We are starting 2025 with wines from Chile’s neighbor, Argentina. Bodega Zolo is part of the Tapiz family of vineyards and wineries. Opened in 2000 the winery is located in Agrelo in the nothern part of the Mendoza Province just over the Andes Mountains from Sanitago, Chile. The Tapiz group encourages visits to all of their wineries plus they have added a hotel and a restuarant in Maipu south of Mendoza. They are very involved in sustainability practices and research and development of new concepts in wine production. One of their projects is through their Wapisa Atlantic Wines from Patagonia. (We actually featured Wapisa Sauvignon Blanc in October 2020.) Based on popular science that 3 years of aging in a cellar are equivalent to 1 year of aging under water, they decided in 2019 to launch a research project just off the coast of the province of Rio Negro, in the south Atlantic Ocean to test this theory. Visit their website to see what they learned.
With “Dry January” on some people’s calendar, we are also trying a project to see if no-alcohol wines win favor. Both of our Zolo wines are Malbecs. 2023 Zolo Malbec is a traditional Malbec. Zolo Zero is just what it says, a no alcohol rose made from Malbec grapes. When Michelle, my wine rep, mentioned it, she said Berlin Beer Company had used it for a sangria using lots of fruit. I thought this would be worth a try to see if a couple of no-alcohol wines would be worth carrying. Once more, winee club members are my test market!
NV Zolo Zero Rose, Argentina $15
This rose made from Malbec grapes is an aromatic rose, full of berries, mainly strawberry. Light body with nice mid palate. Nice and sharp acidity that makes it delicious. This is a dealcoholized wine with less than 0.5% alcohol. It has 25 calories in a 5 oz. serving.
2023 Zolo Malbec, Argentina $15
The red color of this Malbec is intense with violet tints. Explosion of aromas of red fruits such as strawberries, plums and cherries hits the nose. Oak provides notes of chocolate and vanilla. It is called a fresh and kind wine. Alcohol: 13.6%
