The Wine Whirlwind: New York Wine Classic Awards, Don Melchor, Santa Fe, and Charleston
Hello Wine Friends! The past few weeks have truly been a whirlwind. Stay tuned for upcoming recaps on my travels to the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Gorgona Island in Tuscany, and Mt. Etna in Sicily. Right now, I'm counting down to the 2025 New York Wine Classic Awards.
I'm honored to host the New York Wine Classic Awards Ceremony for the second consecutive year. Did you know that New York is the third-largest wine-producing state after California and Washington? As a native New Yorker, I love celebrating our state's stellar wines and the excellent producers who craft them. Join us on July 17 for the virtual ceremony. Click here for more info and to register.
Award-Winning Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon
Last year, I had the pleasure of tasting Don Melchor 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto, Chile, with winemaker Enrique Tirado a few weeks before Wine Spectator announced it as number one on its list of the Top 100 Wines of 2024. When we sipped Don Melchor over lunch at The Modern that day, I knew the 2021 was something special. A few weeks ago, I was able to congratulate Enrique in person on his immense achievement while we tasted the newly released 2022 vintage.
Enrique is the CEO & Technical Director of Don Melchor and has been at the helm of every vintage since 1997. Enrique blends technical expertise with an artistic sensibility, and he meticulously crafts Don Melchor from grapes grown on 127 hectares of land on the northern bank of the Maipo River in the foothills of the Andes.
Don Melchor's innovative new Sundial Vineyard provides valuable information on the relationship between orientation and planting density in vine cultivation. The data gathered from this project will contribute to finding a new vineyard architecture that addresses the challenges of agricultural sustainability and climate variations.
The vineyard is divided into seven plots of Cabernet Sauvignon and small plots of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, which are further divided into micro-plots. Due to factors such as soil content, water retention, and exposition, each plot yields grapes with distinct profiles. Enrique always reminds me that Don Melchor is not just one Cabernet Sauvignon but multiple expressions—a stunning blend of individual plots and a snapshot of the vintage.
It was more than a decade ago when I first tasted Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon, and I approached it without expectations. I was immediately captivated by its beauty, complexity, and drinkability. I later discovered that it was an iconic wine: Don Melchor debuted with the 1987 vintage, and Don Melchor 1988 was the first Chilean wine recognized by Wine Spectator as one of the Top 100 wines. Don Melchor’s #1 placement on last year’s list means that it has been honored by Wine Spectator ten times, including four times in the coveted Top 10.
As I sipped the excellent Don Melchor 2022, the tasting experience felt akin to being reunited with an old friend that always maintains its elegance essence but is never boring. Like 2021, Don Melchor 2022 boasts impressive freshness, nuance, and complexity but is a bit bolder and more robust than its predecessor. Once again, Don Melchor does not disappoint.
In the News
Thank you, Local Wine Events and The Juice, for featuring me as an influential voice in wine!
It’s an honor to be included alongside so many people I admire in the wine community. Click here to read the article.
Upcoming Festivals
I'm looking forward to visiting New Mexico for the first time to attend the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta (September 24-28). I’m excited to lead the Drink Pink: The Wonderful World of Rosé seminar.
I’ll be heading back to beautiful Charleston, South Carolina for the second annual Food & Wine Classic in Charleston. Join us November 14-16 for this three-day culinary celebration in one of my all-time favorite places. Seminar themes to be announced.