Art&wine, an alliance of the senses

Novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson said: “Wine is bottled poetry.”

But never like now was intertwined with art to make the wine experience special: from the architecture of the wineries to the art collections that adorn the vineyards, including labels designed by artists.

Benito Quinquela Martín, one of the most famous artists in Argentina, was an orphan born in La Boca. His work is one of the most representative of the Buenos Aires idiosyncrasy. After his death, His family wanted to keep the legacy alive.. It was thus that Silvina Gregorovich, Benito’s great-niece, together with her mother, Stella Maris Distilo, and her father Roberto Gregorovich, decided to create the Quinquela Foundation with the intention of continuing his work.

“When we started we did not get funds and there was no way to subsidize the social and educational tasks that we have carried out since the foundation. It occurred to us to look for resources based on the commercial brand,” reveals Silvina.

After this initiative, one of the first products that interested them was wine: “We felt that Quinquela wine had to be on the table”. Silvina contacted several wineries and found Bodega Valle de La Puerta from La Rioja.

Their commercial manager, Andrew Noble, offered them a wine “very Quinquelian if you will, for its tints, its flavors, its colors,” Silvina recalls.

In this regard, Noble confessed that he was an admirer of Quinquela’s work and they were enthusiastic about the proposal. “It was a challenge due to Quinquela’s use of color and a commitment from the winery to live up to his paintings. We work with Javier Collovati, our winemaker. The brand was registered, the labels were designed and the wine measured up because we won awards.”

In this way, a fusion of art and wine was achieved. They chose three works: A full sun, for a Malbec/Bonarda; Motivo de Puerto, for a Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon blend and Veleros Reunidos, for a Malbec 70%, Syrah 30%. There are now three wines that carry Benito’s art in one bottle.

Ana Jordán and Goyo Aráoz de Lamadrid arrived one day to this place in Traslasierra, Córdoba, and began to project their dream. Today, 13 years later, it dazzles. Located on the western slope of the Sierras Grandes, The vineyard of the Aráoz de Lamadrid winery accompanies the native mountain, surrounded by native trees and aromatic mountain ranges. In addition, they created a majestic cactus tree.

But it’s not just nature. Over the years, Ana says, they discovered that the Traslasierra Valley is home to valuable artists and creators.

“We established a bond and as we created the park, it led us to a unique blend. The vineyard, the native forest, the landscaping, plus the local art generate a synergy that awakens the senses. Art is present in various spacesWe find it valuable to communicate it, it is a way to bring movement to the area and make its identity known,” he reveals.

Those who come to this place will be able to discover works, among others, by Roberto Lizaso, Ximena Guzmán, Adriana Lauro, Sergio Paolucci, Laura Dillon, Gloria Valdivia Garay, Dolores Mendieta and Faustino Mascotti.

After passing through the dazzling entrance portal, designed and engineered by Goyo and executed by local artist Basilio Cheli, an experience like no other awaits.

“Wine is art, from the grape production process to its preparationin which all the senses intervene,” said Ezequiel Eskenazi Storey, president of Xumek, when he began to dream of this vineyard and winery project in the Zonda Valley in San Juan.

This is how he designed a park of large-scale sculptures by Argentine plastic artists, called Bestial Art. Fernando Farina, curator of this proposal, reveals that through this program in the Zonda Valley, Xumek develops the first large-scale artistic exhibition and open air in an Argentine winery.

Together, Eskenazi and Farina came up with a general plan, prioritizing contemporary Argentine artists. The idea is to invite artists to design proposals that take into account the spectacular context.

The starting point is a “whale” nestled on the mountainside made by Adrián Villar Rojas. “A milestone that refloated the sea that occupied that area thousands of years ago and that began a succession of projects to explore along trails,” describes the curator.

A work by Charly Nijensohn is already finished and they have works by Nicola Costantino, Eduardo Basualdo, Gabriel Valansi and Mariana Tellería in progress.

Juan Castillo was born and lives in Mendoza. Plastic artist, illustrator and creative, he assures that it is almost impossible not to connect art with viticulture in that province. “In Mendoza there is a long tradition of art and wine; There are wineries that have incredible collectionslike the Killka space in the Salentein winery,” he says.

