Peter – Wine Specialist, Pasadena
Susana Balbo has literally turned the Argentine wine world upside down and inside out! As the first female enologist in Argentina, she is referred to as the “Queen of Torrontes.” Balbo coaxes and manipulates this white grape varietal into an incredibly approachable, surprisingly affordable, and extremely tasteful Argentine white wine.
Leave it to Susana to locate the terroir that distresses the grape vines to the point of producing exceptional Torrontes. She performs this magic with fruit from the sub appellations of Paraje Altamira and San Carlos in the Valle de Uco region, a premier wine producing area located in the Mendoza Province of Western Argentina, approximately 50 to 60 miles southwest of Mendoza in the foothills of the Andes Mountains.
The blend itself is unique for Argentina, combining the aromatic native Torrontés (40%) with the more classic French varietals Sauvignon Blanc (30%) and Sémillon (30%). This challenges the traditional perception of Argentine white wines.
