Dominio del Plata Winery

Last updated
Dominio del Plata
Dominio del Plata Winery logo.jpg
Wine region Mendoza
Appellation Lujan de Cuyo
Other labelsCrios, BenMarco, Susana Balbo Signature, Nosotros
Founded1999
Key peopleSusana Balbo, Jose Lovaglio, Ana Lovaglio, Edgardo del Popolo
Varietals Chardonnay , Torrontes , Pinot Noir , Malbec , Cabernet Sauvignon , Syrah , Bonarda
DistributionInternational
Website www.dominiodelplata.com.ar

Dominio del Plata is a medium-sized winery located in the Lujan de Cuyo region of Mendoza, Argentina. It was founded in 1999 by enologist and entrepreneur Susana Balbo. [1]

Contents

History

After twenty years of working as a consultant winemaker both in Argentina and around the world, Susana Balbo decided to open her own winery. In 1999, Susana rented a small winery and began her first batches of wine. Initially the production was quite small. The first batches of the Susana Balbo and Ben Marco lines were released in August 2000.

The period between 2001 and 2009 was a time of both internal and external expansion for the company. The groundbreaking for the current winery occurred in 2001. [2] During the same year, the proprietary vineyard was planted. Over the next eight years, the winery had several renovations. A barrel room was added in addition to an on-site bottling and storage plant. With each renovation the winery capacity grew significantly. At the same time, the portfolio of the winery was completed.

From 2010 through the present, the winery has undergone significant internal organizational changes. During this time both of Susana's children decided to join the family business. Her son Jose received his enology degree from UC Davis and works as both the winemaker and the export manager. [3] Ana, her daughter, has a degree in Business Administration from Universidad de San Andres and is the manager of the marketing department. [4] In 2013, Edgardo del Popolo was appointed CEO of Dominio del Plata.

Also in 2013, the restaurant Osadia de Crear opened at the winery. [5] This project was spearheaded by Ana and Chef Jose Cacciavillani. The restaurant offers fusion dishes of Mediterranean and Argentine inspiration, as well as deli sandwiches and salads.

Susana Balbo

Susana Balbo was born in Mendoza, Argentina to a traditional Italian family. Wine was always a big part of her life as she was growing up "My first memory is not actually mine, it's told to me by my parents. In my childhood, the beverage for kids was water with a drop of wine to taint the color. So my parents gave me a full glass of water with a few drops of wine, and it seems I liked it as a 3-year old. They say they looked to the side, and I was taking the bottle to pour a full glass of wine!" [6] She opted to become a wine maker and graduated from Don Bosco University in 1981 with a degree in enology. [7] Upon graduating, Susana became the first female enologist in the history of Argentine winemaking.

Susana's first job as a winemaker was at Michel Torino winery in the Salta province. At Michel Torino, Susana was put in charge of further developing the Torrontes varietal, which is native to Argentina. She stylized the wine so that it showed a very floral nose, with a refreshing citrus taste. To this day, she is credited with being the creator of this distinctive and popular style earning her the nickname "Queen of Torrontes". [7]

After working in Salta, Susana returned to Mendoza to work in wineries including Bodega Martins and Bodega Catena Zapata. She founded Dominio del Plata in 1999 in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Even though she started her own winery, Susana maintains her presence in the global wine community. She served as president of Wines of Argentina twice, [8] and still works as a consultant for many wineries around the world. [9]

Winery

In its current phase, the winery has an approximate area of 7,000 square meters. Dominio del Plata mainly uses stainless steel fermentation tanks. The winery ferments in concrete tanks and oak barrels, but on a smaller scale. The approximate yearly output of the winery is 2,000,000 liters.

Dominio del Plata is environmentally friendly, and employs practices such as water recycling and reduced packaging weight to minimize its carbon footprint. The winery has received ISO 22000 certification, which provides consumers with transparency throughout the winemaking and shipping processes. [10]

Wines

Dominio del Plata currently exports to 36 Countries. The biggest markets are the United States, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Japan. There are four major brands produced by Dominio del Plata: Crios, BenMarco, Susana Balbo, and Nosotros.

