Wines of Argentina Discover Your Inner Tango Event

by Antonio on 09/10/09 at 1:03 am

Wine and Tango, A Perfect Pairing

We attended the Wines of Argentina Discover your Inner Tango Event at City Winery yesterday which highlighted Argentine wines, tango and traditional Argentine food.

Argentine wine has really taken off in the US, the popularity of Malbec is impressive. According to Vine Connections, Malbec sales are up 54%  Torrontes is quickly inching up at a rate of 86% in growth. This is no accident; when Malbec hit the US, its chewy, soft and fruit forward flavor made it a strong contender to rival Merlot. The little known Torrontes has the freshness of unoaked whites but with more viscosity, fruity and floral nuances. This, combined with an average price of about $10-$15 will keep the growth of Argentina’s wines strong.

Over 50 wine producers (including Clos de Los Siete, Finca Decero, Urraca, Finca El Origen, Vintus and Dona Paula) brought their best wines. This tasting gave us the opportunity to taste the many other grape varietals that Argentina is becoming famous for including Bonarda and Torrontes as well as some more established varietals including Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

An Amarone Style Argentine Wine

Bodega Renacer’s Enamore stood out. A blend of Malbec, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Syrah and Bonarda made in the Italian Amarone style. The grapes are dried until they are about 1/3 of their original size. They then undergo malolactic fermentation and sit for 12 months in oak.  The wine was dark and plump with flavors of dried fruits and spices.

Buenos Aires Restaurant created some delicious bocadillos to go along with the wines. The choripan was a great choice if you were having some Torrontes. This Argentine classic is a sandwich sold in the streets of Argentina. Crusty hot bread with sausage, simple and delicious went perfectly with the freshness of the wine.

The tango performance by Julio Bocca’s Dance Group left us speechless. Bocca, one of the most important contemporary dancers and was invited to join the American Ballet Theatre by Mikhail Baryshnikov. He later started his own dance company which has quickly become world renowned. The dancers expressed the passion of Argentina as we happily sipped on our wines.