This week has been great; full of nice experiences.

One of them is WORK. I’ve got a job!

Well, it is still starting, so we are on “honey moon”. However, my sixth sense tells me that it is going to be a good experience for both of us. I hope so, as I am working on commission and to sell their wine to international markets is my duty.

For obvious reasons I am not going to mention the name of the company in any situation here, neither their wines - if the reasons are not clear to you, my virtual friend, I name some of them: I am discrete, professional and a serious person.

Anyway, to be part of a business with coworkers and responsibilities are some of the things that make like the work environment and I am glad to be working on what I have chosen to do – how many times am I going to say that?

I also took part of an event called Argentina Wine Awards which had not just a competition of the best Argentine wines but also a seminar with some international judges, representing the markets which the event was focused: Brazil, UK, USA and Canada.

It was a very interesting opportunity to hear from some of the greatest wine specialist (so good to hear Tim Atkin again!) and how they see their market and, especially, consume of argentine wine on them.

Continuing my wine-themed week, on Thursday I went to an experience - part of the summer festival that takes place in Mendoza every year - called Musica y Vinos en las Alturas, with folk music, Malbec, on the rooftop of the highest building in the city. From the 8^th floor (!!) we could have a 360° view of the from the mountain surrounded city. The Cuyo traditional songs and dance reminded so much Southern Brazil that I felt back to my roots.

Friday was a day for a big wine tasting on a street of the city. I paid the fare and drunk the wine. In fact they were eight of them that I made sure to choose the most unknown wines or wineries. This kind of event is great for that; you don’t have to go to the producer as they come to you.

When I just arrived I picked up a white, to be more precise a Viogner 2008 from Lagarde Winery which stands during the whole night as the best white wine. Lagarde is fairly well known, so are its wines, however it is rare to find a Viogner from Mendoza and the winery was the first one to plant the variety in the region and has been doing really well.

There were some good red ones as well. From Familia Cassone Winery I tasted their Obra Prima Malbec 2005 while chatting to a very friendly chap who works for the winery and enthusiastically explained all about their range of wines and where are sold in Brazil (I didn’t want to disappoint him saying that I’m not there any longer so I’m not going to look for it in the Brazilian market…) and SinFin Malbec, named SinFin Guarda,  from this unknown winery - at least for me – which was a shame not to get the year of it (excuse for some information missed: it was my last wine), however, I do remember how lovely it was and merrily I ended my “Tour du Vin” just on time to eat some asado - obviously at usual diner time for locals: 23:00h!

In conclusion, if my sixth sense is doing a good job, I am living the life I always wanted to.

Salud,

Marcia Amaral

A got a new point of view: I just moved in to my new place.

It is a spacious and bright studio – for that I mean one big window that makes a 30 metres square apartment really bright Nevertheless, that is good enough for the moment.

Actually, at this very moment I look over the window to contemplate a green street with man-planted trees to refresh a little the warm. The buzz of the buses is non stop during the day. The streets get a few more quiet at the “siesta” time; however, as today is Saturday, I reckon more people are out than in the weekly routine.

Traffic in Mendoza is as good as in the other parts of Argentina, so you can picture an organized chaos. Apart from the usual old cars that the nation is so famous for, buses over here are very very colorful, with outside painted in a whole grade of colours and their interiors decorated as well.

They also pollute a lot and to see a black smoke been spited from them is part of the streets behavior, even if the note on each back of a bus: “Let us know if it makes dust!”.

But I see much more from my window. I observe a city where new and old problems are alive in this sunny land. I perceive people which still walk slow and stop to greet and chat with friends along their way. I witness suspicious strangers analyzing potential sources of illicit income. I notice a group of polices who always have a hand standing on their guns and whose at two o’clock have a break for a “siesta” relief. I distinguish people waiting for public transport which can come in electric trolley version, which I find hard to understand why they keep running – at least they don’t pollute as much as the other buses.  I glimpse loved babies been kissed by their fathers with a beautiful tenderness. I see a city full of the contrasts of good and bad, which are there, sharing the same country, city, street and walkway.

Sometimes is hard to define which is which. This is why I am exercising my abilities of observing.

Salud,

Marcia Amaral