Review
Here we will give you a look a closer look at various Wine Regions of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, and the Wineries we have visited. We also will be reviewing Restaurants, Hotels, Wine shops and anything else we think will be of interest to you
In April 2009 Tim Robertson was interviewed by Uruguay's 'La Republica' Newspaper regarding the outlook for Uruguay's nascent Wine Tourism Industry
Please click link, the text is in Spanish
Winespectator has just released October edition.With price quality ratios becoming ever more important they have published a list of 200 wines that represent excellent value.
From Argentina 10 wines were selected and we certainly can agree with some of their choices.
The wines below are the wines we would recommend to anybody who needs to see what Argentina can do below the 15 US$ mark.
Altos Las Hormigas, Malbec Mendoza 2009 (US$13)
Almos Torrontes Salta 2009 (US$13)
Trivento Amado Sur Mendoza 2008 (US$15)
Norton, Malbec Mendoza Barrel Select 2007 (US$14)
S Hinojosa e Hijos.2 Copas Mendoza 2009 (U 8)
Kaiken, Malbec Mendoza 2009 (US$14)
Bodega Elvira Calle, Malbec, Mendoza 2009 ( US$13)
Tapiz Malbec Zolo Malbec,Mendoza 2009 (US11)
O.Fournier, Urban Malbec, Uco Valley 2009 (US$11)
Valentin Bianchi, Malbec.Mendoza Sensual 2009 (US$10)
World Sommeliers Competition - Concha y Toro hold a fabulous Tasting of their Icon Wines. May 2010
Torrontes Variety
Torrontes is a white grape variety that is practically unknown in other parts of the world. It appears to have been introduced into the Argentina from Spain, probably from “La Rioja” region. Surprisingly the Torrontes ranks as Argentina's No.1 white variety, with over 22,000 acres. This however is changing. While Argentina attempts to push itself into the Wine psyche of the world, this unknown grape is losing ground to the classic white grape varieties, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Recently we are also seeing some Viognier and Pinot Gris that will be able to compete at international levels. In Argentina the Torrontes is known by three different names: Torrontes Riojano, Torrontes San Juanino and Torrontes Mendocino, obviously pointing to the area it is being cultivated
Hugo Torres of Augusto Pulenta Winery makes a strong case that each variety has adapted differently to its environment and hence the regional differences in the wine are quiet marked. Sun, sun and more sun is the key to its success, with the major concentration of the Vines planted in hot deserts like the one in the northwest of Argentina (San Juan and Salta). The grape requires so much sun predominantly due to the large size of the grape/berry. The plants produce berries that are large loose clusters, with rich yellow gold colours. It produces higher quality fruit in dry soils with low humidity and little rainfall, which is exactly the climate Cafayate enjoys. When we look at the premium examples of this grape in the market, there is not a great deal to choose from. The Etchart Family’s San Pedro de Yacochuya makes a fine wine but it is very limited production. Colome, the Winery based further north and at high altitude makes an exciting Torrontes. Colome from the Hess Stable of Wineries is a consistant Wine however we doubt the Biodynamic label really is justifiable
Our favorite example is Finca Las Nubes, in Cafayate. This is not an expensive Wine: José Mounier and his wife Mercedes are slowly building their reputation. José, a wine maker at Etchart (Pernod Ricard), has built up his finca gradually, adding every year. Hard to get hold of due to the limited production, well worth it. You can contact the Mouniers at japmonier@yahoo.com.ar. Tel 54 3868 422129
Susana Balbo makes a great contribution to the Wines on offer with her, Crios Torrontes. The general problem with Torrontes from Mendoza is it is generally blended with The Moscatel Alexandria grape so it is not really a Torrontes at all. With the generally small amount of Torrontes that is planted in Mendoza there is no way all this fashionable new grape variety being produced is Torrontes. The interesting note of these Wines is the abundance of floral nose, some with distinctive rose, citric and fruit finish. Other notes to be found, blossom, jasmine and melon. As palettes search for something more than Chardonnay and less fresh and green than Sauvignon Blanc, you could do well to explore this variety
Dining Guides
El Gastronauta, Uruguays best Dining Guide. This is the brainchild of two young Argentines who have extensive knowledge of the Argentine Wine and Cullinery scene but decided to Get Uruguays best Restaurants and Wines represented in an excting and informative way
