▻ How to Become a Vigneron with Michael Evans
Elin McCoy in conversation with Michael Evans
Episode Summary:-
Have you ever dreamed of owning your own vineyard or making your own wine? Elin McCoy meets Michael Evans, the man who is making it possible for several hundred wine lovers. Michael’s background was politics and technology, but a holiday to Argentina changed his life when he met Pablo Gimenez and founded The Vines of Mendoza. Their vision was to help wine aficionados to acquire vineyards and make their dream of creating their own wine a reality. Founded in 2005, it has been a huge success, selling vines to more than 200 would-be winemakers around the globe, helped make 2,100 small batch-wines and expanded to 1,500 acres of private vineyard. Evans added other things to the mix, including a rustic luxury resort and spa, named as one of the five best in South America. Now he is spreading that dream to other wine regions and countries through his new venture, called The Vine Global. Elin McCoy catches up with him and finds out how it works, and what his latest plans are.
Evans tells Elin how he took a two-and-a-half-week vacation to Argentina, and ended up staying for 18 years. He met Pablo Gimenez, who took him around the vineyards and introduced him to some of Argentina’s pioneers: “It felt like Napa 50 years ago,” he says. He decided to buy a few acres, and then friends of his wanted to buy some land, and the whole project snowballed. Today, there are 274 owners from all over the world. The key to their success, he believes, is that it was accessible, with the entry point at US$100,000, whereas if it had been in the Napa Valley, it would have been 10-12 million dollars.
The huge advantages they had were that Santiago Achával was their consultant from the beginning, and that their emphasis was only on quality wines. Today, Vines of Mendoza is the largest employer in the Uco Valley, with 300 full-time employees. “The magic for our people is that they are actually involved with the decisions made every step of the way.” When someone wishes to become a member, they send them a case of wine to taste blind, which is followed up by a Zoom call to discuss their preferences. Today 50% is Malbec, followed by Cabernet Franc, which thrives in the Uco Valley, but there are 35 different varietals planted. One German owner has planted Riesling, while Michael has planted Zinfandel, and another wine lover is experimenting with five different clones of Pinot Noir. Normally, members start off by buying one to three acres, but one owner has bought 22. One of the advantages of the club is that there is a sense of community and members of Vines of Mendoza love swapping recommendations of wines and travel destinations. A lack of accommodation near the vineyards led to Michael building the resort, which has been named as one of the best in South America. The demand is so strong that he has plans to add on another 20 rooms and a restaurant.
His new project is Vines Global, as he found that other wine lovers wanted to look beyond Argentina. Today they have eight different partners, and are planning more in the future. Vines Global gives wine lovers the opportunity to blend their own wine while working with some well-known winemakers. In the Mosel, Vines Global have partnered with Ernst Loosen, in Champagne region Champagne Drappier, in Montalcino Giacomo Neri of Casanova de Neri and Roberto Cipresso of La Fiorita estate, as well as Hourglass Wines in the Napa Valley, Alexana Winery in Wilamette, Oregon, Dominik Huber at Terroir al Limit in Priorat, and Pablo Martorell in Argentina. Michael explains how members can make wines in the different regions, and beyond the membership fee, the cost varies depending on the region. Winemaking can cost as low as US$6,000 a barrel to make wine with Ernst Loosen up to US$38,000 at Hourglass Wines in the Napa Valley. Regions on the horizon include Portugal, the Rhone and Paso Robles, California. Michael explains that while members can go and make wine privately, many chose to go as part of a group, as they love the community aspect, sharing not just their experience but enjoying being with like-minded companions.
Running Order:-
-
0.00 – 19.30
“The magic here for our people is that they are actually involved with the decisions every step of the way.”
– Michael Evans: turning from politics to wine.
– How Evans started Vines of Mendoza.
– Meeting Pablo Gimenez and the pioneers of Argentina.
– Cost of membership. -
19.31 – 31.32
– How members decide what to plant.
– The different varietals the members are growing.
– Expanding the project and launching the hotel, restaurant and spa.
– Awards for the resort.
– Turning to organic farming. -
31.33 – 50.32
“People can choose to make Brunello with Giacomo one year and Riesling in the Mosel with Ernst Loosen the next.”
– Launching the Vines Global.
– Pilot project in Montalcino.
– Opportunities to blend wine in different parts of the world.
– The cost of the membership and making the wine in different places.
– Future countries in the pipeline for blending escapes.
– The countries Michael would still like to make wine in.
RELATED POSTS
Keep up with our adventures in wine
Lorenzo Pasquini talk to Elin McCoy about his life at Château d’Yquem. From childhood dreams of becoming a professional fencer to landing the ultimate wine job, discover his amazing story.