High-end crib

Published on May 16, 2012 in Press. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Mariano Fresco, from Cronista.com, wrote about emblematic cases and particular stories of boutique wineries. Among them, he decided to stand out our Bodega. Don´t miss this complete review:
In the New World of wine, the term boutique remains trendy. In the last decade, it has been frequently heard in many fairs, wine tastings, and festivals. Although it´s on everyone´s lips, it also generates confusion. What does it means for a winery to be considered boutique? What requirements should the winery comply to fit into that category? Is it about an attribute that relates to the elaborated quality or quantity?

Six years ago, Iacopo Di Bugno and Mario Pardini, two young Tuscan boys passionate for wines, disembarked in Mendoza. And, from the moment they set foot on Mendocinian soil, they dreamt about having their own winery in the New World. Thus, the ambicious Ave Project was given birth: This new venture is characterized by its Italian philosophy and style in Argentina. It´s immersed in a dream 40 ha-estate, placed in the prsetigious district of Perdriel and it has the enological support of the winemaker Alberto Antonini.

“It´s a life project. Since we got here, we wanted to live here to understand what was going on with wine in Argentina. Besides, we wanted to be part of the wine renaissance of the country. We are Tuscan, and set our seal of that region in our wines, which expresses our identity; for example their distinct acidity…typical of Tuscan varietals” Di Bugno, expresses. The paradoxical thing is that, Ave bet strongly on malbec and also proposes a new torrontés of modern style: it means, it focuses on the emblematic vatieties of Argentina.

The most outstanding thing is its icon label babtized as Memento, which combines seven grape vaerieties (Malbec, bonarda, tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and syrah).

“We started with 5 thousand bottles, now we are producing 150 thousand and our main goal is to get to produce 230 thousand. Culturaly, we are not used to make more volumen. Our project has to remain boutique, because otherwise, it´d loose its soul” Di Bugno, concludes.

And finally…Ave fled over Italy!

Published on May 9, 2012 in Tasting. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

With a beautiful night among friends, the official arrival of Ave to Italy was celebrated. The event was carried out with a dinner at the prestigious Vinoteca I Santi (I Santi wine store), located in the historical central area of the city, Lucca, at the heart of Tuscany; place in which Mario and Iacopo, the engines of Ave, were born. Of course, they attended to the event and explained their Argentinean dreams through wines.

A three steps menu with traditional regional food dishes were matched perfectly with Ave Premium Malbe, Ave Gran Riserva and Memento.

Among the guests, the restaurant and wine store’s owner, sommeliers and journalists who toasted `til night with the glasses in hand welcomed Ave in Italy…The first of one of the so many events that will have us as protagonists!

And with you…La Martita

Published on May 4, 2012 in Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Yes, this disturbing and exorbitant image belongs to a cow. The thing is that the concept goes further. “La Martita” is the house where the homonymous animal lives. And even though all this seems a delirium, the truth is that in this simple act, Ave Wines introduces in society its new property. The estate with more than 100 hectares (247 acres) is located in Alto Agrelo and will be the head office for the upcoming vineyards of the Italian enterprise. Here, we show you the pictures of the official barbeque in “La Martita” Another thing, it’s worth mentioning that in June Ave family will continue growing, since in that time our beloved cow will become a mother.

Ave Wines at Roger Waters´VIP

Published on April 3, 2012 in Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

The British musician Roger Waters came back to Argentina and captivated a crowd with his spectacular “The Wall Live”. A show that sums up in a conceptual performance and a dazzling audiovisual production. An Opera Rock that being approached with the highest technology takes up again the sound of the memorable homonymous album of his band.

Ave Wines, together with Iacopo Di Bugno, one of its most important engines, was present in the mega recital. Our wines’ winery were the host of the VIP room at River Plate´s stadium. A luxury for the palate and ears.

“I´m proud of being part of Ave”

Published on March 21, 2012 in Visits. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Isidro Pereira is in front of The One, a company that distributes our wines in South Argentina. A member that adds to our staff and that with a different and renewed vision tells us his experiences with Ave. Having been recently arrived from the Argentine South, we spoke about the repercussion of our wines in this tour. “We organized our trip with the goal of the presentation and promotion of Ave wines, so later on we could analyze the results and acceptance on people, to which it exceeded our expectations” Isidro starts positively.

The tour included: the Capital city of Neuquèn, San Martìn de los Andes, Bariloche, Puerto Madryn, Pnìnsula de Valdez, Las Grutas, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, and then Mendoza was a unique experience for The One.”Actually, our trip was going to end in Tierra del Fuego. We couldn´t make it since it was really surprising Ave wines acceptance in the first provinces. Nevertheless, we`re organizing another trip to get there” Pereira ends.