BUENOS AIRES DINING GUIDE
This is the definite Guide for over 2500 restaurants in the Buenos Aires area. Voted by the public with both English, Spanish and Portuguese
Blogging
We thought it might be interesting for our past and future clients to see some of the thoughts and photos from a couple of the Tours that we ran in 2008 in Argentina and Chile. Americans being at the forefront of the blogging you can see below the links to two informative blogs which should give you some expectation as to what a Robertson Wine Tour actually consists of. Many thanks to the Libit and Blair family for their contributions. Melanie Friedman is currently in the middle of a huge tour South America and is having a fantastic time. Her blog is excellent and we take our hats of to her and hope to be able to continue to put her in contact with the regions top Winemakers. January 2010
Todsy there seem to so many people out there Blogging, its a wonder that anybody has any time to research, write and then read other peoples. Anyway the social networking era appears to be here to stay. Tripadvisor is at the forefront of the travel communities although many people do find the site difficult to navigate, the other thing one has to be aware of is that many comments have to be treated with a pinch of salt as owners do tend to be setting up accounts and making their own favorable comments. If you are a travel addict then take a look but like Wikipedia it always pays to look a little deeper
Dan Pearlman is a great cook, a well known Sommelier and writes an inordinate amount about the food and Wine scene. Dan is immensely successful in the dinners he holds at his home. Not only cooking great themed meals but giving people a great opportunity to meet disparate people living or visting this great city, Buenos Aires. We recommend you visit not only his blog but if you are in town looking for a great meal and the chance to meet all sorts of people then Dans Casasaltshaker would be a great choice
Gary Vaynerchuk, love him or hate him, he has become a force in Wine and the blogging there of. In 2009 Decanter magazines publication of "The Power List" ranked Gary in the Top 50 most influentional people in wine. Even Jancis Robinson has taken notice and appeared on his show. The link below takes you to episodes containing Argentine Wines
Gary also bought Cork’d in 2007 a great site to share reviews on Wine in an informal well designed environment. We like this site as its free and hope it continues its success
In terms of food and restaurant guides there are so many but we like www.chow.com or its variety and international reach
Customer Testimonials
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Tim put together an outstanding itinerary for our 17-day trip though Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. Blending his local knowledge of city attractions, hotels and restaurants with his extensive knowledge of the bodegas and their Wines, our trip exceeded all expectations
Scot Martin
Toronto, Canada. June 2010 -
Our trip to Chile and Argentina was perfect. Your drivers were professional, friendly and had good language skills. It is apparent that you have many good contacts in the South American wine world. Your attention to detail and personalized service truly exceeded expectations meeting us personally at the airport from post- Tour activities, dining with us in BA, putting us on all the planes....... Truly a first class trip and I would recommend you to anyone!
Spencer Youngblood
Texas, USA, May 2010 -
Tim helped us with so much more than just the wonderful tours of Mendoza Bodegas. As our interests are wide ranging, he was also able to line us up with a tour of artists’ homes and workshops that was the best ever, and horseback riding in the Uco Valley foothills of the Andes. What a wonderful trip!
Mr Conrad and Ellen Masterson
Texas. USA, September 2009 -
Hi Tim, Karen is the best! I had a fantastic time with her. She made me feel really welcome in Chile by taking me out and introducing me to people, and I now have a nice little wine network thanks to Karen. Thanks so much for setting me up with her. I hope to be able to tour with her again in the future. Of course you can use this for a testimonial and I would be happy to recommend you on LinkedIn as well
Melanie Friedman
USA. January 2010 -
I contacted Tim Robertson to organise some tasting's of Argentine wines while in Buenos Aires
They have seriously knowledgeable Tour guides for sightseeing and the three tasting's they arranged for me at different venues were superb. Great service, totally reliable and extremely knowledgeable. I cannot recommend their service enough!
