping the glass are rich red fruit, blackberries, dried fig, vanilla and anise. This leads to a palate of ripe dark fruit, rich in flavor and some spice of black pepper on the finish. This went unbelievable with the ribs! SRP $25

2017 Colomé “Authéntico Malbec - This Malbec spent 10 months in tank and then 10 months in the bottle. It saw no oak. This wine is lighter in style showing a fruity note with both red and black fruits with hints of spice on the finish. SRP $30

2017 Amalaya Malbec - With 85% Malbec, 10% Tannat and 5% Petit Verdot, this Malbec 25% of the wine spent 8 months in French oak. It’s nice ruby color with red raspberries and red cherry notes escaping from the glass. Lots of red fruit in the glass with a touch of smokiness and a hint of black pepper spice on the finish. SRP $16

In my house if you don’t like Ribs and Malbec we can serve you Shrimp with some of Bodega Colomé and Amalaya’s whites. You can still celebrate with some of Argentina’s finest after all, it’s all about the new vines Michel brought over from France. These range in price from $12 to $15.

2018 Colomé Torrontés - Beautiful citrus aromas with a floral freshness leads to a palate that is well rounded with some stone fruit and a long finish of white spice. SRP $15

2018 Amalaya White is a lend of 85% Torrontés and 15% Rielsing. White grapefruit notes and lemon zest escape from the glass. On the palate the wine is light and fresh. The Riesling really shows through on this wine with the crisp acidity and minerality. SRP $12

If you have a sweet tooth, substitute the Malbec for the oil in the brownie mix and serve with a glass.

Argentina Wines of Distinction - Bodega Colomé

Last year I reviewed wines from Bodega Colomé a member of Hess Family Estates (read the review http://hudsonvalleywinegoddess.com/secret-high-altitude-vineyards-argentina) I spoke about the wines from the Salta region of Argentina and how the high altitude makes them special. What exactly does growing grapes at high altitude differ from growing grapes in the valley? This is what I am going to discuss today.

As you climb up a mountain to a higher elevation, the sunlight becomes more concentrated. Because of this intense exposure to the sun, the grapes develop a deeper pigment concentration in the form of a thick, tough skin leading to a deep intense color and strong tannins. The cooler nights improve the acid levels in grapes and there is low humidity. Due to the wide range of temperature the plants aren’t to stressed. This allows the grapes to concentrate on th color, aromas and flavors.

Every vintage brings a new wine. This year brought me the 2014 Bodega Colomé Malbec and the 2016 Bodega Colomé Torrontés. Both very nice wines. Torrontés aged in stainless steel is a good substitution for Chardonnay in my opinion.

2014 Bodega Colomé Malbec was slightly different than last year. The color was dark and intense almost like Coca-Cola. Complex aromas of coffee, black cherry, mocha, chocolate covered cherries and a hint of burnt toast escaped in layers from the glass. On the palate was both red and black fruit. Plum, red raspberry, black cherry, cherry mocha and a hint of spice on the finish. I served this with lamb burgers with Moroccan spice and the Malbec really brought out the cinnamon spice of the burgers. I should not that Wine Spectator rated this a 92. It’s a great value at a SRP $25

2016 Bodega Colomé Torrontés aged in stainless steel had a floral nose of honeysuckle and jasmine leading to flavors of apricot, lychee and citrus on the finish with nice acidity. This was a beach picnic wine that I had with tofu quesadillas. SRP $15

It's not all about Malbec: The Two Cabs or Achaval-Ferrer

When I think if wines from Argentina I automatically think Malbec as probably you do. Today, Argentina produces more than Malbec, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the two Cabs. Last month during our #winestudio session we got introduced to Achaval-Ferrer’s Cabernet Sauvignon and their first release of Cabernet Franc. Now Cabernet Franc has always been in their portfolio, but used in the blending of their Quimera. This is their first stand alone Cabernet Franc.

