When I was planning our trip to New Zealand and specifically Queenstown, the one name that would consistently pop up was Patagonia Chocolates. Chocolatiers are always going to win fans by the fact that they produce some of the most delectable items on earth but this was different. People insisted that I visit there and try some of their goodies. Some were downright pushy with their insistence. I know the look, for when I love something I get the same fierce expression.
This sunny Queenstown morning I met up with Alejandro (or Alex) Gimenez, the owner and founder of Patagonia Chocolates to find out a bit about his chocolates and his philosophy. Gimenez founded Patagonia Chocolates 4 years ago after emigrating from his native Argentina (he is an Argentinean of Italian descent) to New Zealand 7 years ago as a Hangglider pilot. On his first day he was struck at how similar the temperates were between Queenstown and Patagonia, both being 45° South latitude. He knew about chocolate as many Germans and Swiss emigrated to Argentina and set up a chocolate industry there. On his second day he was planning his shop location.
Interestingly I found this tidbit on the Queenstown Heritage website “45 North and 45 South are very different worlds. In the temperate zones, global winds flow West to East round the planet. In the North that journey takes them through heavily populated and industrialised regions. In the South, there is only Central Otago and Patagonia. While well over 100 million people live between 44º and 46º North, there are less than 400,000 living in the Southern strip. This reflects in a lack of pollution and disease pressure – there is no vineyard in Central Otago within 200 kms of a traffic light”
He started off with 1 shop in nearby Arrowtown and was an almost instant success so after 6 months opened his Queenstown store. After 2 years he extended the chocolate range to include desserts and coffee. One of the biggest decisions at this stage was whether to invest in an ice cream machine, with machines costing about $200,000 it was a big decision but one that continued his swift trajectory with sales doubling month on month. An average day for ice cream sales sees him selling 400kgs (880pounds) of ice cream a day, on a particularly sunny or hot day he can sell an enormous 700kgs (1540 pounds) of ice cream.
The best selling Tramontana flavour
Ice cream appears to be his passion. Indeed it is painstakingly time consuming as all elements are made on the premises and he makes 30kg of dulce de leche a night to fulfill the ice cream demand and all waffle cones are made on the premises too. The only thing that isn’t done themselves is the roasting of the coffee beans (which is done locally). His best seller is the Tramontana which sells between 40-80kg a day alone. At first glance it looks like chocolate chips but he explains that it is actually butterscotch balls coated in chocolate. And yes I drooled a little when he told me that.
With the chocolate range, he tells us that the Arrowtown store actually has some of the more exotic flavours than the Queenstown store doesn’t have such as wasabi & sesame seed; cracked pepper & lemon and cherry & pinot noir.
Given such a success, it’s interesting that he has stopped short of wholesaling (and in turn probably taking over NZ with these chocolates). He gets weekly requests for wholesale but only two other stores carry the chocolates. He and his customers like the old fashioned idea of buying it from the shop and the exclusivity aspect. Interstingly he uses Belgian and Australian chocolate. As time goes by more people opt for dark chocolate with a higher cocoa content although the 58% dark and milk chocolates are the most popular.
Alejandro Gimenez
With some hands on growth he rises at 4.30am every day and get some time off during the quiet May-June times. As for competition, he seems to welcome it. He says that it is good for customers to have choice and it is also a good motivator to push oneself to keep developing new flavours. He works with his Arrowtown chocolatier to come up with 2 new ice cream flavours and 3 new chocolate flavours a year. It takes them about 4.5 cases of ice cream to get the perfect flavour with a lot of trial and error for the perfect balance.
We try some of the ice creams, the raspberry sorbet; mascarpone & fruit of the forest; dulce de leche; banana split and chocolate and the Turkish fig & pistachio. They’re deliciously creamy and true to the real flavour. In fact my favourite is the Banana Split which tastes like the creamiest frozen banana and chocolate. There’s no faux banana taste, just pure good quality, perfectly ripe fruit and ingredients.
Turkish Fig & Pistachio ice cream
Hot Chocolate
We try the hot chocolates – the chocolate and ginger flavour is deliciously warming and judiciously gingery and the chocolate with Mexican chili gives the tongue the most delightful quiver of heat.