Crios

This is a line of young, fresh, and very fruit forward wines. Crios means "offspring" in Argentine slang. [11]

BenMarco

The BenMarco wines are the most traditional Argentine style wines produced by Dominio del Plata. They display strong concentration and focus on primary fruit aromas. [12]

Susana Balbo Signature

Susana created this line of wines to fit her own personal tastes. Susana selects the barrels that display great complexity and concentration, and then blends them to produce the final product. [13]

Nosotros

The Nosotros Malbec pays homage to all of the efforts of the Dominio del Plata team. The best 40 barrels are selected by the enologists each year, and are then left to age for 18 months in new French oak. In Spanish, Nosotros means "us". This wine is dedicated to all of the people who work to produce it. [14]

Awards

Sources. [15] [16] [17] [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabernet Franc</span> Variety of black grape

Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone, as in the Loire's Chinon. In addition to being used in blends and produced as a varietal in Canada and the United States, it is sometimes made into ice wine in those regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malbec</span> Wine variety

Malbec is a purple grape variety used in making red wine. The grapes tend to have an inky dark color and robust tannins, and are known as one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine. In France, plantations of Malbec are now found primarily in Cahors in South West France, though the grape is grown worldwide. It is also available as an Argentine varietal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilean wine</span> Wine making in Chile

Chile has a long history in the production of wine, with roots dating back to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors introduced Vitis vinifera vines to the region. In the mid-19th century, French wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, and Franc were introduced. During the early 1980s, the Chilean wine industry underwent a renaissance with the introduction of stainless steel fermentation tanks and the use of oak barrels for aging. This led to a rapid growth in exports as quality wine production increased. The number of wineries in Chile rose from 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New World wine</span> Wine produced outside the traditional wine-growing areas of Europe and the Middle East

New World wines are those wines produced outside the traditional winegrowing areas of Europe and the Middle East, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. The phrase connotes a distinction between these "New World" wines and those wines produced in "Old World" countries with a long-established history of wine production, essentially in Europe, most notably: France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal.

DeLille Cellars is a winery in Woodinville, Washington, USA. Located in the Hollywood District of Woodinville at the former Redhook Brewery, DeLille's hospitality venues include The Tasting Room and The Restaurant at DeLille Cellars. DeLille Cellars specializes in wines using the Bordeaux grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. In 2000, DeLille won The New York TimesWine Today.com "Winery of the Year" award. It is one of Washington state's premier cult wines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argentine wine</span> Fifth largest producer of wine in the world

Argentina is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world. Argentine wine, as with some aspects of Argentine cuisine, has its roots in Spain. During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, vine cuttings were brought to Santiago del Estero in 1557, and the cultivation of the grape and wine production stretched first to neighboring regions, and then to other parts of the country.

Luján de Cuyo is the district capital of the Luján de Cuyo Department located in the west of the Mendoza Province of Argentina. It forms part of the Greater Mendoza metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendoza wine</span> Wine-producing region in Argentina

Mendoza Province is Argentina's most important wine region, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the country's entire wine production. Located in the eastern foothills of the Andes, in the shadow of Aconcagua, vineyards are planted at some of the highest altitudes in the world, with the average site located 600–1,100 metres (2,000–3,600 ft) above sea level. The principal wine producing areas fall into two main departments-Maipú and Luján, which includes Argentina's first delineated appellation established in 1993 in Luján de Cuyo. The pink-skinned grapes of Criolla Grande and Cereza account for more than a quarter of all plantings but Malbec is the region's most important planting, followed closely by Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Chardonnay. Mendoza is considered the heart of the winemaking industry in Argentina with the vast majority of large wineries located in the provincial capital of Mendoza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trapiche (winery)</span>

Trapiche is a winery in Mendoza, Argentina. It was founded in 1883 and consists of over 1000 hectares between several Mendoza vineyards. It is a two-time winner of the International Wine and Spirit Competition Argentine Wine Producer of the Year award, and is the largest producer of wine in Argentina. Trapiche is owned by Grupo Peñaflor, one of the first ten wine producers in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breaux Vineyards</span>

Breaux Vineyards is a Cajun owned and operated winery and vineyard located in Purcellville, Loudoun County, Virginia. Founded by E. Paul Breaux, Jr. in 1997, the 100% estate grown winery was one of three United States wineries to be named in the book "250 Best Wines 2012" by Oz Clarke for their Viognier, which landed at #87 in the publication. Breaux Vineyards is one of Virginia's largest grape growers & suppliers of wine grapes, bulk juice, and bulk wine to other East Coast U.S. wineries. The company logo is a red Crawfish, which pays homage to the Breaux family's Cajun heritage because they are often used in the local Cajun cuisine in Louisiana.

