Life as a winemaker with Karim Mussi
Karim Mussi, Winemaker at Altocedro Winery in Mendoza, Argentina
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a winemaker? I think everyone assumes it’s a life of luxury cars, private planes, and hosting wine tastings in exotic destinations. In reality, winemakers are farmers, chemists, accountants, and public relations managers all rolled into one! It’s a multi-faceted job and one that, although challenging, is extremely rewarding.
In Episode #31 of The Wine CEO Podcast, I had the great opportunity to interview Karim Mussi, the winemaker from Altocedro winery in Mendoza, Argentina. Karim is a 4th generation Lebanese Christian immigrant to Argentina who came from a long line of businessmen. He broke tradition and decided to become a farmer so that he could follow his passion to make wine. After planting his first small vineyard in 1999, Karim spent the next 2 decades building an incredible business that showcases the true quality of Argentinian wines.
A few facts about Argentina…
Altocedro is a boutique winery located in the La Consulta appellation of Mendoza, Argentina.
Argentina is the 5th largest wine producer in the world and the largest in South America. The most well-known wine region in Argentina is Mendoza, near the Andes Mountain Range. Due to the proximity to the Andes, most of the vines in Mendoza are grown at high altitudes of 4,000+ ft above sea level. This creates a unique growing environment unlike any other region in the world which lends to the unique character of Mendoza wines.
Argentina is known for Malbec and is by far the world’s top producer of this grape varietal. Originally from Bordeaux, you rarely find it here anymore and will almost exclusively find great Malbec in Argentina. In addition to Malbec, Argentina is also known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Torrontés, and Chardonnay. Early Spanish, Italian, and French immigrants to Argentina brought their local grape varietals, so there’s also a small presence of Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and other mediterranean varietals.
Argentina has never been affected with phylloxera (vine pest) like many other world wine regions, so it has many vineyards with grapevines over 150 years old!
The proximity to the Andes Mountain Range gives the wines of Mendoza a unique high altitude profile.
My interview with Karim…
What I loved most about my conversation with Karim was how humble and down to earth he was. I truly felt like I was talking to a friend as he shared his passion for his country and supporting the small business wineries in his area. He spoke about the incredible cuisine in his hometown and how Argentinians love to enjoy life. His enthusiasm was contagious and he made me want to visit Mendoza! My favorite question from the episode was when I asked him if he ever drinks anyone else’s wine. His response was: “Yes! For my education and for my pleasure. When you drink your own wines, you are always working! I don’t know if I’ll be a winemaker for the rest of my life, but I will be a wine consumer for sure, until the last second of my life.”
Be sure to listen to the entire episode to hear some great stories about how Karim got started in winemaking, why he considers his winery to be “boutique”, and what is the hardest thing about being a winemaker (his answer might surprise you!).
To learn more about Karim, be sure to check out his website and follow him on social media!
Website: Karimmussi.com
Instagram: @Karim_Mussi
Facebook: Altocedro.wines
And if you want to try some of his AMAZING wines, you can order them on Vivino & Wine.com. Or speak with your local wine store to see if they can order them from a distributor. His Malbec & Cabernet Sauvignon were incredible, but I was also a fan of his Tempranillo! All of his wines are very food friendly, so they are perfect for a barbecue or a simple dinner with friends.
For this episode and others, check out my podcast page where you can start listening on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Spotify.
Thanks to Wash & Wik Candle and Soap Co. for sponsoring Episode #31 of The Wine CEO Podcast! You can check out their wine scented candles and use promo code THEWINECEO at checkout for 20% off your purchase!