DOMINIO DEL PLATA

Susanna Balbo and Pedro Marchetsky must be Argentina´s most famous winemaking couple. They cut their teeth at the mini university that is Catena Zapata and then broke out independently several years ago. Balbo is very much a hands on winemaker whilst Marchetsky is at home in the vineyards. Indeed, they actually live in their new winery with a one way mirror overlooking operations from their sittingroom. Their wines are lush and decadent and primed mostly for the export market. The lower bracket Crios makes one of the best torrontes to be had in Argentina. The Ben Marco brand is Marchetsky´s own and the malbec is a sharp, intense mouthful. (the name is a latin version of his own, the reasoning being Marchetsky sounds more like a vodka brand).

The winery itself is a pleasant affair, set in the stunningly beautiful area of Agrelo - Argentina´s most expensive vineyard country. Dominio del Plata is not open to wholesale tourism but the do take limited visits from wine lovers with plenty of advance notice.