Charles Smithson
UK. June 2009 -
Yes, overall we were very impressed and would certainly recommended you to anyone. Good pace, the choice of Wineries was very good everything flowed very well, If any of your prospective clients would like to talk to to us we would be more than willing to answer any questions they may have
Nate Remely and Family
USA. January 2010 -
I wholeheartedly recommend Robertson Wine Tours for any Touring you might consider or recommend to other friends and clients for getting first rate visits and introductions to the Wines of Chile and Argentina. Thank you so much for all your kindness and efforts to assure us a wonderful and unforgettable trip. It truly was a great experience for all of us
I hope we can see you some time in Napa if you will visit our area in the future. I will be pleased to provide a reference / testimonial for you and your services to friends and any of your potential clients as well
Dr J. Aita
USA. March 2006 -
We are happy to provide a testimonial for you, We liked very much our tour with you in Chile, we wish we had more time to spend with you, next time we come to Argentina and we would like to stay more time. My husband and I thank you very much for making such a good holiday and please come and see us in Paris when ever you are close by
Élisabeth Henrichon
Paris. September 2008 -
Touring the wineries of the Salta region of Argentina and in Uruguay with Tim Robertson, Director of Wine Tours was a marvelous experience. Tim's attention to details as well as his concern for the personal needs of his clients gave us a wonderfully customized Tour. His experienced palate and exceptional rapport with the top winemakers in each region made for an excellent journey. The high quality of the Wines was a revelation and the warmth of the Wine making families further enhanced the experience
James and Penelope Shackelford
Davis. Calif. Sept 2009 -
Just a quick note to say yes we had a really superb time, I think you judged our tasted very well, I have to say for both me and Claire Salta province their Wineries were the highlight, what an amazing part of the World. We will of course come back, but lets see when that could be, Thank you introducing us to some of these very fine Wine Makers, we just loved spending time with Don Nestor and Luis Asmet and thank you very much for your skillful driving and patience. A great trip. All the best
Michael and Claire Kirtley
Florida. USA, March 2007 -
We enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime Wine Touring experience with Robertson Wine Tours. Tim architected a great itinerary of world-class accommodations, unparalleled private Wine Tastings, and exceptional restaurant bookings. And he added numerous small personalized touches such as a private Wine Tastings, a hilarious, hands on cooking class with an amazing chef, and a two hour Tasting in the cellars of one of the most famous Winemakers in Argentina. If you want to learn about and experience South American wines, Robertson Wine Tours is absolutely the way to go
Jordan Libit
California, USA, March 2009 -
My tour in Uruguay were the most memorable; maybe because Tim was my personal guide, but also because of the hospitality at each Winery. It was fascinating to delve into the mind of the Winemakers/owners and their philosophies of winemaking. I traveled alone on this trip and it was one of my favorite vacations to date. I would hire Robertson Wine Tours again and highly recommend his services
Tara Medely
New York. Feb 2009 -
Dear Tim and team, everything very much appreciated, I will totally recommend you to my friends and the Wine Society. Perhaps a little too much wine, Can that be possible? Well safely back to normality and just a few days back I already miss the Alfresco dining with the Andes in the background, and a wonderful Torrontes in the hand. I envy the lot of you. Good luck with the Season
Jane Goodwin
Toronto. November 2009 -
We had the most wonderful time so it is all good!!
