I have always been fascinated by the stories of migrants (big family to which I belong too, after all): when I think of my Italian region, which basically has a reputation as a land of “Bogia nen” (“don’t move” in dialect Piedmontese), I am even more attracted to imagine how Argentina was the destination of many Piedmontese people between the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century.
In a beautiful article taken from a reportage of the Piedmontese Study Center it is mentioned:
“There was a time in Argentina, in the deepest and most remote areas, those snatched from the strong hands of our Piedmontese to the scrub, in that part of the world redesigned by them, that Piedmontese dialect was the official language.”
Thinking that crowds of peasants went to seek fortune in the pampas and worked hard to plow the fields and raise herds of oxen, but never forgetting their origins to keep the memory alive, indeed: you can surely hear speaking more the Piedmontese dialect in Cordoba than in Turin.
And always imagining a Piedmontese in Argentina: what combination could be more appropriate than a nice Piedmontese dish of polenta, sausage and mushrooms with a glass of Argentine Malbec?
I confirm everything: I prepare the polenta with corn flour purchased near Turin directly in a historic mill in the area. And then I open – a couple of hours before – a Malbec Reserva 2013 from Finca El Origen.
We are in Los Chacayes, in the Valle de Uco at 1200 meters above the sea. This bright purple red Malbec derives from a Vista Flores single vineyard and expresses all the characteristics of an excellent Argentine Malbec: a wine of full body with notes of plum and ripe red fruits, tobacco, a light spicy note of licorice, good freshness and with a well balanced tannic contribution. Very persistent finish, it remains throughout the meal, extremely pleasant.
The label is also elegant: the nautilus fossil found while preparing the land for winegrowing is the symbol of this company, just to remind that there, in the Andes, once it was the ocean.
Keeping in mind to not forget, I dedicate this Malbec to all Piedmontese people who live – like me – far from Italy and who keep alive the memory of Piedmont, of our traditions and in particular of our dialect which unfortunately is in danger of extinction (I am the first witness, unfortunately …). You are great, Piedmontese in the world, cheers to you who have made Argentina a second Piedmont.