Sent to our readers on October 25, 2026.
Spring is moving fast in Mendoza. The new shoots are long now, and flowering is close.
What grape flowers look like
Don't picture petals. Grape flowers are tiny and green, packed into small clusters. Most vines pollinate themselves. The whole thing takes one to two weeks, and each flower that sets becomes a grape.
It's a short window, and a fragile one. Wind, rain or a cold spell during flowering can mean fewer berries on each bunch, so growers watch the sky.
Our vines were planted in 1927. The flowers that open next month become the harvest of their 100th year.
Where we are
- October. Budbreak and new shoots. We are here.
- November. Flowering, in the coming weeks.
- December to January. Fruit set.
What we're opening this week
Beef empanadas, the way they're made all over Argentina, with a bottle of Malbec. If you're already planning Thanksgiving, the same bottle sits well next to the dark meat and the mushroom stuffing.
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