Chardonnay

		Varietals:	100% Chardonnay
		Vineyard:	La Emilia Vineyard age: 16 Years
		Appellation:	Santa Rosa, Argentina
		Fermentation:	Stainless Steel
		Wood:	No Wood
		Aging:	6 months in bottles

WINEMAKER NOTES: This wine has a delicate light golden colour with emerald hues. The aroma is full of melon and pineapple. The wine is fresh, vibrant and stimulating with a long lush finish

Chardonnay: Considered the queen of white grapes, Chardonnay is the main French white variety grown mainly in the areas of Burgundy, Chablis and Champagne. It produces deep delicate white wines of remarkable persistence. Its particular trait is its pale yellow color with green lights. Its aroma is reminiscent of fresh fruit, such as apples, or flowers. Because of its balanced flavor.

In Argentina, it is used as the base for most sparkling wines. It is mostly developed in the lands of San Rafael, Tupungato and Maipú, in the Province of Mendoza, and in Alto Valle del Río Negro.

History: Vinifera vines came to Argentina via Peru and Chile soon after Spanish settlers brought the vines there in the 1550's. The Jesuit missionaries found the best place for growing wine grapes was in the foothills of the Andes. The city of Mendoza was founded in 1561 and is to this day the center of Argentina's most important wine making region. The development of dams and irrigation channels enabled the production of enough wine to meet the demands of a growing population.

Much of the character Argentina's modern day wine industry came from the influx of European immigrants from wine making countries of Spain, Italy and France. The first wave of immigrants arrived in the 1820's following Argentina's freedom from Spanish colonial rule. The second wave came in 1900 following the 1885 completion of the railway from Buenos Aires to Mendoza. These new settlers brought with them new vine cuttings and wine making skills that quickly transformed Argentina into a modern wine making country.

By the 1920's Argentina rose to eighth richest nation in the world. The economic depression of the 1920's was followed by a partial recovery under a decade of Juan Peron's leadership. After Peron's military overthrow a succession of military governments plunged Argentina into economy and political instability causing a loss of foreign markets and financial investment.

Until the late 1980's Argentina's wine industry focused on supplying mass quantities of rustic 'Vino de Mesa' to satisfy domestic demands. With the onset of political and economic stability and the need to generate foreign currency, many wine producer decided to upgrade their wines and seek foreign investment. Focusing on quality, the best vineyard/grape combinations were sought out, modern equipment purchased and within a decade the world has taken notice. It's all uphill now.

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