266: From Andes to Amazon: A Wine Lover's Guide to South America's Hidden Vineyards with Amanda Barnes

Which types of global dishes can you pair with South American wines? What’s one of the best but little-known Chilean wine regions you need to try? Which types of wine do they make in other South American countries, such as Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Amanda Barnes, author of The South America Wine Guide. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of Amanda's beautiful hardcover book, The South America Wine Guide. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose two people randomly from those who contact me.  Good luck!   Highlights How did Argentina’s flagship white wine, Torrontés, develop and where is it grown? Which types of food pair best with Torrontés and Malbec? How does the iconic Argentinian empanada vary across different regions? What is unique about how Fernet is consumed in Argentina? How did the pandemic contribute to the craft gin and craft vermouth movement in Argentina? How do the wine production volume and cultural attitudes towards wine vary between Argentina and Chile? What were the main challenges that were uncovered by the discovery of Carmenère in Chile? How did Tannat become the signature grape of Uraguay, and what’s unique about its growing requirements? How did Peru become the first wine country in South America, and what’s behind the current wine renaissance? Which wines from Bolivia should you try, and what’s behind their unique characteristics? How has the Brazilian wine industry evolved over the years? What does Amanda love about mountain white wines like Altos Las Hormigas Blanco? What is it about Viñedos de Alcohuaz that gives it a beautiful tasting experience? Why is an ice bag Amanda’s favourite wine gadget?   Key Takeaways I enjoyed hearing Amanda’s recommendations for which types of global dishes you can pair with South American wines. The highly aromatic Torrontes can handle equally flavourful dishes. Amanda has inspired me to try more wines from Chile’s Elqui Valley. It’s amazing that some vineyards are planted at 2,200 metres above sea level. I was interested to learn more about the types of wine they make in other South American countries, such as Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. I didn’t realize that Peru was the first wine region in South America.   About Amanda Barnes Amanda Barnes is an award-winning British journalist and editor who specializes in wine and travel writing. She is an expert in South American wine and regions and a regular correspondent for international wine and travel publications (including Decanter, Fodor’s, SevenFifty, The Guardian & The Telegraph). She is currently studying to become a Master of Wine and is the author of The South America Wine Guide.       To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/266.