Colgin Cellars is a winery in Napa Valley, California, founded in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bespoke Collection</span>

The Bespoke Collection is a wine producer and lifestyle brand based in Yountville, California, United States. The company comprises two wine labels: Blackbird Vineyards and Recuerdo Wines, and a wine, art and design gallery called Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley. Bespoke Collection also has an additional art gallery in St. Helena, California called I. Wolk Gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Oak Cellars</span> Winery in California

Silver Oak Cellars is a family-owned, California winery dedicated to producing only Cabernet Sauvignon. Silver Oak was established in 1972 by Ray Duncan and Justin Meyer. It is currently operated by Ray's sons David Duncan, who serves as the President and CEO, and his brother, Tim Duncan, who serves as Executive Vice President. Silver Oak has two wineries; one in Oakville in the Napa Valley and one in Healdsburg in the Alexander Valley. The Duncan Family also established Twomey Cellars in 1999, which has wineries in Calistoga and Healdsburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Meyer</span> American winemaker (1938–2002)

Justin Meyer was an American vintner, enologist, and member of the Christian Brothers. He was the founder along with Raymond Twomey Duncan of Silver Oak Cellars in 1972, a successful winery based in the Napa Valley and Alexander Valley. Today Duncan's sons David Duncan and Tim Duncan run Silver Oak Cellars, as well as Twomey Cellars, established in 1999. Meyer sold his share of the company to Duncan in 2001. One of California's top wine experts, he was president of the American Vineyard Foundation in the 1990s and also held numerous other positions in the wine industry. The San Francisco Chronicle cites Meyer as "one of the legends of the Napa Valley".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blankiet Estate</span> Winery in California, United States

Blankiet Estate is a California wine estate owned by Claude and Katherine Blankiet. Located in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains in the Napa Valley, the estate produces a portfolio of wines from their Paradise Hills Vineyard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baldacci Family Vineyards</span>

Baldacci Family Vineyards is a California winery located in the Stags Leap District AVA of Napa Valley. Founded in 1998, Thomas and Brenda Baldacci were entranced by the beauty of the Napa Valley and the timeless heritage of the Stags Leap District. The generations before had left a deep and abiding affinity for the land from which came not only their livelihood, but their legacy. For the Baldacci’s, family is everything. When they purchased the Stags Leap property, over 18 years ago, Thomas and Brenda knew that they had found a place for their clan to stay connected through the generations. As each new vintage unfolds, they look forward to sharing their wines and their story, with you.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cakebread Cellars</span>

Cakebread Cellars is a Napa Valley winery known for its Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines, which are internationally distributed. Founded in 1973 by Jack and Dolores Cakebread in Rutherford, California, the winery produces approximately 200,000 cases of wine per year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagarde (winery)</span>

Lagarde or Bodega Lagarde is a family-owned winery located in the Luján de Cuyo Department located in the west of the Mendoza Province, Argentina and was founded in 1897. Lagarde consists of five Mendoza vineyards and is currently owned and managed by the Pescarmona family. The winery is currently run by the third generation Pescarmonas: Sofia Pescarmona and Lucila Pescarmona, with Juan Roby Stordeur as the winemaker since 2002.

Jose "Pepe" Galante is an Argentine winemaker in the Uco Valley, Mendoza. He is considered by many to be the father of modern wine making in Argentina.

Terrazas de los Andes is a winery located in Luján de Cuyo in the province of Mendoza, Argentina.

References

  1. ↑ Lucy, Shaw (14 December 2012). "Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Wine".
  2. ↑ Snyder, Ryan. "Susana Balbo". winegeeks. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Jose Lovaglio Bio". vineconnections.com. 2013. Archived from the original on 8 May 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  4. ↑ Gonzales, Maria Soledad. "Con estrella propia: Ana Lovaglio Marketing Manager de Dominio del Plata".
  5. ↑ Saieg, Laura. "Osadia de Crear, the new restaurant at Dominio del Plata". winesur. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  6. ↑ Barnes, Amanda. "Q&A: Susana Balbo, Dominio del Plata, Argentina".
  7. 1 2 Hedenkamp, Steff (23 May 2011). "Susana Balbo Argentinian Winemaker" . Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  8. ↑ Saieg, Laura. "Wines of Argentina's strategy will focus on the end consumer". Winesur. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Vine Connections Susana Balbo". Archived from the original on 2013-05-26. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  10. ↑ "Wines Of Argentina DDP page".
  11. ↑ "Vine Connections Crios". Archived from the original on 2013-12-10. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  12. ↑ "Vine Connections BenMarco". Archived from the original on 2013-05-24. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  13. ↑ "Vine Connections Susana Balbo Signature". Archived from the original on 2013-05-26. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  14. ↑ "Vine Connections Nosotros". Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  15. ↑ Parker Jr, Robert (December 2011). "The Wine Advocate, December 2011". The Wine Advocate.
  16. ↑ Tanzer, Stephen (March 2012). "International Wine Cellar, March 2012". International Wine Cellar.
  17. ↑ Tanzer, Stephen (March 2013). "International Wine Cellar, March 2013". International Wine Cellar.
  18. ↑ "Argentine Wine Awards 2011" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.