He managed Clinton’s election campaigns and is now another go-to wine in Mendoza: the fascinating story of Michael Evans

One could venture that Michael Evans was born with the heroism necessary for the battlefield that is electoral campaigns. He was in the two from Bill Clinton to the American presidency, with Al Gore and even with John Kerry. But this Democrat, who today carries Joe Biden in his heart, stopped along the way. It all began in 2004 when, fascinated during a trip lasting a few days, he discovered in the south-west of Mendoza lands at the base of the mountain range at 1,300 meters above sea level.

He says he was truly tested there with limitations of all kinds, from access to water for irrigation to lack of labor; not to mention the cheap ones. And so I start from his motto: “Nothing is impossible”.

But for his project The Vines, which he embraces over 500 hectares with 355 investors who have purchased plots for their vineyardsEvans found Pablo Giménez Riili from Mendoza as a partner and together they added the winemaker Santiago Achaval for this innovative proposal with which they tempted Americans, Germans, Canadians and Brazilians, who are the vast majority.

Before settling, they visited 75 different properties until deciding on the southwest of Tunuyán, a region known as Chacayes with a very special terroir for the Malbec grape, of which 61% is grown.

“Over the years we felt that the dream would not come true so many factors out of control like the financial crisis, inflation, climate, Zonda wind or keeping an ant infestation at bay,” says Evans.

And, when asked what it means to do business in Argentina, he laughs: “With the majority of foreign investors I had to find the right balance between North American expectations and Argentine traditions.”

As soon as they started with the vineyard plantations and the winery for each owner to produce their own wine, the need arose for a place where investors could stay and from there the idea of create the region’s leading wine resort. Yes, Evans thinks big.

They entrusted the Bormida & Yanzon studio, which designed the most prestigious and even cellars They seduced Francis Malmann who joined forces with his restaurant Siete Fuegos. Vines Resort opened in 2014, awarded by Travel & Leisure and Andrew Harper.

The hotel, which overlooks the Andes from all angles, with manicured vineyards and a park of native species, is one of the leading hotels in the world and has hosted since luxury travellers, princes and rock stars whose names are kept confidential. It turned out that the creator of Pictionary, Rob Ángel, owns vineyards on The Vine. Also, Noah Mamet, former American ambassador. Their wine brand is called The Great Diplomat.

The truth is that the Resort, with 80% occupancy, is booming: we will go from the current 22 residences to 77. The project is ongoing and in the first phase approximately 12 residences were sold in 5 days for a total of $7 million, mainly to foreigners. “There is a different climate with Argentina, let’s not lose hope,” explains Evans. The growth of this Resort, equipped with a heliport, requires a outlay of 25 million dollars.

As for the wines produced at The Vine, the outlet is export. A team takes care of it for about $4,500 a year in each case. In U.S. restaurants or wineries, these bottles don’t go below $14.

Meanwhile, Evans, 58, is maturing another venture, The Vine Global. With wine lovers, he embarks on a pilgrimage through cellars and vineyards in exotic places to finally arrive in Mendoza. His story contains the return to the starting point. After all, his great-grandfather, James Ferguson, was the American consul to Argentina in 1905.