Comments on: The Old Castle

By: dan

dan — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 10:46:39 +0000

I just want to see if I can get one or more of the bands to turn orange!

By: ksternberg

ksternberg — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 03:24:53 +0000

Yes, Dan. Of course they do not see many American wine writers. I was using the ancient and honored art of sarcasm. Seems like you had a really nice trip, all in all. I feel like I was almost there in spirit. But I think I’d forget that steak temperature flag gizmo and continue to rely on how a steak feels as I’m cooking it.

By: dan

dan — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 20:08:33 +0000

I doubt they’re accustomed to wine writers visiting - it’s a pretty unusual thing in Uruguay and really just beginning (exportation of Uruguayan wine only began six years ago, and until about two years ago was limited to about 3-4 wineries of larger size, like this one) - after all, that was the purpose of this trip! I think the problem is just simply that this particular winery is more focused on volume business, and the “higher end” wines are new for them - not really any different than any other large winery in the world. As to the owners not being there, who knows? Maybe they thought that the marketing director, because he speaks English, was a better ambassador - that was one of the things that seemed to surprise the people at every single winery we visited, that I, a norteamericano, could actually speak Spanish. Then again, to be fair, it surprised me how many of them could actually speak English… Though, I insisted for the entire trip in operating in Spanish, it was buen practica for me to have that level of conversation in my newly acquired tongue!

By: ksternberg

ksternberg — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 14:58:59 +0000

I guess the winery’s owner is so accustomed to seeing American wine writers that they see no need to meet them anymore. From your tasting notes, it seems like the communications staff may be making some of the wines.