Champagne Wishes: The New Year Launches with Recuerdo Wines from Uco Valley, Argentina A Dual-Hemisphere Wine Partnership of Blackbird Vineyards and The Vines of Mendoza Connects Napa Valley with Argentina’s Uco Valley - Both Wines Released Highly Recommended by Whom You Know's Champagne Wishes
Two of the world’s leading wine lifestyle companies have partnered to launch Recuerdo Wines, offering premium Malbec and Torrontés from Argentina’s high-altitude Uco Valley to select markets in the U.S. and abroad. We are honored to be among the first to try them and are pleased to return to our Blackbird Vineyards as it has been quite awhile! See our previous posts on them:
The inaugural 2010 vintage Malbec ($22 retail) and 2010 Torrontés ($15 retail) are wines from the prestigious Uco Valley that offer exceptional quality and value. The Malbec is a full-bodied boasting smashing flavor that tastes like wine valued at a much higher price and this may be the best Malbec she's ever had, and you know she's had quite a few:
The consulting winemaker for Recuerdo is the extremely accomplished Santiago Achával who boasts four of the five highest-rated wines in Argentine history, as judged by Wine Spectator, and the highest-rated Argentine wine to date, according to Robert Parker. Santiago Achával has been at the forefront of Malbec’s evolution and proves yet again with Recuerdo Wines that Malbec is here to stay. Some inferior Malbecs seemed to not have the power that this one does in the past so Malbec for us was always a bit of a middle-of-the road wine but Peachy's favorite is Cabernet Sauvignon and this particular 2010 Torrontés is a great option to segue into spring with as we often prefer white in the warmer weather.
inaugural 2010 vintage Malbec has every bit of strong flavor that you will appreciate as well. The
The vision for a dual-hemisphere wine label was born after a visit to Argentina by Paul Leary, a Private Vineyard Estate owner. Paul, president of Blackbird Vineyards in Napa Valley, met with The Vines of Mendoza’s co-founders: American entrepreneur, Michael Evans, and Argentine winemaker, Pablo Gimenez-Riili, to discuss a Northern Hemisphere meets Southern Hemisphere project that would showcase the best of Argentina's unique terroir. Months after, they teamed up with the addition of Michael Polenske, founder of Blackbird Vineyards, to form Recuerdo Wines.
“Recuerdo, in Spanish, means memory or memento. While making Recuerdo with Blackbird Vineyards, many memories have been created. Now, enjoying this wine, whether in the Northern Hemisphere or Southern, wine lovers can create their own memories,” states Michael Evans, co-founder of The Vines of Mendoza and Recuerdo Wines.
The Malbec grapes for Recuerdo Wines are grown at over 3,700 feet in the heart of the Uco Valley with a focus on environmentally-friendly practices. This prime grape-growing region enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year, a pure irrigation source from the Andes Mountains, rocky organic soils, and a broad variance between day and evening temperatures. These conditions allow the winemaking team of Santiago Achával and Pablo Martorell to produce incredibly concentrated and complex wines with amazing structure and balance. The Torrontés grapes are grown in similar conditions in Famatina Valley in La Rioja, an outstanding region for Torrontés grapes.
“Recuerdo Wines embraces life’s greatest pleasures: wine, food, travel, friendship, and memories. Fans looking for great wine adventures can partake in exclusive experiences both north and south of the Equator through Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley, Blackbird Vineyards’ exclusive tasting gallery in the Napa Valley, and The Vines of Mendoza Tasting Room in Mendoza, Argentina. We are truly excited about this unique partnership and its infinite possibilities,” comments co-founder, Paul Leary.
About Recuerdo Wines
Recuerdo Wines offers enthusiasts the opportunity to experience premium wines that capture the best of Argentina’s unique terroir, specifically within the high-altitude Uco Valley. Recuerdo means “memory” or “memento” in Spanish. As such, the Recuerdo winemaking team of Santiago Achával and Pablo Martorell passionately believes that each bottle of Recuerdo should not only represent Argentina’s native terroir but also serve as a memory of each and every harvest. www.recuerdowines.com 
About The Vines of Mendoza
Founded in 2004 by Michael H. Evans and Pablo Gimenez-Riili, The Vines of Mendoza makes Argentine wines, vineyard ownership, and winemaking accessible to wine lovers worldwide, through wine sales and tastings, private vineyard ownership, and the forthcoming The Vines Resort and Spa. www.vinesofmendoza.com 
About Blackbird Vineyards
Founded in 2003 by Michael Polenske, Blackbird Vineyards is an artisanal producer of Pomerol-inspired wines from the Napa Valley. Planted in 1997, the estate vineyard is located in the heart of the Oak Knoll District—a region appreciated for its moderate climate and deep, gravelly soils. The vineyard‘s valley floor topography presents optimum growing conditions for Winemaker Aaron Pott to produce elegantly styled, appropriately balanced red wines that offer short- and long-term cellaring potential. www.blackbirdvineyards.com