What is really the Ave image for Isidro Pereira and The One, that makes us so appealing? “The passion, dedication and trust I see reflected in Ave wines reflects the fruit of friendship and collaboration among its founders: Mario Pardini, Iacopo Di Bugno, their prestigious winemaker Alberto Antonini and their great team work”
In his opinion, Ave wines are very attractive, delicate, firm, deep, invigorating and corpulent. “In simpler words, it´s a magnificent wine for those special moments of every person.”

This distributor assures that Ave fits perfectly, together with the beautiful landscapes that we found in South Argentina and its so peculiar gastronomy. “I think Ave project is a young project with excellent quality products and people. I`m proud of being part of the short term future growth of Ave.”

CasaAve welcomed to the wine`s representatives

Published on March 21, 2012 in Tasting. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

In Ave Wines we open the doors of our emblematic house to the best sommeliers of Mendoza. In a relaxed and calm day, the new generation of the wine`s representatives was able to enjoy a wine-tasting run by Iacopo Di Bugno, one the most important engines of Ave.

A walk through the vineyards and trough a more than 100 years old house and a wine tasting that included the best things about this winery were the synthesis of a perfect tasting.

The rain couldn´t stop Ave and its legionaries

Published on February 28, 2012 in Tasting. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

19:00 hs: The rain starts…and not an ordinary rain…a storm! In ten minutes the City is like a flipper in tilt…and me too. I have to go from Recoleta to Las Cañitas of Palermo in a record time. There, I´m await to present Ave Wines in Vinoteca 1912 (wine store 1912), a talk that it was suppose to happen two weeks early, but I had to change the schedule due to force majeure. Do you guess why? Of course, the rain…damn rain, and damn Buenos Aires which gets flooded in 5 minutes.

19:15 hs: I decided to go…and I´m going… this time the rain won´t stop me. In the meantime I wonder what did the Roman legion do when it rained, do they withdraw from the battlefield? I don`t think so…But, I´d truly like to see them. I´ve been waiting a taxi for more than 10 minutes with water up to my ankle…On top of that, when the taxi arrives, it gets me flooded with a killer wave since the driver jammed on the brakes.

19:20 hs: At the taxi…yes, I´m soaking wet. Background music: Christian Castro, I don`t know why, but something tells me that tonight is not going to be an easy night…

19:35 hs: I arrive to the wine store, I pay the taxi (The driver doesn´t have change…For a change) I go in…Marcela Carmona is waiting for me. She is sommelier and one of the angels of Soma, the distributor of our wines in Buenos Aires. She came first and is helping the wine store´s owner, Marcela Grispo and her staff to prepare the glasses. But, for who? One person is sit, only one person and, surely no one else is coming due to the weather. Nevertheless, all wines will be for him and we´ll get drunk together. A brave person that, ultimately deserves it…and me…too.

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19:45 hs: Amazing! The wine store is full. Everybody arrived in 5 minutes and also Matias Gerino, a friend that works with us in international trade. I´d invited him to come to the talk; he is forced to get up since there´s no more room for clients. I name him official photographer of the night.

20:00 hs: We started! The legionnaires (they deserve that title since they weren´t afraid of the rain) are sit as they were at the Coliseum. At the centre is me: I´m neither a gladiator nor a lion. I´m just one of the two consuls of Ave (the other one, Mario is in Italy having a wonderful time at a temperature of -5ºC).

20:05 hs: The Ave Premium Torrontès 2009 is poured in the glass…ok. We don´t produce this wine any more (at the moment), but I always like to pour it in wine-tastings, since it represents very well our way of thinking…our job (I don´t know if we are sure that this is a job ¿?). Everyone is shocked and starts to ask. That`s the way I like! Let´s go ahead with curiosity!

20:15 hs: The first appetizer arrives: salmon salad, greens and dressing with lime and lemon…a perfect match with our white wine.

20:30 hs: The Ave Premiun Malbec 2010 knocks at the door…or kicked it down. It`s our most convincing wine, and it has a delicate structure regarding the relation price – quality. People listen to me and then taste…they look at the color, pass the glass by their nose and finally, they take it to their mouth. The comments are very good, and almost everyone think it´s a great wine with a very interesting price…there are a lot of questions. Everybody think it`s a completely different Malbec. Marcela Carmona defines it as a complex wine but not complicated…I believe I could never come to so perfect description. I hope you don`t mind, but I´ll use this phrase from now on…as a matter of fact, I´ll use it always.

20:50 hs: It´s the second appetizer I see it coming. Little pork chops, smoked cheese and spiced tomatoes compote…I`m not tasting the food, but I think people is happy with the pairing. They´re eating everything!

21:05 hs: Ave Gran Riserva 2008 is on the table…a great wine, a grand wine…that it´s even more notable with the third pairing. Bitter chocolate mousse with hazelnut little chocolates and coffee, juniper salt crystal…and I only watched!

21:35 hs: I talk about Memento 2007…Even though it´s not included in the tasting, raising up people´s expectations is one of my favorite things to do. I hope I´ve convinced them to taste that wine…due to their questions…I´m convinced.