Kawakawa Tea $3 for a 1 person pot
I also later try a Kawakawa tea, a NZ plant that the Maoris use in medicine. Thankfully it’s rather pleasant tasting and refreshing, reminiscent of lemongrass.
Intrigued by these additional flavours we make a quick trip to Arrowtown to purchase some of the truffles he spoke of earlier. They’re $2.50 per truffle and quite sizeable at that measuring about 3cms in diameter at the bottom.
The wasabi & sesame seed is delicious although thankfully for me, not too wasabi-ish, the cherry & pinot noir is a gorgeously delectable chocolate with a whole wine soaked cherry inside (Otago is known both for its Pinot Noir and cherries) but my favourite would undoubtedly be the brilliant combination of cracked pepper & lemon. It’s an unusual combination, the lemon much like a sweet zingy lemon curd and the cracked pepper absolutely present in every bite. Now if only we could convince him, to export them to Australia…
Patagonia Chocolates
Queenstown
Lakefront of 50 Beach street, Queenstown, New Zealand
Tel: +64 (03) 4429066
8am-11pm 7 days a week
Free Wifi access with any purchase
Arrowtown
40 Buckingham street, Arrowtown, New Zealand
Tel: +64 (03) 4098584
9am-6pm 7 days a week
http://www.patagoniachocolates.com
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now?
NQN on Facebook
RSS
32 Comments | Add your own
Your gastronomic journeys continue to thrill me! And that panna cotta in your previous post looks so good!
I wish I had known about this place when we were in Queenstown a few years ago. The Tramontana ice cream looks like something I would love!
Where’s the pie!??!?!??!
wow what a nice place to visit. so many delicious treats
OH. MY. GOODNESS!!!
That tramontana icecream looks so good. Me wanty now!!!
You know when you get back we will all be expecting a recipe for a re-creation of that ice cream (pretty please)
That certainly looks like the place for me. Those ice creams and chocolate look so beautiful and tasty, I want some now!
The ice-creams look delicious, as do those truffles! What kind of chocolate does he use to make them?
What a wonderful place. It’s so heartening to see people who have such enthusiasm and devotion to what they do.
That place sounds heavenly.
Now I have to get me some chocolate! Sesame and wasabi – I’m guessing it was a little like “hot” Mexican chocolate (chocolate with chilis)?
Funny side note: your photograph of Alejandro looks like he’s wearing a t-shirt for your blog. haha!
I just had a hot chocolate when I was there. It was good in itself
Oh, the idea of the Turkish fig and pistachio ice cream is making me quiver!
The ice cream flavors and hot chocolate both sound fantastic! I love spicy hot chocolate.
Yum the icecream sounds magnificent. Chocolate coated butterscotch would be great.
I noticed the NQN teashirt too, but I think you’d have to print a food photo on them if you start a clothing line. Cupcakes perhaps.
OH MAN I’m craving me some of that chili hot chocolate! I think we spent a small fortune at the Arrowtown store when we were there last August…can’t wait to go back!
I love the way you write… so insightful and warm and engaging… I felt as though I were right there with you. Now if only I can taste the ice cream as well…
wow sounds soo good…I need chocolate like NOW! :-p
If that day when you convince them ever comes, I’d love to hear about it. The gelato look fantastic!
May I just say that your post had me and a couple of colleagues salivating at all those glorious goodies. The truffles, in particular, made one teammate swoon. The ice creams, on the other hand, had me and another colleague sighing in a longing fashion. (It’s so hot where I am – and it’s only the start of the summer!)
Aren’t those chocolate fabulous! Another great NZ chocolate place is shoc chocs from Greytown in Martinborough – fabulous!
Mmm everything there looks so good! Especially the ice creams.
Yum! this place sounds (and looks) magnificent. I love the sound of hot chocolate with ginger, and the cracked pepper and lemon choc.
*droooooooooool*
that is all
Great post! I love chocolate, but with wasabi? I don’t think I could handle that one!
