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Word on Wine

Hopefully we will be enjoying an Indian summer when you read this, and we can still enjoy a glass of chilled white wine.

The wine I would like to introduce to you is Torrontés. This is becoming the signature white wine variety of Argentina. The variety is believed to be a descendant of an indigenous grape variety from Galicia in north-west Spain, although there is no genetic evidence of this. A lot of people have emigrated from Galicia to Argentina over the centuries, but the wine produced in Spain is different from the Torrontés wine of Argentina.

The Torrontés grape in Argentina is suited to being grown in the dry, high altitude areas with long dry summers producing a wine with pure fruit flavours. A lot of Torrontés, which produces a fragrant, overalcoholic and sometimes bitter wine, is blended with other white grape varieties to produce easy drinking wines. However, in a few cases, with care, the wine can produce an easy drinking wine on its own.

One good example of this is the Vinalba Torrontés 2020 from the Valle de Uco area of Mendoza in Argentina from Majestic Wines. This is a 100% Torrontés unoaked wine with pure fruit flavours of white peaches, lychees and pears. The vines are, on average, 10 years old and, due to the dryness of the region, are grown 950m above sea level in the foothills of the Andes mountains. They use low frequency irrigation to keep the vines alive but also control growth vigour and sun exposure to produce high quality grapes. The grapes are harvested in late March by hand in small trays to prevent damage. The grapes are then meticulously sorted before being pressed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks using specially selected yeasts, and is temperature controlled between 14 – 16ºC. The juice is macerated on the skins for 8 hours. Available from: Majestic Wines, £9.99 (reduced to £8.99 as part of six or more bottles)

For more information please visit www.vinalba.com and www.majestic.co.uk to purchase the wine.

If you like wine and would like to learn more, please visit our website www.kilburnwinecircle.weebly.com or visit our Facebook page for details of our future tastings for 2021 and 2022.

By David Savidge, Kilburn Wine Circle

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Technical Details:

Grapes: 100% Torrontés Appearance: Clean, pale yellow tint. Nose / Aroma: Fresh and inviting aroma with bright tropical notes and citrus hints. Taste: Complex and refreshing taste with pineapple and white peach. Alcohol by Volume: 13.5% Food match: Spicy food especially Chinese or Indian, or just on its own as an aperitif.