Malbec World Day

Malbec World Day is celebrated on April 17th, to commemorate the day when Argentinian president, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, officially made his mission to transform Argentina's wine industry. On that day, back in 1853, he tasked Michel Aimé Pouget, a French soil expert, to bring over new vines. Amongst his selection, was Malbec^[1]. Sarmiento went on to become president and Malbec has become Argentina's most known varietal ^{[2] [3] [4]}.

Malbec

Malbec is a variety of purple grape used in making red wine. The grapes tend to have an inky dark color and robust tannins, and are long known as one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine.

Malbec grapes are found primarily in Cahors in the South West France region, where it begun its production. It is increasingly celebrated as an Argentine varietal wine and is being grown around the world.

Malbec world Day 2011 around the globe

More than 30 cities around the world (coordinated by the Foreign Affairs Office of Argentina) hosted events around Malbec, Argentinean food and lifestyle.

In addition, the cities of New York, Toronto and Ottawa simultaneously hosted "crushing parties" with Argentine grapes, with the intention of producing a special Malbec wine, which will be used for toasting at the 2012 edition of the Malbec World Day^[5][6][7].

United States

New York

The National Public Library was lit with burgundy lights and the Malbec World Day logotype. (April 14th 2011), Gary Vaynerchuk hosted a private VIP tasting on April 14, and the Tribeca Film Festival provided Argentinean wines for the more than 130 events held in the framework of the festival. ^{[8] [9]}

Napa Valley

On April 19 2011, twelve Malbecs from different regions and various price segments were presented, combined with a menu by Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein.^[10]

Washington

The Cherry Blossom Festival (March 26 to April 10 2011) presented Malbec wines at the 10 events that are part of the Festival.^[11]

Canada

Toronto

Tastings and wine food pairings with iYellow Wine Club, a closing event at the National Arts Centre on April 19 2011, with the presence of Argentine wine representatives and managers of city restaurants; and the promotion of Argentine Malbec wines in city restaurants during the week of April 17 to 23.^[12]

Ottawa

Argentine Malbec was offered at special prices and there were tastings for guest of Ottawa Restaurants on April 16th and 17th with the collaboration of Wines of Argentina and the Argentine Embassy in Canada.^[13][14]

United Kingdom

Two of the largest retailers in UK were promoting Argentine wines from the main regions: Salta, San Juan, Mendoza and Patagonia. Promotions, direct sales, internet and in-store sales and tastings were some of the activities.^[15][16][17]

Brazil

Tasting Seminar: "Top Malbec Tasting" in the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Malbec Seminar “Brazilian Icons” will present a list of Malbec wines selected to journalists, sommeliers, restaurateurs and personalities of the world of wine in this country.^[5]

Argentina

In Argentina, the event was held in Mendoza, which is the country’s main Malbec producing region.

On Saturday, April 16 2011, Wines of Argentina were holding a cocktail party at Tupungato Winelands for 150 people, who were there to toast with Malbec from three hot-air balloons floating at 30 meters of height.^{[18] [19]}

Malbec Crushings

Crushing party at City Winery: A crushing party with (industrial) grapes carried all the way from Mendoza was performed, and the resulting wines will be included in the celebrations of the 2012 MWD edition^[20].

Malbec Crush at Vintage One Winery. The crushing in Canada was also be performed with Argentine grapes especially transported for this event that combine typical Argentine food (asado), tango shows and tasting of Malbec wines for more than 200 people. Held on April 17.

Creating a Malbec with Chapel Down and Gaucho Restaurants

Wines of Argentina partnered with Chapel Down Winery and the Gaucho restaurant chain to produce the first Malbec ever made in England with 100% Malbec grapes selected from Gaucho’s vineyards in Lunlunta, Mendoza.

After the harvest, these grapes were carried over to Chapel Down, in Kent. The wine obtained was sold at Gaucho through selected retailers.

On April 17, the press and personalities of the trade were invited to Chapel Down to launch this innovative activity.

References

1. ^ A. Domine (ed) Wine pg 840-844 Ullmann Publishing 2008 ISBN 9783833146114
2. ^ "Wait until dark". guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/08/wine-foodanddrink1. Retrieved 2009-02-08. 
3. ^ "Malbec: Will Success Prove Too Much for the South American Star". gismondionwine.com. http://www.gismondionwine.com/article.php?key=1112. Retrieved 2009-08-15. 
4. ^ "Why Argentine Malbec shines above the rest". ft.com. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/48aaa044-9662-11dd-9dce-000077b07658.html#axzz1ICuzclQk. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Malbec World Day events". malbecworldday.com. http://www.malbecworldday.com/events.html. Retrieved 2011-04-05. 
6. ^ "Wines of Argentina declares 'Malbec World Day'". harpers.co.uk. http://www.harpers.co.uk/news/10063-wines-of-argentina-declares-world-malbec-world-day.html. Retrieved 2011-01-17. 
7. ^ "WINES OF ARGENTINA DECLARES APRIL 17 AS MALBEC WORLD DAY". greatwinecapitals.com. http://www.greatwinecapitals.com/?it=event&co=3691. Retrieved 2011-04-17. 
8. ^ "Malbec World Day Celebration At The New York Public Library Hosted By The Consulate General Of Argentina In New York". zimbio.com. http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/tPt7UrsKAji/Malbec+World+Day+Celebration+New+York+Public. Retrieved 2011-04-13. 
9. ^ "Malbec World Day Reception". scallywagandvagabond.com. http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2011/04/malbec-world-day-reception/. Retrieved 2011-04-16. 
10. ^ "Malbec Event Napa Valley". malbecworldday.com. http://www.malbecworldday.com/events/napa/. Retrieved 2011-04-17. 
11. ^ "Malbec: one day, one celebration, one global star". winesofargentina.org. http://www.winesofargentina.org/en/news_manager/ver/2011/03/22/un-dia-una-celebracion-mundial-una-estrella-el-malbec/. Retrieved 2011-03-22. 
12. ^ "Fiesta del Vino". torontohispano.com. http://www.torontohispano.com/entretenimiento/fiestas/2011/malbec/vinos.shtml. Retrieved 2011-04-19. 
13. ^ "Shinan: They’re just mad about Malbec". nationalpost.com. http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/04/23/shinan-theyre-just-mad-about-malbec/. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
14. ^ "Party Time for April 27, 2011". embassymag.ca. http://www.embassymag.ca/partytime/view/4-27-2011. Retrieved 2011-07-18. 
15. ^ "Celebrate Malbec World Day tomorrow". goodwinsgastrogossip.com. http://goodwinsgastrogossip.com/2011/04/16/help-celebrate-malbec-world-day-tomorrow/. Retrieved 2011-04-16. 
16. ^ "Malbec World Day". beautyandthedirt.com. http://www.beautyandthedirt.com/2011/04/15/malbec-world-day/. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
17. ^ "UK celebrates Sunday Malbec World Day, Argentina’s flagship grape variety". mercopress.com. http://en.mercopress.com/2011/04/16/uk-celebrates-sunday-malbec-world-day-argentina-s-flagship-grape-variety. Retrieved 2011-04-16. 
18. ^ "World Malbec Day: much more than just hot air!". wine-republic.com. http://www.wine-republic.com/events/595-world-malbec-day-much-more-than-hot-air. Retrieved 2011-04-19. 
19. ^ "Malbec World Day in Tupungato". andeswines.com. http://www.andeswines.com/en/malbec-world-day-in-tupungato/. Retrieved 2011-04-19. 
20. ^ "Malbec World Day Crushings". malbecworldday.com. http://www.malbecworldday.com/malbec_crushings.html. Retrieved 2011-04-05.