Lau-Nae Winery participates in the South American wine study

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Matt Mollet, owner of the Lau-Nae Winery, Red Bud, recently traveled to Argentina, Chile & Uruguay as part of a 2-week educational trip with the University of Illinois. Along with Matt, there were eight (8) Illinois winemakers, professors and wine specialists who participated in this study. This trip was dedicated to exploring the South American wine industry. The study included learning about wine production systems and the impact of new technologies. The group compared marketing and merchandising strategies toward the expansion and consolidation of wine markets. The group also learned about the steps taken by South American winemakers who have allowed them to gain world renowned prestige and large market shares. The group visited leading wineries and vineyards of Argentina, Chile & Uruguay. They were able to walk through local vineyards and meet with local enologists (winemakers) and marketing directors to share ideas and winemaking knowledge.

The group began the trip by spending three (3) days in Uruguay visiting the National Institute of Viticulture (INAVI), the Universidad de la Republican, wineries and vineyards, and the Tannat grape growing region.

The group then crossed the La Plata river (the widest river in the World), to journey to the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. While in Buenos Aires, the group was able to meet with wine experts in the region. The trip continued to Mendoza City, one of the "Great Wine Capitals of the World". This area of Argentina is known for their famous "Malbec" grapes. Not only did the group learn about growing grapes in high altitudes but they were able to meet with wine producers, marketers and experts from the Argentinean National Institute for Enology and the National University of Cuyo. They shared ideas to learn more about the competitive and interconnected wine market.

Following the Inca Trail across the Andes Mountains, the group then journeyed to Santiago de Chile, the capital of Chile. While there, the group toured the Maipo Valley and the cities of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso where they learned about Chilean wines and their wine cultures.