Once again I want to bring into light that not all Cabs or any wines taste the same, but similar. Yes even though they are the same grape, where it’s grown, the growing season, the soil, the weather all come into play on what you taste and smell. When you taste a Cabernet Franc from Cahors, France; Napa,California and Mendoza, Argentina they will taste similar, but yet different. And it’s that difference that you learn to love about the grape and the region it’s grown in.

Cab Franc is one of my favorite wines and I tend to prefer the cool climate Cab Francs and Argentina falls into the cool climate because of the altitudes the grapes are grown in. This 2015 Achaval-Ferrer Cabernet Franc is grown in the Uco Valley at an altitude of 3,280 feet with 2,600 plants per acre. The Cab Franc comes from a special block in the Finca Diamante vineyard. The soil is sandy-gravelly with some volcanic ash. The wine was fermented in cement tanks with extensive pumping over for better extraction of flavor and color. It then aged for 10 months in 3 year old French oak barrels. The first initial notes coming from the glass were red cherry, tobacco and violets. The palate was full of black raspberry, black cherry,sharp tannins a hint of forest floor and that black pepper on the finish. As the wine opens some chocolate notes appear. This is a great cigar wine. This wine is very well done and a fantastic first vintage for Achaval-Ferrer. When I asked Gustavo Rearte, their winemaker if they plan on planting more Cab Franc he said they want to perfect and understand growing Cabernet Franc at higher elevations so it can benefit the variety. This production will only get better! SRP $24.99

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from two appellations in Mendoza, the Agrelo and Medrano.Each of these appellations contribute different attributes to the wine. The Agrelo appellation is at an altitude of 3,608 feet with 2,800 plants per acre. Agrelo is a unique place with clay soil and brings elegance and smoothness to the wine. The Medrano appellation has sandy soil, a bit warmer climate at 2,297 feet altitude. This contributes to the structure and acidity in the wine. Tasting notes, I found aromas of black cherry, coffee, cedar, black currant and a hint of juniper. On the palate Ripe blackberry, plum, black cherry, clove followed by smooth tannins and a nice finish. SRP $24.99

Achaval-Ferrer’s philosophy is to let the flavors and fruit of Argentina shine through and they certainly do with these wine. I would not hesitate choosing any of their wines in the wine shop or at a restaurant.

Food Pairings:

2015 Cabernet Franc - Paired with Chorizo & Polenta Lasagna. Paired very well with the dish.

2015 Cabernet Sauvignon - Paired very well with my grilled flank steak and asparagus. The marinade of the flank steak really brings out the cherry in the wine.

The Secret Of High Altitude Vineyards Of Argentina

The Salta region in Argentina is know to have the highest altitude vineyards.  70 % of the vineyards are located in the Calchaquies Valley.  There are 7,900 acres planted with grapes.

Starting at 4,900 above sea level there are grapes planted to 10,210 feet above sea level. Colome which has been located in the Calchaqui Valley since 1831 has the highest  vineyards planted in the world.  Their Malbec thrives in the higher altitude. What does this mean for the grape.  Well, with the higher altitude this offers more sun and produces a thicker skinned on their Malbec grape. This creates a more robust taste and nice acidity.

The 2013 Colome Estate Malbec is a blend of Malbec from 4 vineyards all at different altitudes. The grapes from each of these altitudes contribute different attributes to the wine. The fruit from the La Brava Vineyard wich is at 5,740 brings intense and ripe fruit to the bottle. At 7,545 feet the grapes from the Colome Vineyard that surrounds the winery brings complexity and weight to the wine. Climbing a little higher to 8,530 feet above sea level grapes from the El Arenal Vineyard give the wine its elegance and freshness. At the top, 10,207 feet above sea level at the highest vineyard in the world, the grapes from this vineyard contribute the floral and mineral notes along with fine grain tannins.

