In this latest episode of Uncork Your Mind, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Shawn Pearce from Familia Vicente Pearce, a unique winery that bridges the cultures of Buffalo, New York, and Mendoza, Argentina. Shawn shared his inspiring story of how he met his wife, Celia, and eventually sparked their joint venture into winemaking in the heart of Mendoza.
Shawn’s journey into wine began while studying at Wake Forest, but it was his connection to Celia, who grew up in Argentina’s wine-rich Mendoza region, that truly set the stage for what would become Familia Vicente Pearce. Together with Celia’s brother, Juan Pablo, they’ve developed a winery focused on creating premium wines from sustainably farmed vineyards.
We delved into Mendoza’s rich terroir, where vineyards sit 3,000 feet above sea level. Cool nights and alluvial soils provide the perfect conditions for growing classic Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Gamay. Shawn also discussed the company’s commitment …