We are probably going to Italy next year so would appreciate your advice on where to go in relation to vineyards - so will be in touch re this
Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2009
Suzanne and Rod Windrim
New South Sales. Australia, December 2008 -
My wife and myself would like to thank you for the great planning and organization of our 7-day trip to the Wine Regions. Thanks to your help and personal efforts everywhere where we stayed, the responsible people received us with a maximum of attention. We enjoyed very much the guided tours of the Wineries of O' Fournier, Carmelo Patti, Luigi Bosca. Of course the Tasting of those nectars will stay in our memories for a long time. The different overnight stays where a PARADISE on Earth!
Mr. C. Von Boch
Argentina. December 2005 -
Tim thank you for everything, Piaspia says hello to you, great to get home to see the Children and thank you for a memorable trip
Mr and Mrs Rafael Eganez.
Caracas, Venezuela. October 2006 -
We were very fortunate to settle on Tim Robertson of Robertson Wine Tours He did an exceptional job of putting together our trip that exceeded all our expectations and, even though he was out of the country at the time of our trip, he made an effort to kept in touch with us via email, making sure everything was going according to plan. I thank both Tim and Lorena for making our trip very special
Bill Blair
January 2009 -
I found Tim Robertson and his staff to be extremely efficient. They provided me with all my travel needs whilst I was in Argentina. I loved my trip to Salta and the Wineries. Well recommended. I encourage everyone to drink Argentinean Wine, but so far the French are having none of it!
Ms Marsali Leeming
United Kingdom. July 2005
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For anyone wanting the best in a wine trip to South America...give RWT a buzz....they'll sort everything out for you...Tim takes away all the hiccups that most agents don't....i drank, ate, slept and like a king. i'll be using Tim again. next wine trip is to Italia. viva!
Gracias Muchachos
Simon Taylor
London. March 2007 -
We've just completed a 10 day Tour with Robertson Wine Tours and we would just like to express our thanks for such amazing service and coordination. Mendoza and Uruguay proved to be everything we had expected and I am sure that we choose very well when we decided to plan our trip with RWT. We highly recommend RWT and hope to travel again with them in the future
Wolfram and Anna Weinkler
Frankfurt, Germany. Sept 2008 -
From my first inquiry, Tim was responsive, professional, and forthright with his extensive knowledge. We became immediate friends and it seemed we had known each other for years. The Wine Tours were impeccably arranged to my outright tastes with accommodations for exploration. The lunches were fantastic and decadent. Frankly, I did not expect such delicious cuisine
Tara Medely
New York. Feb 2009 -
Mr. Robertson prepared an all-inclusive itinerary of Chile and Argentina, which was both thorough and professional. I would recommend Mr. Robertson and his company’s services without hesitation and wish you a very pleasant trip
Mr S Hepburn
Varese Italy. June 2008 -
Yes, overall we were very impressed and would certainly recommended you to anyone. Good pace, the choice of wineries was very good everything flowed very well, If any of your prospective clients would like to talk to to us we would be more than willing to answer any questions they may have
Nate Remely and Family
Colombia/USA. January 2010 -
We arrived back in Canada last evening.We had a wonderful experience in South America. Our visit to Mendoza was perfect. The full day trip to the mountains and the half day wine and lunch seemes a perfect mix for time in Mendoza
Joanne and Forbes McLellan
Canada. February 2010 -
My wife and I traveled to Argentina for 10 days taking in Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Mendoza. We then spent 4 days in Chile and traveled on to see Easter Island. We would recommend Robertson Wine Tours to anyone wanting to travel in these regions. Excellent planning and communication throughout
Mr & Mrs R Plumptre
United Kingdom. June 2005 -
Great work Robertson Wine Tours, thoroughly comprehensive tour of the Argentina’s Wine routes. First class choices and memorable Wines. The guided tasting with Eduardo at Carlos Pulenta was truly unforgettable
Mr N Williamson
Canada. March 2006
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Dear Tim and staff, thank you for arranging such our trip for us, the guiding was of an excellent level. The Winemakers and staff everywhere you choose are very friendly and helpful. We are going home to start our diets. Good work and best of luck for the company
Mr R Garcia Ramirez
Spain. November 2004
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