I’m craving ice-cream now and I never crave ice-cream!!
x
Oh my those ice creams look amazing! My mum always tells me I’d love the ice cream in NZ, and if they all look like that I don’t doubt it! x
OMG did you say butterscotch balls coated in chocolate?!??!?!
Mmmm and the other flavours all sound so good tooo! Marscapone and berry, banana and choc, turkish fig and pistachio ^^!
I want to go back to Queenstown to have some of those delicious ice creams and chocolates!
so i just finished my lunch, and sadly, i have nothing like any of this for dessert. talk about disappointment.
Hi Nazarina A-Thankyou so much! That’s so sweet of you to say
Hi Kathy-Maybe next time you go there?
It’s a fabulous combination isn’t it!
Hi Blond Duck-Haha nowhere! There’s no pie-there’s ice cream and chocolate though!
Hi snooky doodle-It certainly makes for some dilemmas with choosing
Hi sandra-It does definitely. Perhaps one day he’ll open up outside of NZ! Let’s hope so
Hehe let’s see, first off, I need to do a Creme Brulee fudge 
Hi Anita -Yep me too
Ahh if only we had bought more!
Hi Y-he uses a combination of Belgian and Australian chocolate
Hi arista-It is indeed lovely, he has a really great attitude!
Hi Jessica-Hehe yes they’re great combos aren’t they! It was very lightly wasabi so less than a chili chocolate tingle (good for me as I don’t like wasabi). Haha oh yes I see what you mean!
Hi Fiona-Yeah I can only imagine how good it would be in the Winter skiing season!
Hi Reemski-Hehe yes! Me too
Hi anna-Yeah I love the little tingle at the end of a good hot chili chocolate
Hi Arwen-Yeah to think I thought it was just a plain choc chip! Haha no clothing line plans but sure it would have to have some sort of food porn on them if I did!
Hi Tiffany-I can imagine! It’s so easy to say “I’ll have one of everything!”
Hi Jesse-Aww thankyou! What a lovely compliment!
Hi Alexandra-Haha I hope that you have some easy access to some chocolate!
Hi Simon-Yeah that would be great wouldn’t it! A bit of Patagonia in Sydney or Australia
Hi Midge-Hehe! I would love another lemon and cracked pepper truffle round about now. And some banana split ice cream too…Perhaps a trip to NZ is in order?
Hi tammy-They are and lucky you for being able to access them so much easier! Cool, will keep that rec in mind for a future return visit to NZ
Hi maris -They were indeed
Hi Jen-Yes they were so good and quite unusual. I don’t think I’ve seen either anywhere else!
Hi. Esz-Haha that’s all you need to say, I understand
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Yes but it works, it’s not too strong
I think the Tramontana did it to you perhaps 
Hi Su-yin-The ice cream and dairy there is really good I have to say. Also the lamb is delicious (ok yes they’re cute too…)
Hi FFichiban-Yep indeedy! A dream come true no?
Hi 5 Star Foodie-Funny, I’m thinking the exact same thing!
Hi grace-Sadly I don’t either. I wish I did though!
Como buena argentina, fui a Patagonia Chocolates y probe el tramontana..
demasiado cremoso, dulce en exceso, pesado, tenia sabor a leche condensada.
Luego de ese helado que no logre terminar, tuve que tomarme una jarra entera de agua!
i just want to say we returned recently from our holiday to queenstown and it is because of your food blog that we spent a great deal of time, money and stomach space at patagonia and left fully satiated and deliriously happy
thanks NQN!!!
Dear Patagonia Friends,
How much we miss your smiles and beauty! OK and your chocolate and coffess too. We still have a good bit left over from the big boxes we brought back to the US with us and share it sparingly with our good friends. We have found several chocolate shops here in our new town of Asheville North Carolina a funky and ecclectic place with a lot going on and if any of you are ever in the area we want you to stay with us. Pepe, TJ Ines, Alex Lorena Felix, we miss you all and wish you the best.
con amor
Michael and Lisa
Hi Val-A shame that you didn’t like it. I really loved it!
Hi jules-Ahh wonderful! That’s great and isn’t Queenstown fantastic and the chocolate divine? you’re more than welcome Jules!
Hi michael and lisa-Sounds like you had a great time there!
Post a Comment