The wine managers from all the stores just recently returned from an amazing trip to Argentina and Chile. In my next few blogs I am going to go over the highlights from each of my favorite wineries that we visited.

First up is Matetic Vineyards in San Antonio Valley Chile. We carry their EQ Wines - look for the EQ in big letters on the labels on the front of the bottles.  Deputy Wine Editor Ray Isle said this: "the Matetic family's winery soon attracted critical praise for its organically grown wines made under the EQ label—like the melony EQ Sauvignon Blanc, one of the best in Chile."

In this picture is the winemaker leading us (that's me on the right) through a tasting of HER wines --  not too common to have a young female winemaker in South America.

I can confirm:  the wines are spectacular. We currently carry their Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Syrah. The wines have also been a huge hit with my staff and their customers who have tried them. Soon we should have their other label, Corralillo, which will be a Blend and a Syrah.

Matetic is a huge property of over 16,000 hectares (or more than 35,000 acres to you and me.) Just 60 hectares are planted for the EQ wines and they are in the transistion to becoming Biodynamic. Think of organic times 10, or that the producers are looking at not just the vineyards but their entire property and how to make the land produce better grapes without using chemicals and using more animals. They even raise chickens in the vineyards as a tasty way to control bugs.

 Martin K., Resident Wino (Houston Central Market)