Bodega Andeluna

Visiting Salentein

About Alta Vista

Ten years ago, French wine group Edonia purchased Alta Vista from its Spanish owners in the Luján de Cuyo region of Mendoza, Argentina. The winery is beautiful: in addition to the typical vineyard and mountain view, the entrance is lined with full lavender plants and ancient olive trees. Like CarinaE, Alta Vista has done a great job of keeping with tradition while having their own modern style. The winery building and equipment has been restored for their needs but in a historically-minded way.

Don Miguel Escorihuela Gascón started his winery at the end of the 18th century, and is one of the most historic in Mendoza. Don Miguel moved to Mendoza from Spain when he was 19 years old, and though he had no money when he arrived, four years later he bought 42 acres of land and started planting his vineyard. Remnants of the wineries history are in the huge barrel from 1910 displayed in the winery as well as an interesting series of photos chronicling the history of the winery.

There are several international exams to prove competency in English, one of the more popular being the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). In Spanish, there is really one main test to take: the Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE) initiated by the Cervantes Institute in Spain. The test is an internationally recognized confirmation of competency in the Spanish language.

Why take the DELE?

If you haven't heard his name, you've certainly heard his music. Dominican Republic-born Juan Luis Guerra has been singing and songwriting for over 25 years, one of his all-time songs being Ojalá que llueva café (which you may have heard in Spanish class to practice the subjunctive). His merengue/bolero style of music has become famous both inside Latin America and abroad, and the musician has won many music awards including 5 Latin Grammy's in 2007. His classic upbeat sound inspires dancing merengue and sipping mamajuana on the Caribbean island.

Old World and New World Wines

Frederico Casonne from Familia Cassone Winery in Mendoza, Argentina describes the world of wine as divided into two groups: Old World wines from France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany and New World wines crafted in Argentina, Chile, United States, New Zealand, and South Africa. Without history and tradition on their side, New World wineries hope to create a new kind of wine, with their own style and distinct taste.

The Cassone Family and their Wines

We're French, darling...

French winemaking is certainly well represented in Mendoza, Argentina, from charming boutique winery Carinae, to elegant Alta Vista to aristocratic Bodega Monteviejo. Bodega Monteviejo is part of the Clos de los Siete, a project including famed winemaker and consultant Michel Rolland. The winery is owned by Catherine Péré-Vergé from France.

About Bodega, Monteviejo

Like many wineries in Mendoza, Bodega Monteviejo is relatively new: its first harvest was in 2002. Located in the beautiful Uco Valley with a view of the Andean cordillera, the winery exudes the elegance you would expect from a French-owned winery.

Wines from Bodega Monteviejo

Torrontés regions

I recently rediscovered Torrontés wine and have decided it will be one of my new white wine staples. The first time I learned about Torrontés was visiting the north of Argentina, around Salta and Cafayate, one of the main Torrontés growing regions. Now in Mendoza, Argentina, another producing area, I've had the chance to try several Torrontés wines and love the crisp, fragrant, refreshing varietal.

Torrontés grape