Since it feels as if the heat has increased by about 100 degrees, it’s the perfect time to find something cool and refreshing to sip on during our midsummer Miami heat wave.
Here’s an idea: Travel to South America inside your glass with some delicious white wines that are perfect for summertime imbibing.
Most of the South American wine we see in South Florida comes from Argentina, Chile or Uruguay. That will be our focus, though enjoyable wine is made in other countries throughout that continent, like in Bolivia and Brazil.
Here are a few bottles under $20 to look for the next time you’re perusing the shelves.
Argentina
(Courtesy of Domaine Bousquet)
The Domaine Bousquet vineyard was planted on virgin land by Jean Bousquet in 1997; the estate consists of 240 hectares in Gualtallary, Tupungato, Uco Valley, (Mendoza) Argentina.
Originally from Carcassonne, France, Jean Bousquet discovered the land for his Domaine Bousquet vineyard in the 1990s in a remote, high-altitude area called Gualtallary Valley in the Tupungato district of Mendoza’s Uco Valley. When he arrived the area was desolate, but just a few years later he’d planted vineyards and begun a winery from the bare land.
Domaine Bousquet is now run by Jean’s daughter, Anne Bousquet, and her husband, Labid Al Ameri. Anne and Labid have grown the winery with a focus on 360-degree sustainability, meaning sustainable practices don’t end in the vineyard but expand to winery operations, personnel and giving back to the community where the winery is located. Domaine Bousquet is now the top organic winery in Argentina and one of the country’s premier wine exporters.
Domaine Bousquet Unoaked Chardonnay 2022 is made with organic grapes in stainless steel tanks with some lees contact. Flavors and aromas include tropical and citrus fruits, with green apple and peach. The wine is refreshing on a hot summer day with a high, mouthwatering acidity that’s a match for any soft cheesy appetizer before dinner. Find it at the Key Club in Coconut Grove, Whole Foods and for $14.99 at Wine.com.
(Courtesy of Susana Balbo Wines)
Susana Balbo’s Crios Torrontés from Argentina can be found at Mr. D Wine Merchant in Miami.
Susana Balbo was the first female enologist in Argentina, and she remains an icon in the industry in her home country and beyond. As a winemaker and a mother, she created the Crios line as an ode to her love for her children. The handprint on the label is a symbol of a family bond and the nourishing power of motherhood. Additionally, her Crios wines support community initiatives through various charity events.
Torrontés is Argentina’s native white grape and grows best in the high-altitude vineyards of the country. Balbo Crios Torrontés 2022 is an aromatic wine with aromas and flavors of citrus and tropical fruits, along with white flowers. Clean minerality and crisp acidity are hallmarks of this grape and make this wine super refreshing all year long. Find it at Mr. D Wine Merchant in Miami for $12.
Uruguay
(Courtesy of Bodega Garzón)
Bodega Garzón is an award-winning winery in the small South American country of Uruguay.
It may surprise you to learn that the tiny country of Uruguay is producing powerhouse wines – and it would be a shame to miss out on enjoying a bottle. Known primarily as the home of the big and bold tannat grape, Uruguay is also not shy when it comes to white wines.
Bodega Garzón is a family-owned winery on the Atlantic coast near the town of Garzón. Not only is it Uruguay’s top wine exporter, it’s also a leading winery in all of South America for sustainability practices. This is the first sustainable, LEED certified (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) winery outside North America.
When it comes to wine, Bodega Garzón produces several different grape varieties over different terroir expressions – including single vineyard and “petit clos” wines from very small plots. But when it comes to white wines, albariño is king here. This winery even claims to be the largest albariño producer in all of the Americas.
Bodega Garzón Reserva Albariño 2022 is fermented in stainless steel with three to six months on the lees in tanks, giving this wine a freshness with added complexity and a medium body feel. Inside the glass, there are tropical fruit flavors along with white flower and peach. A perceivable minerality or “saltiness” could be attributed to the vineyards’ proximity to the ocean. Enjoy a glass with dinner at Quinto La Huella in Brickell or grab a bottle for $19.49 at Total Wine.
Chile
In 1998, pioneering boutique winery Viña Leyda planted vineyards in an area without a Designation of Origin (D.O.) just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean in coastal Chile. Here, the maritime influence would be a contributing factor to the distinctive resulting wines.
Due to the unique combination of climatic factors and soils of this area, the winery was able to push to create an entire D.O. to recognize these features. Thus, the Leyda Valley D.O. in Chile was born in 2002.
Viña Leyda Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2022 is a cool climate, coastally influenced sauvignon blanc, meaning the wine exhibits a freshness with clean minerality and racy acidity. This is an expressive and aromatic wine with prominent citrus fruit flavors like lime and grapefruit, along with a distinct herbal characteristic. Pair this bottle – which you can purchase for $15.99 at Wine.com – with fresh seafood like oysters or lobster with a light lemon-butter sauce.
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(Courtesy of Domaine Bousquet)
Domaine Bousquet’s Unoaked Organic Chardonnay is a perfect complement to fresh seafood.
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(Courtesy of Bodega Garzón)
Bodega Garzón Reserva Albariño is available by the glass at Quinto La Huella restaurant in Brickell.