Al Este

Al Este, formally described as Al Este Bodega y Viñedos, is a winery and vineyard project based in Médanos in the southern part of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Its vineyards and winery are located approximately 640 kilometres south of Buenos Aires and about 40 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean, in a transitional area where the Pampas and Patagonia meet. The project is notable because it established premium wine production in a province more traditionally associated with agriculture, livestock and crops such as garlic than with commercial viticulture. The project emerged from renewed interest in Médanos as a wine-growing region. European immigrants had introduced winemaking traditions to the area during the early twentieth century, and local growers once cultivated a combined vineyard area of roughly 200 hectares. Those earlier efforts eventually disappeared because the growers lacked sufficient scale, modern technology and stable economic conditions to complete the winemaking process successfully. Al Este revisited the region's potential after an assessment inspired by a trip to France and comparisons between Médanos and Bordeaux. The area combines sandy soils over a calcareous geological base, oceanic influence, windy spring conditions and substantial day-to-night temperature variation, all of which can support the production of concentrated and structured wines. Experimental planting began in 2000, when 1.5 hectares were planted with nine grape varieties. After the resulting grapes were assessed with the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, a further 25 hectares were planted, concentrating on six varieties judged especially suitable to the site. The broader vineyard estate described in reference material exceeds 300 hectares of owned land, while the Domaine Al Este terroir is described as covering 290 hectares. The winery uses drip irrigation, sprinkler-based frost protection, manual harvesting and grape selection, and espalier-trained vines. Wines are matured in French and American oak and in bottles in underground cellars. Al Este produces red wines from Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tannat and Cabernet Franc, as well as white wines based on Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Its first known international competition submission produced an important early milestone: a silver medal in the white-wine category at the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards in London. Decanter also recommended the winery's Chardonnay in sixth position among its highlighted Chardonnays for that year. The recognition helped demonstrate the commercial and qualitative potential of Buenos Aires Province as a source of premium wine. The project has been developed under the direction of Italian winemaker Alberto Antonini. Al Este's positioning rests on site-specific Argentine wine production outside the country's best-known traditional regions, with emphasis on Médanos' calcareous-sandy soils, maritime proximity, wind exposure and experimental approach to varietal selection. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about the winery's corporate ownership, distribution network, current management structure, production volumes and present export footprint.

Médanos had an early connection with winemaking. During the first decades of the twentieth century, European immigrants brought viticultural knowledge to the area, and numerous small growers collectively planted approximately 200 hectares of vineyards. These early operations did not survive. Limited scale, inadequate winemaking technology and Argentina's economic and agricultural volatility made it difficult for the growers to complete production successfully, and the local vineyards eventually disappeared. The modern Al Este project was based on the idea that Médanos could support a new generation of premium wines. Although the region had traditionally been used for garlic cultivation and pasture, its physical characteristics suggested a different agricultural opportunity. The local landscape includes flat meadows and sand dunes, while the soils are sandy and lie over a calcium-rich limestone or calcareous plate. The site is also close enough to the Atlantic Ocean to receive maritime influence. Windy springs can encourage thicker grape skins, and the combination of sandy soils and calcareous subsoil contributes to rapid heating and cooling. These conditions create a broad thermal range that can assist grape maturation and wine structure. Interest in the region was renewed after a trip to France prompted closer consideration of Médanos' similarities to Bordeaux. Al Este began testing the concept in 2000 by planting 1.5 hectares with nine grape varieties. The initial experimental phase was intended to identify the varieties best suited to the local environment rather than to assume that established Argentine wine regions offered a direct model. After the grapes and resulting quality were analyzed with the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, the project planted another 25 hectares, focusing primarily on six varieties. The vineyards are situated near 39 degrees south latitude, where the Pampas and Patagonia converge, and around 40 kilometres from the Atlantic coast. Vineyard management includes drip irrigation, sprinkler systems for frost protection, manual harvesting and selection, and espalier training. The winery ages red and white wines in French and American oak as well as in bottles stored in underground cellars. Reference material identifies the project as the first company to grow, produce and sell premium wines in Buenos Aires Province. The estate associated with the winery includes more than 300 hectares of owned land. A related property described as Domaine Al Este covers 290 hectares in Médanos and represents the vineyard terroir developed for premium wine production. The project has been developed under Italian winemaker Alberto Antonini, whose direction connected the site's experimental agricultural work with a focused premium-wine program. Al Este's first reported wine competition entry came in 2009, when it won a silver medal in the white-wine category at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London. The same year, Decanter placed the winery's Chardonnay sixth among its recommended Chardonnays. This recognition was significant for a new project from a region without the international profile of Mendoza or other established Argentine wine areas. Public reference material does not establish a detailed corporate ownership history, a precise founding date, production quantities, current executive roster or a comprehensive export market list.

• 2009

  First reported Decanter World Wine Awards recognition

  [1]Al Esteen.wikipedia.org

  In its first reported competition submission, Al Este won a silver medal in the white-wine category at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London.

• 2009

  Chardonnay receives Decanter recommendation

  [1]Al Esteen.wikipedia.org

  Al Este's Chardonnay was listed by Decanter in sixth position among its recommended Chardonnays for 2009.

• 2000

  Experimental vineyard planted

  [1]Al Esteen.wikipedia.org

  Al Este planted approximately 1.5 hectares with nine grape varieties to test the suitability of the Médanos site.

• Expansion following varietal assessment

  [1]Al Esteen.wikipedia.org

  After quality analysis carried out with the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, the project planted a further 25 hectares, concentrating mainly on six varieties.

A premium Argentine winery built around the emerging Médanos terroir in Buenos Aires Province, emphasizing maritime influence, calcareous sandy soils, manual vineyard work and the production potential of a nontraditional wine region.

• Red wine

  Al Este red wines

  The winery's red-wine program includes Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tannat and Cabernet Franc. These wines are produced from grapes grown in the Médanos vineyards and are matured using a combination of French and American oak and bottle aging in underground cellars. The selection reflects Al Este's effort to build a premium regional identity around a site outside Argentina's traditional wine centers.

• White wine

  Al Este white wines

  Al Este produces white wines from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The white-wine range became particularly associated with the winery's early international recognition after its Chardonnay received a silver medal at the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards and was included in Decanter's recommendations for that year.

• Vineyard estate

  Domaine Al Este

  Domaine Al Este is the name used for a 290-hectare terroir in Médanos developed as part of the winery's premium-vineyard project. The property is characterized by flat terrain, sandy soil over a calcareous base, oceanic influence and windy spring conditions. It supplies the geographic and agricultural foundation for wines made under the Al Este project.

• 2009

  Enter the Decanter World Wine AwardsOther

  Background

  The developing winery needed external validation for wines from the relatively unfamiliar Buenos Aires Province wine region.

  Action taken

  Al Este submitted a wine to the Decanter World Wine Awards in London.

  Aftermath

  The entry won a silver medal in the white-wine category, and the winery's Chardonnay received a prominent recommendation in Decanter's 2009 coverage.

  Source

• 2000

  Test Médanos as a premium-wine regionStrategy

  Background

  Médanos had an earlier history of small-scale viticulture but lacked a sustained commercial wine industry. The project sought to determine whether its soils, climate and coastal setting could support premium wine production.

  Action taken

  Al Este planted an experimental 1.5-hectare block with nine grape varieties and used subsequent quality analysis to guide vineyard expansion.

  Aftermath

  The experiment was followed by the planting of an additional 25 hectares, establishing the basis for a larger commercial vineyard and winery.

  Source

1. 1Al Esteen.wikipedia.org