21:50 hs: Game over! The tasting is ending, but still we´re talking. They congratulate me and I congratulate them for having the courage of assisting in the middle of this weather. Everybody leaves after they bought some bottles…they´re very relaxed…Of course: they ate!

22:00 hs: I appreciate everyone. The wine store staff, leaded by Marcela Grispo was truly top-level: the organization was splendid, Marcela Carmona´s supervision, as usual…superb. The atmosphere in the wine-tasting was very, very good… (Something that doesn´t happen all the time.)

22:10 hs: After a couple of pictures, I leave the place with Matias (The official photographer of the presentation.) to eat some pizza at Siamo nel Forno, the fantastic pizza place of my friend Nèstor Gattorna (Another Ave legionnaire in the Capital city.) It was a lovely evening…

To be continued?

Volando América del Norte

Published on February 22, 2012 in Visits. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Recently, Mario Pardini, one of the owners of Ave Wines, made a great business tour in the United States. ”I went to visit the distributers of 4 states, companies that are very important for Ave”, Pardini tells us.

The trip began on January the 23rd in the northern garden state. Two days in Florida, were the beggining to what was about to come. “Ave is pretty well located, and of top of that, it´s located in one the most exclusive places as it is Miami.”

Later, it was the turn of The Big Apple. “I went to New York for a few days to deal directly with our importer, who is also the distributor of that city. There were days of many visits and in many places”.

We tell to our Ave fans that on a blind wine-tasting made in one the most exclusive restaurants of New York and competing with two of the 100 top wines of Wine Spectator, Ave Gran Reserva was the winner.

Continuiing with the trip, on the second week of the tour, Mario Pardini traveled to Boston and Ohio, two very important markets to our winery. “The best of all it´s that our distributors are happy with our quality, and we are happy with the sales” Mario finishes.

To end our interview, we ask Mario Pardini which was his favourite city. “It´s hard to say which city I liked the most, but New York will always by New York…” he ends.

Ave Wines was in the “Wine International Conrad Reception Room”

Published on January 31, 2012 in Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

The Premium quality of these wines with Italian seal will be present in one of the most important fairs of the moment. In January 27th and 28th the Italians Iacopo Di Bugno and Mario Pardini´s entrepreneurship will attend the Wine International Conrad Reception Room, the most exclusive gourmet display of Punta del Este agenda.

During the meeting- whereby the most important wineries of Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Spain and New Zealand, among other countries will be present- those presents will able to know the wine´s different typical characteristics, region of origin, productive process and characteristics of each and every wine present in the display. It´s worth mentioning that Ave Wines will count with the presence of Iacopo Di Bugno, one of the strongest engines of the Winery. He will be on the fair and those presents will be able to dialogue directly with him. A luxury for Ave`s fans.

More than 120 local and international wineries will be present at the fair. They will offer wine-tastings to those who wish to know more and get closer to the wine industry.

Sandra Castillo in CasaAve

Published on January 9, 2012 in Visits. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

The sommelier, graduated from the Argentine School of Sommeliers, and member of the board of Directors of the AAS (Argentine Association of Sommelier) came to Mendoza accompanied by someone, and of course she came by to Casa Ave. In a very characteristic meeting, a picnic organized by Iacopo Di Bugno, one of Ave Wines engines; we could talk to her about the impressions that cause our winery.

What did you think about Ave wines?
I think Ave wines are very special, different, with a light and delicate character, regarding the terroir ad origin.

What do you think about the Project and its founders?
I think is a Project made with passion and founded on very good grounds, and with a lot of projection, together with professional people and with a lot of ideas.

Did you like Casa Ave?
The house was wonderful. Also, I think it´s very important the recovery of the original materials, which are very well combined with trendy touches, I think they contribute with a special touch. The park, the view, the sunset…unforgettable. The visit was a tremendous experience matched by the best host.

Of all Ave wines, which one would you stand out, and why?
I really, really like Memento 2007, I think it´s a very special and complex wine, starting from the fact that is born in a unique vineyard, has the power of an important wine, behaves well with guard, and develops with elegance and complexity.

Sandra Castillo´s profile
Sandra is a Graduated sommelier from Argentine School of Sommeliers, and graduated Technician in Hotel management from CFP, San Carlos of Bariloche. She worked in Correntoso Hotel, in Villa La Angostura, Sofitel Hotel, and Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, Buenos Aires; and in the restaurant La Bourgogne, Uruguay. She was a teacher in the Argentine School of Sommeliers in Colombia. Calderòn made consultancy in creating wine menus to Hotel Hilton Cartagena, Hotels chain Estelar, and Habitel Hotel in Colombia. She was advisory sommelier at the International Conference of Wines and Spirits, Cannes `09. She was part of the jury in the competitions Expovinos 2008 in Colombia, and VinoSub30 2009. Also she was member of the tasting panel of the guide Austral Spectator 2009.

Currently, she is a sommelier in Moreno Restaurante, and advices wine importers in Uruguay and Colombia.