Alpasión Wines’s 2016 Alpasión Grand Cabernet Franc has secured 95 points and a gold medal at the 2020 London Wine Competition making it the best wine from Argentina.

Aged in French Bordeaux style barrels for 12 months. Cabernet Franc is quite “in” at the moment so we wanted to follow the trend and come out with something different, innovative and trendy.

The winery is based at the foothills of the Andes mountains and a short distance from the best vineyards and wineries in Mendoza's Uco Valley

At Alpasion Wines the project is located in the Uco Valley, which is the area in Mendoza where the highest vineyards (between 1,200 and 1,500 meter above sea level) are located and where some of the world renowned figures in the wine industry such as Michel Rolland and the Rothschild family are concentrated.

The people behind this project are all wine lovers that one day (over a few bottles of wine) decided to make a dream come true by making iconic wines together.

The label features the fingerprints and handwritten names of all the owners. The design goal was to graphically convey that this is a highly personal, hands-on project, a group effort driven by passion and quality for everything they undertake, for friendships and for all facets of life.

Passion is in fact so central to the whole project that they decided to name their inaugural release “Alpasión,” a combination of the Spanish “alma” (for the soul) and “pasión” (passion). The winemaker, Karim Mussi is one of the most prominent, innovative and passionate winemakers in the region.

The wine is imported by one of the finest wine importers of UK - Matthew Clark

Founded in 1810 by Matthew Clark as a wine and spirit broking business in the City of London. Matthew Clark was the son of Charles Clark the Inspector General of Imported Liquors and Distillery at the Port of London. Charles is said to have shown ‘gallantry and skill’ in capturing a gang of notorious pirates who operated between Gravesend and London around 1800. The company was originally based at 68 Great Tower Street.

In 1814 Matthew Clark was registered as a distributor of Martell, becoming the sole London agents in 1833. As the century progressed Matthew Clark and Sons as it was then known was the importer of De Kuyper spirits and liqueurs and the Sherries of Pedro Domecq.

Matthew Clark retired in 1849 and his sons, Gordon and Matthew Edward Clark took over the business. Six generations of the Clark family ran the business up to and past its formation as a limited company in 1920 and sat on the board up past our 1990 stock market listing as Matthew Clark Plc.

In 1964 Matthew Clark merged with the Finsbury Park distillery, at the time the company was controlled with Michael and Niel Clark with Guy and Francis Clark, their respective sons joining the board soon after. Michael Clark is said to have persuaded Prime Minister, Clement Attlee not to nationalise the wine trade after the Second World War.

It’s in the following period that the business moved to Bristol and became one of the biggest cider manufacturers in the UK. The strength of our wine and spirits history was not forgotten however as by the turn of the century Matthew Clark was the trusted wine and spirits wholesaler to over 18,000 On-Trade outlets.

Here are some of the UK restaurants and hotels that stock this wine.

Burgh Island Hotel: Art Deco Hotel on its own private island, home to the romantic ghosts of times past.  Infinite sea views, complete privacy with unbeatable

Novotel London Canary Wharf: Novotel London Canary Wharf is a modern and stylish 39-storey hotel.

Chew Kitchen: Relax and catch-up with friends and family at our bistro style restaurant, based in the stunning Chew Valley. Serving freshly prepared food, our dishes combine British classics fused with our own Chew twists. What’s more, we are passionate about sourcing our ingredients locally from farmers and bakeries, so you’ll be sure you get the best food the Chew Valley has to offer.

Gaucho Restaurants: Gaucho first opened in London in 1994, taking inspiration from Argentina with a vision of bringing the world’s best steak to London. Our food has a contemporary global influence, based strongly around modern Argentina. Notably the best quality steak in the world, our beef comes from Argentinian, premium Black-Angus cattle bred at hand selected farms.

Indigo at the 02

The Loopy Shrew Hotel

M Restaurants

Orocco Pier Hotel

Sam’s Chophouse