Winery: BODEGAS ESCORIHUELA

INTRODUCING BODEGAS ESCORIHUELA GASCÓN HISTORY The beginnings of Escorihuela Gascón. In 1880 Miguel Escorihuela Gascón, aged 19, immigrated to Argentina, from Aragon, Spain. He arrived to Buenos Aires and had his first contact with wine while working in a grocery store, where wine came from Mendoza in 300 lts oak barrels. In 1882 he moves to Mendoza and starts a partnership in a grocery store. Finally, in 1884 he managed to buy 17 hectares of land, plant vineyards and start building Bodegas Escorihuela. His passion and determination drove him to many other achievements. In 1902 he was elected councilman. In 1926 he finalized the construction of Mendoza’s tallest building: “Pasaje San Martin”, still standing after 80 years of earthquakes. In 1923 he donated land from his property to build the first pavilion of “Hospital Español”, which today is still one of Mendoza’s leading Hospitals. He also donated plenty of money to build roads and schools in the small village of Tronchón, his home-town in Aragón, Spain. Don Miguel is still considered a local hero there, for giving a job to every person from his home town that needed one. A morning of September 18th 1933, Don Miguel Escorihuela Gascón peacefully passed away in his house in Mendoza. The winery continued in control of his nephew and the people who started with him. The new board of directors would successfully continue Don Miguel’s legacy: In 1936 they hosted in his winery the first “Almuerzo Vendimial”; a lunch in which the most important representatives of the government (including the President), the industry and the church would debate about the future of city and the wine industry. In 1942 several Escorihuela brands where extremely successful. They bottled perhaps the first 100% Malbec; and “Carcassone Red Wine” became one of President Peron favorites. Bodegas Escorihuela continued under the control of Don Miguel successors till 1993, when pioneering winegrower Nicolas Catena decides to buy the company, and start doing the necessary investments to make of Escorihuela again, one of the leading Argentine wineries. TODAY and TOMORROW Vision and Philosophy. Under the leadership of Ernesto Catena, oldest son of Nicolas Catena, the last 15 years Escorihuela Gascón team have been working hard to achieve their mission: become Argentina’s leading winery, recognized in all markets of their interest, for the excellent quality of their wines, the respect for years of tradition, and the commitment of both its human resources and its suppliers. Our goal for 2009 (125 years anniversary of the foundation) is to be consider by the argentine consumer as the best national wine producer; and to be selling in as many countries as possible, wines that will represent the best of Argentina’s identity and potential. THE WINERIES ESCORIHUELA GASCÓN WINERY GODOY CRUZ: The Escorihuela Gascón winery (Godoy Cruz) is the oldest winery working in Mendoza. It is located in the heart of the city, its original place. It has a capacity of 8.000.000 millions of liters of wine/year. It has two bottling lines, with total bottling capacity of 7500 bottles/hour. In the year 2008, it obtained the international certifications ISO 22000, HACCP and BRC ESCORIHUELA GASCÓN WINERY AGRELO: The Escorihuela Gascón winery (Agrelo) was finished for the vintage 2008; it is located in the center of our vineyard in Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo. It has a capacity of 1500000 liters. It has the best technology for wine production. The certification ISO 22000 was obtained in 2009. THE VINEYARDS Searching for high quality and diversity. Under the conviction that great wines will result from great vines, we source grapes from Estate vineyards and long term growers, located in Mendoza’s premier winegrowing regions. AGRELO VINEYARD: LOCATION: Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina. LATITUDE: 33°07’ S - LONGITUDE: 69°54’ W ALTITUDE: 3125 feet a.s.l / 952 msnm. AREA: 383 acres / 155 hectares. YEAR OF PLANTATION: 1993. VARIETIES: Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, Chardonnay. TRELLIS SYSTEM: V.S.P. IRRIGATION SYSTEM: Flood irrigation. Water from the Andes Mountains. PRUNING SYSTEM: bilateral cordon DENSITY: 1700 vines/ac – 4200 vines/ha ALTAMIRA VINEYARD: LOCATION: Altamira, San Carlos, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina. LATITUDE: 33°49’ S - LONGITUDE: 69°11’ W ALTITUDE: 3608 feet a.s.l / 1100 msnm. AREA: 170 acres / 70 hectares. YEAR OF PLANTATION: 2006. VARIETIES: Malbec, Syrah, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc. TRELLIS SYSTEM: V.S.P. IRRIGATION SYSTEM: Dripping irrigation. PRUNING SYSTEM: bilateral cordon DENSITY: 2226 vines/ac – 5400 vines/ha GROWERS VINEYARDS: Since the days of Don Miguel, Escorihuela and its growers have been working as strategic partners. Over twenty growers in the best winegrowing regions of Mendoza have been proving grape to Escorihuela for more than 15 years. The commitment and support of these growers is a big part of the consistency in quality of Escorihuela’s wines. EXPORTS • Escorihuela Gascón started exporting only five years ago, and it has already introduced its wines into more than 22 countries around the World. • Escorihuela Gascón exports in 2008 are above 3.000.000 bottles. • In Latin America countries such as Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Uruguay are very important among others. • In Europe UK, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and The Netherlands are very important. • The USA is the largest market for Escorihuela Gascón. OUR PASSION FOR POLO Is Escorihuela Gascón belief that Polo is the sport that best represent Argentina’s uniqueness, passion and spirit. The advertising campaigns in Argentina go around this great sport. Escorihuela Gascón has also a Polo team, lead by Ernesto Catena, which plays the most demanding tournaments in Argentina, Brasil, Panama and many other countries. 1884 RESTAURANT 1884 was the first restaurant to be opened within a winery in Argentina. The chef/owner Francis Mallman is considered one of Argentina’s most influential chefs. Using local recipes and ingredients, the menu is a perfect example of the flavors of Argentina.

Winemaker

Gustavo Marín - Winemaker