This week, I had the pleasure of joining legendary winemaker Susana Balbo and her brilliant daughter and business partner Ana. As the first female winemaker in Argentina, Susana has such an inspirational story.
About Susana Balbo
Balbo became involved with the family’s viticultural business and in 1981 became the first woman in Argentina to receive a degree in enology. After graduating from university, she struggled to find a job in the male-dominated industry but ultimately secured a position running a vineyard in Cafayate, in the Argentine province of Salta. Salta is a very chauvinistic society and she faced many difficulties during this time, including sabotage of wine production facilities, boycotts, and open hostility from workers. Despite everything, she persevered for eight years.
She devoted herself to researching the the native Argentine grape Torrontés at the Michel Torino winery. She then worked at Martins and Catena Zapata and began consulting at wineries in South America, Europe, and Australia. In 1999, she founded Susana Balbo Wines in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza. Today, her son José and daughter Ana have joined her in the family venture.
Balbo has won a wide array of awards. In 1997, she was elected Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by the Argentine Organization of Businesswomen; between 2006 and 2016, three times served as president of Wines of Argentina, and in 2018, made “The Drink Business” magazine’s list of “The 10 most influential women in the wine world.”
About Susana Balbo Wines
Susana Balbo Wines is innovative but stays true to quality winemaking. Their goal is to showcase Argentina as more than Malbec and their “white wine revolution” focuses on the white wines of Argentina, specifically Torrontés. With all of her winemaking know-how and techniques, she’s been able to elevate Torrontés within its category, and we were lucky enough to taste through a great lineup.
Wine Tasting
We started with a welcome glass of Crios Torrontés 2022, followed by a vertical lineup of her barrel-fermented Torrontés from 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022. The oak was well integrated and each wine shined in its own way. I love verticals because you can really pick up on the different characteristics from year to year. My favorites of the tasting were 2016 and 2019.
After the tasting, we enjoyed a lovely lunch spread at Amal accompanied by Susana’s Signature Brioso White Blend 2023, Signature Brioso Red Blend 2021, and Nosotros Library Edition Cabernet Sauvignon 2012. It was such a treat!