Second Annual "Wines of the Andes" Presentation to Take Place on November 07, 2005 at the Argentine Consulate office 12 W 56th St. NY,NY.

(PRWEB) October 13, 2005 -- Aymara Wine Tourism of Mendoza Argentina will be presenting the “Wines of the Andes” featuring the noble Mablec grape from wineries such as Dolium, Catena, Zuccardi to name just a few. Come join the wine enologist and representatives from Mendoza to explore the Argentine phenomenon of the Malbec grape in its’ truest form.

Thousands of different grapes are grown in different ways in all sorts of soils and climates every year and in many countries before the wine making process even begins. Moreover, the process involves many stages and countless variations that affect the finished product in significant ways. All of this adds up to magnificent and complex equations. The clearest example of this phenomenon is the synergy between the Malbec grape and the Mendoza region in Argentina. The Malbec's origins lie in France, where the grape has been in conspicuous decline for more than a century. There, it is sensitive to an array of maladies that affect grapes such as frost damage, downy mildew and bunch rot. Consequently, vinyards have deserted Malbec in droves, and the only significant French appellation in which Malbec now plays a leading role is Cahors.

Malbec made the trip to South America when modern vineyards were established there in the mid-19th century. It found its true home in the front range of the Andes above Mendoza, where the grape has ascended from pretty good to truly great, making Malbec Argentina's best wine. Growing conditions in this remarkable area are almost perfectly suited to Malbec's needs, forgiving its vulnerabilities and enhancing its strengths. The best vineyards are situated at altitudes between 2,000 and 3,500 feet above sea level. The Andean mountain range protects the area from pacific storms and pollution. The combination of high altitude and pure air makes for particularly intense sunlight and, therefore, strong photosynthetic ripening in Mendoza's vineyards. Warm daytime temperatures also help with ripening, but thanks to the cool nights of the high-altitude setting, Malbec grapes retain sufficient acidity to be balanced and pure in their ripeness.

The weather-related problems the Malbec endures in France are greatly minimized in the moderate climate above Mendoza, where frost is not a problem. Although the area is relatively dry in terms of rainfall, water for irrigation is available in abundance from rivers carrying runoff from the Andean snow pack. Dry conditions make it virtually unnecessary to spray against the risk of rot. The only threat the Malbec faces is in the form of hail, caused by occasional atmospheric turbulence resulting from the Andes.

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