Don Romulo Tupungato

Monday, November 16, 2009

Traveling through the wine country of Argentina is a banquet for the senses. The stunning landscapes delight the eyes, the woodsy, oaky fragrance of wine enchants the nose, and its fruity, piquant taste fascinates the palate.

El Valle de Uco (Uco Valley)

Flanked by the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains and located at some of the highest altitudes in the world (600-1000 meters above sea ...

Exerpt from my diary:

15/10/09
This is pretty cool. Living in a wooden chalet in the middle of the Argentine outback, sharing one bathroom with 6 other people and the Bolivian family with 6 kids who live in the yard whilst still being able to see the snow capped Andes from my window with the sun beating down outside. Only Spanish is spoken in the family house where we all eat together and chill in the evenings drinking mate whilst ...

So.. Tomorrow is our last day of work. This week has been pretty crazy. Many nights that ended up way later than they needed too. Donīt worry Mum, it was because of pressing not partying. Weīre both kinda sad to be leaving Tupungato. Not sad to be leaving work, but I love our little orange house and this strange little town where nothing is ever open. We were supposed to head back to ...

With only 10 days left at the winery and in Tupungato I thought Iīd give you a little information about where we live... Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza province. Mendoza City is located in the northern-central part of the province in a region of foot-hills and high plains on the eastern side of the Andes. The two main industries in Mendoza are wine and olive oil production, and in 2008 National Geographic listed Mendoza as on of the top 10 ...

As harvest charges on the days get longer and longer. This week was ridiculous.. multiple nights stuck at the winery until midnight. Hey this is what we do! We have been having fun though. We got through a PILE of Malebc and Merlot this week and pressed 4 tanks so at least a lot got done. We have done a few little fun things. We ...

Hello, Hello So itīs showtime down here, have been working long days as harvest is in full throttle(only syrah and bonarda left to come in). And yes, I have started to develop the dreaded trench foot from the foot soaking I endure everyday! The vinoīs are looking good and have been tasting otherīs wine as well recently with appreciation. Itīs still smoking here, while cooling down at night, which I love for sleeping. Iīll probably have to invest in a windbreaker ...

So, as before, mostly all we do is work. Today.. amazing enough, we finished at 1:00 and now are able to spend the day hanging out. We came into town and stuffed our faces with empanadas. EFFING DELISH! Weīre having a really awesome time. On Tuesday we went out with Ann (my boss at Southbrook) and Norma Jane and Blair (Harberīs Parents!!) It was nice to see familiar faces! We ...

Whatīs not to love? 12 hour days, purple hands, a cottage in the Andes, warm weather, and constant beer/wine drinking!! I love being in a country that not only doesnīt frown upon daytime drinking.. they promote it! So we found Matias in Mendoza on Friday. He took us to the winery and we started work right away. He has a friend Rodrigo (a crazy biodynamic winemaker from Spain) and a cousin named Juan ...

... Pour la preņiere fois je me rend compte du danger de la montagne, loin de tout, seul sur un pic, le moindre probleme est un danger. Je mange une barre sucree et je vais mieux. Je gravis le dernier piton me separant du sommet. Il est 13h50 je suis a 4280 m. Le paysage est grandiose mais continue a me donner le tourni. Il y a des condors geants. Je redescend les pente caillouteuses en surfant ...

Finally, a day off work and a night in my own bed after several weeks on the road. Collin called to say lets go climbing tomorrow. Every ounce of flesh said no, too tired, but I found myself giving gleeful consent and so instead of getting a needed morning in bed, it was off to somewhere near Tupungato to climb on warm granite. Mmmmm.