Juan reveals that he participated every year in “Harvest of Artists”, an event organized by Bodega Zuccardi, in which works linked to wine, olive oil and label design are targeted. Juan made labels for Bodega Robles and participated in individual and group exhibitions: “This is a window to make visible the production of visual artists.”

Osvaldo Chiavazza tells something similar. In his case, the Antucura winery asked him to create something special for their labels, for whom he illustrated the “dress” of their Yepun wine.

Then, thanks to his friendly relationship with the people of Alto Las Hormigas and with Antonio Morescalchi, creator of the winery, he began to work on the labels. “We sat down with Antonio, he explains to me what the wine is about, the feeling that the winemakers have had,” she summarizes.

For its part, the Artista Blend Collection line from Bodega Alonso Guerrero, chosen by its founder and owner, Jorge Alonso, It combines two great passions: the world of wine and that of art.

The artistic streak is evident in the collection’s labels, which are reproductions of paintings created by Jorge Alonso.

A beautiful cat, the work of Guillermo Roux, draws attention. The wine that carries that label is Sietevidas, a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from 4 Gatos Locos, which is presented in a Magnum bottle.

The label is the story of a friendship. In 2015, Juan Pelizzatti, creator of 4 Crazy Cats, He began taking painting classes in Guillermo Roux’s workshop. “Through that link, I had the opportunity to meet Franca (Beer) and Guillermo in the last years of the teacher’s life, with whom I was united by great sympathy and admiration,” he reveals.

In his last years, Guillermo showed a lot of interest in the relationship between image and wine.

“When I sold Chakana, Guillermo wanted to give me an image of my wines; I told him about my new project and the idea of ​​Sietevidas as a symbol of resilience and a new beginning. After a few days, He appeared with the drawing that illustrates the label, made with a pen like the works from his latest exhibition in Fine Arts (Diario Íntimo),” he details.

Ana Viola is the CEO of Malma, one of the wineries in San Patricio del Chañar in Neuquén. “We decided to include art in the winery to make the sensory experience complete.”

In the middle of a Patagonian landscape, Malma had intervened barrels on display. “We liked the idea of ​​having more art but we didn’t know how to approach a project like that. Luckily, we found Milva Piucill, creator of Mercado de Creadores and curator of the exhibition, who took care of carrying out the project,” she says.

Currently, visitors can enjoy works by different authors. “Not just them, us too. It is very satisfying to arrive at the winery and find the works of art enriching the spaces”resume Ana.

Milva Piucill is in charge of renewing the works for those who visit them regularly. The curator details that Mercado de Creadores is an art gallery in Neuquén.

“Several areas of the winery host a large collective exhibition that can be visited all year round and is part of the tourist route. The facilities are unbeatable for the enhancement of the works. In addition, the permanent circulation of tourists provides sales possibilities,” he considers.

Currently, 65 creators in 20 disciplines are exhibiting at Bodega Malma. Among them, Nadia Guthman, from Bariloche, Río Negro, stands out with the sculpture Patagonia lof & lodge with deployed iron and metal fabric technique.

It also has illustrations by Pablo Bernasconi, from Bariloche; Jorgelina Parkinson, from Paraná, and Ángel de Cara, from Zapala, who creates sustainable sculptures.

The front of Bodega Lorca has the colors of the earth. This is thanks to Victoria Ferreyra, a self-taught pianist and painter. Born in Caseros, she lives in Palermo and is creator of the socio-cultural movement of art and resilience Pinta Argentinaa project that works for the inclusion and appreciation of the human condition.

The proposal was inspired by her sister María de los Ángeles (Beba), with Down syndrome, who taught her, through drawing and colors, to include and give value to people and today he continues painting with her.

Victoria is the partner of chef Darío Gualtieri. It was she who gave new colors to the façade of the Lorca winery building with the mural “Voices of the Earth.”

The work had the support of Mauricio Lorca (owner of the winery), Gonzalo Capelli, Guillermo Barletta, Agustina, Sofía and the entire community of this great family.

“Achievements are always as a team, together we are stronger and we make this industry grow, bringing the best of Mendoza to the world,” said Mauricio Lorca.

Whoever wants to know him can stop by 1039 Brandsen Street, in Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza. And also, drink some of the Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay that the winery has.