After harvest the wine spent 15 months in French oak. The wine is very concentrated and has intense aromas of plum, hints of oak, and black fruit.  One
sip and there were flavors of  ripe black fruit,bursting in my mouth.  As the wine opened, there was hints of chocolate and slight pepper on the finish. The bold tannins and nice acidity made it a very food friendly wine.  I served it with a lamb stew.

The above Malbec retails for $25.

The Malbec also has a sister - Torrentes.  Torrontes happens to be the signature white wine of Argentina. The grapes sourced for this wine come from 30 to 60 year old vines and are age in stainless steel tanks. For me that is how I like my Torrentes, with no oak influence.

The high altitude for this grape contributes to a longer growing season and more retention of the grapes natural acidity and better flavor expression.  The soil is sandy with layers of gravel and this help with the drainage.

Colome's 2015 Torrontes was nice and crisp with floral notes on the nose along with hints of peach, citrus, and white grapefruit. Nice on the palate with tropical notes of pineapple, hints of  lychee and a soft white spice on the finish.

This didn't go without a dish, I served it with pasta and fresh pesto from the garden.

The Torrentes retails for $15

Debate #2 with Amalaya Malbec

A few weeks ago I drank Amalaya Torrontes while I watched the debate.  I felt it's only fitting to write about it's brother the 2015 Amalaya Malbec after watching the following debate. (I realize this is posting a week after the debate)

Although I didn't drink this wine with the debate, ( I drank it the night before) like it's sister it is a blend, not of two but three grapes.  Grown in the high altitude Northern Calchaqui Valley of  Salta, Argentina this wine is a blend of 85% Malbec, 10% Tannat and 5% Syrah with 25% of the grapes aged in once used French oak for 10 months. All three varietals sit in their respective corners and are not blended together until they are ready for bottling.

Each of  these wines in the blend contribute different attributes to the wine. We'll begin with the dominate grape Malbec which will be the base of the wine with black cherry, raspberry and plum.  That little bit of Tannat is added for its floral characters it brings and the Syrah for its spicy notes.

Together you have a blend that has aromas of both dark, red fruit with a little voilet and a tinge of white pepper..  One sip and your mouth fills with red cherry, raspberry and a mix of other red fruit. The soft tannins lead the way towards a finish with a hint of mocha and white pepper spice.

Comparing this to the debate....well...I think this wine knows where it's going and is firm in its beliefs.

This is a drink now wine that retails for $16, This will be a great pizza wine!

What Goes Best With Ribs But Malbec

One of my favorite wines to pair with ribs is Malbec. So  naturally I pulled out a Malbec from Argentina to pair with my dinner.  The ribs I made, I didn't baste with the usual barbecue sauce, but with a mustard vinegar sauce. I hoped for the best. As this was the first time making  them this way.

The Malbec I pulled was a 2013 Colome Malbec from the upper Calchaqui Valley in the Salta region of Argentina. This estate vineyards of Malbec grow at the world's highest elevation.  Four estate vineyards are blended into this wine that is 100% Malbec and aged in French Oak for 15 months.

The Vineyards used for the blending are La Braba Vineyard at 5,740 feet and the grapes from this vineyard bring the complexity and the weight in the wine.  El Arenal Vineyard at 8,530 feet gives the wine its elegance and freshness and Altura Maxima at 10,207 feet which is said to be the highest vineyard in the world give the wine it's floral and mineral notes.

The higher altitude produces less UV protection and thicker skinned grapes. This makes the wine more robust in taste with nice acidity to support it.

The winery itself was founded in 1831 by the Spanish governor of Salta.  In 1854 the first grapes, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon were introduced and planted. In 2001 they were purchased by the Hess Collection of Napa, California.  Today the Hess family gives back to the community.  They have helped build the community center, church, school improvements and community housing.

The 2013 Colome Malbec was very complex and bold.  With dark intense color on the border of maroon and deep purple. Aromas of plum, blackberries and red fruit with hints of wood.  The palate was just as complex with ripe plum and black fruit with a hint of chocolate and pepper surrounded by strong tannins.

