Bodega Corazon Del Sol: The Revana Family Of Wineries’
The captivating Malbec and Grenache-based wines of Bodega Corazon Del Sol (Heart of the Sun), which are produced from vines that enjoy 300 days of sunshine annually, express the very best of Argentina’s unique, high-altitude terroir in each carefully crafted bottle. Grenache refers to a dark-skinned red wine grape variety, originally thought to be from Spain (Garnacha), but also found in France (Grenache Noir) and Italy (Cannonau), and which is used to produce wine of the same name. This boutique winery, set on 17 acres of estate vineyard, planted at the base of the Andes Mountains in the Las Chacayes region of the Uco Valley, is the newest member of the Revana family of wineries.
It was in 2008 that visionary winemaker Dr Madaiah Revana, also a cardiologist, visited Argentina with the hope of finding an ideally located estate in the country’s wine capital, Mendoza, for his next winemaking venture. First introduced to fine wine by friends, he quickly became fascinated with Bordeaux’s first-growths, dedicating himself to learning all he could about his new interest. He travelled the wine regions of Europe and the United States, learning along the way, determined to create an estate vineyard from which he could craft his world-class wines. Despite being a successful medical practitioner, his desire was rooted in his Indian heritage, passion for wine, and the rich tradition and culture of winemaking.
After opening two successful bodegas, the Revana Family Vineyard in Napa Valley and the Alexana Winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, his dream was now to have his very own vineyard in South America’s best wine-producing region. Since opening its doors in 2015 and through the meticulous farming of his vineyards, which are located at an elevation of 3,600 ft, Corazon Del Sol produces some of the country’s best Bordeaux and Rhone varieties. These include Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, all crafted by famed Argentine winemakers Santiago Achaval and Christian Moor.
The thoughtfully curated wines of the Corazon Del Sol convey great complexity, power and finesse in their personality, designed to excite the palate in dramatic fashion. Their varietals include the historic GSM-blend, a pioneer wine that made history in Argentina as it combines the Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre grape varieties to stunning perfection. Aromatic notes of pomegranate, violet, and black raspberry accent the palate with raspberry, red currants, and juicy texture with polished tannins. The Malbec has seen its 2016 vintage (94 points) and 2017 vintage (95 points) being sold out while earning Wine Enthusiast‘s Editor’s Choice & Top 100 (2017) along with a Wine Spectator Top 100 placing in 2016.
The Cab/Cab red blend by Bodega Corazon Del Sol features a profile of Cabernet that marries the power and fruit intensity of the high-elevation Cabernet Sauvignon with the high-toned aromas and elegance of Cabernet Franc. Small batches of these hand-harvested Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are alternately layered and co-fermented to develop a seamless integration of tannin and complex fruit expression. The Magma red blend features Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc along with Cabernet Sauvignon and has received 93 points from the Wine Spectator in 2018. The Grenache, rarely found in Mendoza, is a special offering from this bodega that features bright red fruit and silky tannins, earning it a 93 point score from the Wine Advocate.
The white Semillon is a young, fresh, medium-bodied variety that is very aromatic and typical of two cold areas within the Tupungato region of Mendoza — El Zampal and El Peral. This Sémillon is crafted to honour the heritage of winemakers from the 1970s, when Argentina produced more white wines than reds. Arguably, the bodega’s crown jewel is the Padma Rose’ of Grenache. This limited production of only 4,000 bottles is named for the national flower of India (the Lotus) — an iconic memory from Dr Revana’s childhood growing up on a farm in Southern India. The bespoke bottles were created for what has become South America’s most celebrated and most sought-after bottle of Rosé.
Revana Family Vineyards was born of determination and today continues to produce some of the world’s finest wines. Dr Revana himself is the only immigrant from India to own three wineries that have all been featured on Wine Spectator‘s Top 100 lists and are highly acclaimed.