Vino Argentino: An Insider's Guide to the Wines and Wine Country of Argentina [Hardcover]

Laura Catena (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2010

In this bookpart wine primer, part cultural exploration, part introduction to the Argentine lifestylediscover where to eat, what to see, and how to travel like a local with Laura Catena, the Argentina-born, United States-educated, globetrotting wine star. The world's fifth largest producer of wine, Argentina is home to malbec, the country's best-known indigenous grape. More than 400,000 Americans and 600,000 Europeans visit Argentina every year to enjoy the mighty malbec, taste unparalleled food, trek the wide-open country, and tango all night long in Buenos Aires. Vino Argentino provides insider access to beautiful Argentina.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Argentina's reputation as a producer of wonderful wine is on the rise; it's now the world's sixth-largest, and wine-based tourism is rapidly growing. Author and vintner Catena (Mendoza: Our Terroir), the fourth generation of her family to produce wine, keeps her tight focus on the country's Mendoza region and the many wineries that take advantage of its "enviable terrior...of low-fertility soils, cool mountain nights, sunny days, and low humidity." These qualities appeal to tourists as well, and Catena's effort, including friendly conversations with wine-makers, intimate looks at restaurants and wines, a chapter of recipes, and well-researched historical anecdotes, provides ample temptation to visit, aided by Sara Remington's luminous photos of the Mendoza region and its people. Catena could have included a few more trappings to make her book more vacation-friendly (like a map of the country or a discussion of cost) but, as the title promises, her focus is wine, not museums, parks, or malls, and it makes a nice addition for the wine lover. Photos.
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About the Author

Laura Catena belongs to the fourth generation of an Argentine-Italian winemaking family and serves as president of Botega Catena Zapata. She splits her time between San Francisco and Mendoza.

Sara Remington is a San Francisco-based photographer.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (September 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811873307
• ISBN-13: 978-0811873307
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.9 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Travel > South America > Argentina > General
  • #53 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Wine > Wine & Winemaking

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good (but not in depth) book; it may tempt you to visit Argentina. November 10, 2010

By vinegirlWI

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I enjoyed reading this book. However, a really apt description I read from Laura Cantena is that it's her "personal invitation to visit Argentina" and it's wine country. So, it's a bit more high level and less detailed than I'd have liked (which is why I gave it 4 rather than 5 stars), almost reading like a general guidebook, albeit with Laura Cantena as your guide. I was hoping for more in depth details about the wine regions of Argentina. Instead, the wine regions profiled are covered rather briefly and different aspects are highlighted, but not really in depth. It does give you a sort of general idea about the culture and ambiance of each region, and after reading it there are definitely some areas I'd like to visit, and I really want to find a Torrantes from Salta now too. A large section of the book is the included Argentine recipes (most sound like they would take a lot of time - someday when I have a lot of spare time, I would like to try them, as they do sound good) and a suggested 2-week itinerary for visiting there. The photos in the book are gorgeous, if only they were bigger!

Overall, I'd recommend the book if you want to know a bit about Argentina wine regions, just understand its not exhaustive coverage of the topic.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging survey and guide to Argentina's great wine culture December 16, 2010

By Malbec Lover

Format:Hardcover

I have spent ten years traveling to Argentina for working in the wine business. This book not only taught me a few wine-specific things I didn't know, but also introduced me to a lot of the characters and history of Argentina and its wine industry that I didn't know. It is a great survey and also a wonderful stepping-off point for anyone who is curious about Malbec, Torrontes, Bonarda, and other gems from this quickly emerging wine region superstar. While there are some great recipes to try without leaving home, I think this book really makes me want to go back soon. Great photos give a nice feeling for the country and its people.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I was searching for! December 22, 2010

By Ed Klaas

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I just returned from a trip to Mendoza in which I am helping a friend to purchase land in the area on which he will create his own vineyard and winery. Filled with enthusiasm I was looking for a book that would provide me with greater background on the vineyard and winery industry and way of life in Argentina. Little did I know that I would run across this book. I looked at several books that I might revisit later but when I stumbled upon Laura's book I almost shouted, "that's it!". It was exactly what I was looking for! It has an interesting history, is well written and I liked the food section for good measure. It is the book I would have written if I had the opportunity. I lived in Argentina in the late 90s and am not ashamed to say that I am an asado lover and a fan of all argentine cuisine. The pictures are great and makes me even more enthusiastic about my next trip in a month. Thank you, Laura, for doing such a great job. I really enjoy your book and will return to it often. I hope to have the opportunity to meet you in person some day soon. Ed Klaas [e-mail]