Book Recommendation: The Vineyard at the End of the World

My whole life I’ve enjoyed reading non-fiction when I can find the time.  Particularly historical works, and mostly focused on a couple specific time periods I was interested in.  But something delightful that’s happened in the last year or two is that as I’ve traveled more, it’s opened up different stories that I want to explore further.

As I talk to people in a new country, take tours, and visit historical sites, I get just a tease of a story.  A taste, if you will.  And it makes me want to know the whole story.

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The Long History & Recent Ascension of Argentina’s Wine Industry

Sometimes I get a recommendation from a local, which is the case here.  Last spring, Sarai and I spent an amazing week in Argentina, including two days of winery tours in Mendoza.  Ivan was our guide both days, and he did a great job showing us his love of Argentina, the history, the people, and the wine.  He recommended this book to us in case we wanted to learn more about Nicolas Catena, Susanna Balbo, and many of the other winemakers who built the global modern-day wine industry in Argentina—and I did.

The Vineyard at the End of the World: Maverick Winemakers and the Rebirth of Malbec

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While the book spends a little bit of time early on with the Spanish conquest and the native people, the majority of the narrative takes place in the 1900s and 2000s and dives into the recent history of Argentine’s wine industry.  I was fascinated to realize just how recently Argentina’s wine became good, and became known outside of the country.  I mean, it’s really just in the last 20-30 years that Argentinean Malbec came into our lives.  Given its ubiquity now, that’s crazy!

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A blend of history, the science and tech of winemaking, and personality drama, The Vineyard at the End of the World was a great read, and I recommend it if you’re interested in the wine industry at all.  But even if you’re not a wine fan and are wanting to visit Argentina or learn more about the country, the history of Argentina’s wine industry is kind of the modern-day history of the country itself—and well worth a read!

Disclaimer:  these are affiliate links so I may make a few cents if you decide to purchase the book

Now get out there and drink some wine:

• Exploring Mendoza’s Wine Country
• Wine and Conversation at Slovenia’s Rojac Winery
• Wineries to Visit in California’s Sonoma County
• A Weekend of Wine in Willamette Valley

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