The wine went perfect with the baby back ribs basted with the mustard vinegar sauce.  This is a very food friendly wine.  The SRP is $25

Visiting Trumpeter Torrontés

It's been a few years since I've had Trumpeter Torrontés by Rutini Wines.  Back in 2012 was my first introduction to Rutini wines and the Torrontés grape.  I was also very privileged to attend a lunch in New York City at the time and met the winemaker, Mariano Di Paola. It was one of the best wine tastings I have ever been to.  You can read about it here.

I'm happy to say that 4 years later the price point of the wine is relatively the same. 

The 2015 Rutini Trumpeter Torrontés did not disappoint!  Fermented in stainless steel floral aromas filled the glass along with white peach and hints of jasmine.  First sip gave way to flavors of lemon and jasmine with a mid palate of white peach. As the wine warmed up hints pineapple began to mix with the lemon and you became aware of the minerality backbone of the wine and the nice acidity.

This wine is a keeper! It retails for $10.99.  

This wine will go well with chicken, pork and seafood.  I paired it with Kielbasa, caramelized onions and sauerkraut.

Heading to South America: Wines of Uruguay & Argentina with Courtney Quinn

In this episode of Uncork Your Mind I talk with Courtney Quinn of Our World Our Community importer of wines from Uruguay and Argentina.

Like many people, Courtney didn't begin her career in the wine industry. She actually worked in the not for profit sector and wanted to make a career change. All it took was a trip to Napa and she knew the wine industry was for her.  She went home and enrolled in San Diego State Business in Wine program.  Then quit job, sold house and moved to Napa and studied at CIA Greystone in their wine immersion program. 

Now that she had some wine education she needed to decide what to do and where to go with it.  When talking to people one thing was constant they kept telling her  "Have you thought of Mendoza Argentina" she thought this was sign and she packed up and went to Mendoza.

One thing she realized very fast is she needed to learn Spanish. So she enrolled in a Spanish class, and spent the mornings in class and the afternoon scouting out  vineyards.

Returning to the states, speaking with people in the industry, she took their advice and began OWOC.  She began importing with wines from Argentina and then someone suggested Uruguay wines.  She did her research and went to San Francisco for the wines of Uruguay tasting.  She was very impressed with Bodegas Carrau's Tannat and Sauvignon Blanc and the rest is history.

Courtney sees her growth in the South American market.  At the moment she only imports to California, but  wants to expand to other western states.  She wants to focus on other producers in Argentina, Chile and Brazil.

You can find more information on OWOC wines at  http://www.owocwines.com/ and if you don't live in California, you can order her imports from Protocol Wine Studio http://protocolwinestudio.com/

Listen to the podcast below as Courtney talks about the wines she imports and the history behind the wineries.

Wine Review: Bodegas Carrau

There are only 230 wineries in Uruguay and Bodegas Carrau  has two different vineyards , one in the southern part of the country and one in the northern part of the country.  The Sauvignon Blanc is from northern vineyard in the Cerro Chapeau region which is a continental climate at an elevation of 1000ft.  The highest vineyard in the country.  Down in the southern part the Las Violetas region has a maritime climate.  This vineyard has the influence from Atlantic ocean. Two very different terriors, two vineyards, one winery. The only gravity flow winery in Uruguay.

2013 Bodegas CarrauSauvignon Blanc Sur Lie - Amazing!  Aromas of passion fruit and fresh citrus just pouring out of the bottle.  Nice soft acidity with hints of lime.

2010 Bodegas Carrau Tannat Reserva - Aromas of black cherry,oak and vanilla. Plums and hints of raspberries on the palate with soft tannins.  I paired this with Paul's Chicken Marsala and it was a great pairing.

Remember you can find the podcast and subscribe by:

RSS Feed is : http://feeds.feedburner.com/uncorkyourmind  iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/uncork-your-mind/id686640590 Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/uncork-your-mind-podcast/uncork-your-mind?refid=stpr