Meet the Maker - Matias Fraga / MAAL / Argentina

Oh Argentina! Sometimes, there comes a point when only a lovely, ripe and juicy Malbec will do. Here at Good Pair Days Towers we have made it our mission to seek out only the very best of Malbec, and show you that yes, whilst there are some stunning value options for this grape variety, there is also a plethora of outstanding quality to match any mood or occasion. When we speak about quality, it wouldn't be right not to include MAAL in that conversation. Winemaker Alfredo Merlo and winegrower Matias Fraga head up this dynamic project that produces outstanding red wine from high altitude vineyards in Vista Flores in Mendoza, Argentina's premier wine growing region.

MAAL simply stands for 'Malbec As Alberto Likes'. These wines are unpushed, with a focus on purity of fruit and bags of character. Their 'Biutiful' Malbec can be found on here on our website, and as the name suggests, it is a beautiful expression of Argentina's darling grape variety.

We caught up with Matias, the other half of MAAL, and the man in charge of the vineyards, and raising those juicy grapes to perfect ripeness. Here's what he had to say...

Why did you decide to get into winemaking?

"My background is in the Restaurant business. I’ve owned restaurants for more than 20 years. But in the middle of that process I realised I was spending too much time in the wine cellar, and decided to pursue my dream of making wine. I managed to buy an abandoned vineyard in 2009 and since then I’ve been making wine with my friend and partner at MAAL Alfredo Merlo".

-That's "Merlo", not "Merlot", by the way...

Do you have a favourite wine or wine region outside of your own?

"It’s also in Argentina, but I love the Valles Calchaquies in Salta.

Outside of Argentina, I love Burgundy (who doesn’t?)".

What grape do you like working with the most and why?

For us it is all about Malbec. We only work with that, and we are still trying to figure out how to do it better. It’s the most versatile varietal I’ve tried. It absorbs amazingly the little differences that make each vineyard unique.

Celebrity Crush?

Penelope Cruz

Favourite Movie?

One of them… HEAT, with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Val Kilmer

Favourite type of music/artist?

I Love music in general... Indie/Jose Gonzalez. Bossa Nova/Caetano Veloso. Reggae/Bob Marley

Fun fact about you that has nothing to do with wine?

I love outdoor sports. In Mendoza I do a lot of trail running in the mountains. And in Northern Brazil, where I also live part of the year, I do a lot of kitesurfing too

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