Day 13: Bodega El Legado

Hi!

Yesterday, I traveled from Colon to Carmelo, where the winery 'El Legado' is located. Not very far at all. Just 84 km.

Here are the apartments with rooftop terrace. Mine is the one on the far left.

The accommodations keep getting better. This one is definitely the best by far.

Notice the floor. They are actually tiles with a wood decor. It looks amazing. I had never seen anything like it before.

There is, of course, a pool as well.

And grapevines with roses in the garden.

Breakfast is delivered every day in a box. Clever idea.

Here is a view from my terrace of the main house with restaurant, wine cellar, etc.

OK, after getting up, I first jumped into the pool. Of course, unheated. But I have already completed some training with Ullrich. ;)

After that, I raided the breakfast box.

Then off to Carmelo. I am curious.

Oops. It looks bad here. Who would have thought.

This is supposed to be the center and therefore the highlight.

I would estimate that the upper-middle class lives about like this:

Notice the Mercedes.

But many houses also look like this:

In this city, I couldn't find anything beautiful. What a shame.

Just a huge chessboard with ugly houses and poorly dressed people.

The complete opposite of Colon, where there was something beautiful to discover around every corner.

The highlight then came on the way back to the winery ;)

Back home, I looked around a bit more.

They're actually building 3 more units.

And I hadn't inspected the rooftop terrace yet.

Everything is top-notch. Really great.

By the way, these are the 3 wines produced here.

A Syrah, a Tannat, and a blend.

Only 14,000 bottles are produced each year.

1.5 of those had to bite the dust last night. ;)

I preferred the Tannat.

OK, there is an option to visit the winery. Let's go.

You get a private tour. This is the son of the owner. 

First, he told me about the family history. It's fascinating how the winery was founded. From 44 hectares to 2 hectares. And from mass to a top product. 36 dollars for a bottle of blend. A small fortune in Uruguay.

First, the grapes are just 'squashed'. Here is the machine:

Then it goes into the tank for 2 weeks at 26 degrees:

Then it is pressed. (By hand!!!):

Then it is filtered. The filtering machine was borrowed. It would be silly to buy an expensive machine just to use it once a year for your own use.

Then it probably goes back into tanks, where the oxygen is removed with the help of CO2:

After that, the 'wine/must' goes into the wine barrels.

We go through the 'label room'. Here, the labels are affixed.

OK, let’s go to the holy place. The wine cellar.

Then the obligatory wine tasting.

On the left is the mother or the boss. All extremely pleasant people. But I guess I don't need to emphasize that anymore. ;)

OK, off home for a manicure. I forgot my scissors. 

Here, no problem, they take care of you. I borrowed a nail clipper.

;)

In Uruguay, many more people speak English. I would estimate 70%. It's probably due to the curriculum.

2:0 for Uruguay.

Uruguay is the Switzerland of South America. That might be true. Everything is very pleasant and orderly, but almost too relaxed and too slow.

Argentina has temperament and passion. Tango!

2:1, I would say.

Subjectively, Argentina still has the edge.

To Argentina!

CU!