URUGUAY SPECIAL – PART VII: ALTO LA BALLENA AND GIMENEZ MENDEZ

In our last Uruguay report, we will know more details about Alto la Ballena and Jiménez Mendez wineries. The first one is located very near to Punta del Este and the second one, near to Montevideo. Álvaro Lorenzo, Paula Pivel, Marta Méndez, Sebastián Gonzatto, Mauro and Luis Gimenez were our hosts. AndesWines.com from Uruguay
ALTO LA BALLENA WINERY

Álvaro Lorenzo and Paula Pivel represent the generational change of Uruguay’s wine industry through Alto La Ballena. Paula was recently graduated as an oenologist and Álvaro is a well-known businessman. They both are innovating radically going from terroir choice to producing their wines with the relaxing way they are getting in this so competitive industry.

With the same experience any wine consumer may have, in 1998 they decided to create a little winery near to Punta del Este, in Maldonado specifically.

This last years, Sierra de la Ballena has been a very desirable place to develop high level tourist projects: fact which worked as a motivation to be committed to develop a pioneering wine project motivating the second wave of investors in the area.

They bought this land 10 years ago. It has special characteristics that draw the attention for both Paula and Álvaro, and also project assistants. Land of Alto la Ballena is 20 hectares with three types of soil- quartz schist, gradient stone and pebbles. This added to certain sandy sectors with specific agro-climatic conditions are delivering a unique type to wines.

Topographical, climate and soil factors were considered to locate vineyards in order to obtain best fruit quality, raw material of high range wines.

Pioneer plantation was made in spring 2001 in over 20 hectares acquired last year. In year 2005 was realized the first harvest with varieties of Cabernet Franc, Tannat, Viognier, Merlot and Syrah. In year 2007 their first wines were introduced into the market.

Alto la Ballena has the proper technology ensuring quality throughout the entire winemaking process. That is to say, in pre-fermentation maceration, fermentation, maintenance and aging.

Grape processing is performed in a handmade way, in batches of small volume and divided control of every fruit variety. The complete dedication looks for every category to have the product profile they want to own in their aging and production.

Production capacity is estimated in 60,000 bottles approx.

Currently, their wines are commercialized mainly in Tienda Inglesa and other wine specialized places in Punta del Este, principally.

GIMENEZ MENDEZ WINERY

The President of Asociación de Bodegas Exportadoras del Uruguay – ABE (Uruguay’s Exporter Wineries) which currently is being called Wines of Uruguay, Marta Méndez Parodi, who also is Director of Gimenez Mendez wineries received us in her own house to taste a wide variety of her wines which have a great tradition in Uruguay.

In 1990, Plaza Vidella is founded by Luis Alberto Giménez, who started to produce international quality fine wines such as: LAS BRUJAS and 100 AÑOS.

Her vineyards are located in the southern part of Uruguay, near to the estuary breeze of Río de la Plata. They have around 100 hectares focusing on vine harvesting and different microclimates with soils and cares given to them, in addition to the Integrated Production system which allows the excellence of their grapes.

GIMENEZ MENDEZ is the wines which traditionally have produced in the winery and a new offer is being added to them, driving by Marta Méndez Parodi’s sons.

Brothers Luis and Mario, both winemakers, are the new image and represent the generational change of Gimenez Méndez winery. Among their recent wines launched to the market, highlights LYM (“Luis y Mauro”, Luis and Mauro). It is a conceptualized wine by both brothers coming from two different Tannat vineyards which grapes are specially selected.

Their wines are produced with raw material of their own vineyards. In addition to this, they are elaborated and bottled in its origin. The primary characteristic is the exhaustive supervision made by the family going from the vineyard to wine glass, always considering the best way to improve continually quality excellence of their production.

Varieties produced by Gimenez Méndez are being adapting to international demand, producing, among others: Tannat, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Marselan and Syrah and Arinarnoa. Their philosophy is producing wines of international level based on excellent grapes and strict care in every detail of their processes.

Other particular wine is Puzzle, composed by 15 varieties of wines combined in the same quantity, 11 red ones and 4 white ones. The name is due to the mixture which wine was presented into the market: Puzzle. It is characterized by its aroma and fruit taste, as well as its medium colour.

Joining knowledge, technology, and tradition, the company is producing 650,000 annual bottles. Currently, they are in an expansive phase to international market such as Germany, United Kingdom and Mexico.

Sebastián Gonzatto, the current export manager, explained us the Winery’s growing challenges, which will be focused on increasing exported wine mainly to European markets. They also confirmed their participation in the “Vinos de Uruguay del Círculo del Vino de Andes” tasting event (Wines of Uruguay from Andes Wines’ Wine Association).

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