When I think of Montes I think of high-quality wines that come from Chile. The other thought that comes to mind is that wine dinner where I was a server at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel many many many years ago when I was pouring a bottle of Montes wine to this gentleman and he looked at me and I wasn't sure why but he had a slight smile. I then said "this is a very nice wine" I had a little taste as always before pouring the wine to make sure it was fine. He looked at me and said "well thank you I made it" I smiled with a bit of shell shock and responded "very nice to meet the winemaker, I'm sure everyone will enjoy this tonight" He smiled and that was my first memory of Aurelio Montes and Montes Wines.
Turn the clock ahead almost 2 decades later and I get to meet Aurelio Montes Jr. winemaker at Montes today and the son of Aurelio the man I met 2 decades ago.
Aurelio came to do a tasting and talk to some select industry professionals in a private room at the 1888 Chop House located at the Fairmont Banff Springs presented by Icon Wines the broker for Montes here in Alberta.
With a line up of wines, we tasted wines as Aurelio explained them and diverted to other topics that we laughed about such as his exploits adventuring around on mountain bikes and hurting his shoulder or one of his skydiving moments. same time caring for the environment developing a sustainable culture within the company and in their vineyards.
With a line up of wines, we tasted wines as Aurelio explained them and occasionally diverted to other topics that we laughed about such as his exploits adventuring around on mountain bikes and recking his shoulder or one of his crazy skydiving moments.
With a variety of wines from the Montes Alpha M series, Montes Folly and the widely acclaimed and my favourite Purple Angel we tasted discussed and had a few more laughs before Aurelio we ended the tasting. The next day Aurelio was ready to jump on a fat bike the next day before leaving the snowy Canadian Rockies for London England and many other stops around the world doing his part as the winemaker soo passionate about what he does and his team that plays an integral part in delivering the fantastic wines. https://www.monteswines.com/en/
