Argentine Soul, Oregon Vines: The Story of Conur 🍷

Hi Wine Friends,

Starting next week, we'll be celebrating Women's Month with newsletters dedicated to some seriously badass women in wine. 

But before we dive fully into the XX chromosome, I wanted to give a few men the spotlight. And not just any men, but steak-eating, Malbec-drinking, soccer ball-kicking Argentinians. 

First, a little backstory. If you've been around since the early days of Arden or Thelonious, you probably remember my partner Alex. Hard to forget, right? He's got that quintessential Argentinian spirit—outspoken, talented, and unapologetically himself. I owe Alex a lot; he really shaped my love for hospitality, food and fine wine, and he’s the one who nudged me into becoming a sommelier.

But my own connection to Argentina goes back even further. When I was just out of college, my adventurous parents–avid hikers and naturalists–packed their hiking boots and moved to Argentina not once but twice for six-month stints in the Andes. While I didn’t make it all the way to their homebase of Bariloche, I did rendezvous with them in Buenos Aires. I was instantly captivated by the city's vibrant culture—colorful buildings, street art, late-night tango, amazing food, and, of course, plenty of wine. Buenos Aires felt more like Barcelona to me than “the Paris of South America” as I’d heard it described—bursting with life and energy.

And you can’t set foot in Argentina without realizing that while, yes, they are a predominantly catholic country, soccer (fútbol) is their true religion. In fact, my parents were living there when Pope Francis got elected and they sent a newspaper headline that read, “We already have God, now we have the Pope too,” with a large picture of Leo Messi.

Fast forward to 2015. I was living in Los Angeles, working as a wine director and dating Alex. We were trying to open our own wine bar, but LA's sky high rent costs costs and liquor license hurdles were daunting. One weekend I went home to Portland for a friend's wedding and returned  to Los Angeles raving about Portland’s growing food and wine scene.

Alex was skeptical. Portland food and wine wasn't then what it is today. But what did he know Portland for in 2015? Having the best Major League Soccer team! If you're a Timbers fan, you’ll remember that 2015 was the year—they won the MLS Cup and their star player was El Maestro Diego Valeri.

Diego was already a soccer sensation in Argentina; Alex knew him for having led Buenos Aires club Lanús for over ten years. He landed on Portland soil in 2013 and quickly became the heart of the Timbers– leading them to the top of the Western Conference and becoming the team's all-time leading goal scorer. 

I still remember the fateful December day at the sports bar in West Hollywood, watching the Timbers defeat Columbus Crew and win the Cup. Alex looked at me and said, “Okay, maybe we can move to Portland.”

A month later we had quit our jobs, packed our bags and started our new lives in City of Roses.

But the story doesn’t end there. For the first few years of Thelonious, it was peak Timbers mania. We were always aware of this because people actually mistook Alex for Diego! They looked so much alike at the time that I once yelled at "Alex" from across the street to help me carry wine, only to realize it was actually Diego. Oops.

We spent many happy nights at Timbers games and, being so close to Providence Park, always had fans stopping in for a glass of wine before going to cheer on El Maestro.  And that brings us to today. Imagine my surprise when Alex texted me saying, "Diego just reached out and wants to come to dinner at Arden!" Diego had retired in 2022 and is now an MLS commentator, but he still calls Portland home.   And guess what he's doing in his "retirement" at the ripe old age of 38? That’s right - making wine. Because if there's anything Argentinians love as much as soccer, it's Malbec. So Diego started Conur Wines, named for the Conurbano neighborhood where he grew up in Buenos Aires. Conur is a way for Diego to share his culture with his adopted Oregon community. Along with his bestie Federico and with their wives Flor and Lucy (all from the Conurbano), these expats are creating a taste of Argentina right here in Oregon. Conur’s story is one of destiny and connection. Although Diego and Federico grew up only 30 blocks away from each other, they didn't meet until years later in the United States. As Fede says, "Same age, same history. We like the same things." (Though Diego played for Lanús, Federico's sworn enemy team, which led to him usually shouting at Diego rather than cheering him on...) Over the last few months, I’ve been lucky to spend time with, not only Diego, but the whole Conur family. I’ve also drank a lot of their wine. And I would not be writing all these words if I couldn’t truly vouch that these are wonderful people making wonderful wine. I love wines that represent more than just juice in a bottle - that carry a story of people, place and history. And Conur does just that. It's a story of Argentina—soccer, Malbec, and maté. It's a story of friendship, migration, and the American dream. It's a story of an athlete's next chapter, stepping from the pitch to the vineyard. It’s a story of Oregon - a yet unmapped terroir still defining itself and experimenting with global styles. And for me it's a story of new beginnings and learning how to not only come home, but carry home with you wherever you go.  You can find Conur's wines at Arden and other great Portland spots like Elephant's, Providore, and Liner & Elsen.   And I’m thrilled to announce that we'll be hosting Diego, Federico, Flor, and Lucy at Arden on Thursday, April 24th, for a Conur Wines takeover! Chef Erik is creating an Argentine-inspired prix fixe menu, and Conur wines will be available by the pairing, glass, and bottle. We aren't announcing it through Arden for a few more weeks but I wanted to give you an advance shot at tickets before they’re officially released. 😉 Hope to see you there!

BOOK CONUR DINNER

Salud,

Kelsey

THE CONUR LINEUP

• Soté Pinot Noir: A nod to Oregon, this is Pinot Noir through an Argentinian lens… spicy red fruit–ripe but light on its feet. Soté was the nickname for Fede’s beloved dog and this Pinot embodies his spirit of "loyalty, love, and friendship."
• Maté: An aromatic white blend, playfully named after Argentina's famous tea but inspired by the taste of their Torrontés grape. According to Fede, "We created a wine called Maté, so we don't have to choose" between their love of wine and maté.
• Malbec ("General Admission"): Sourced from the Columbia Valley and crafted in the Mendoza style, this Malbec honors Diego's soccer career. "Welcoming, approachable, and a great time for all," like a good match. This is the closest I’ve tasted to an Argentine Malbec made in the PNW!