Argentina
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Bodegas Salentein: Where Art, Architecture, and Altitude Meet
Situated high in Mendoza’s Uco Valley, Bodegas Salentein stands as a striking blend of artistry, architecture, and viticultural excellence. Founded by Dutch entrepreneur, Mijndert Pon, in the late 1990s, Salentein helped put the high-altitude Uco Valley on the global map, crafting wines that reflect the grandeur of the Andes and the precision of modern winemaking. This was a time when the region was still largely unexplored, yet Pon and his pioneering estate invested in land, architecture, and art to create something that went beyond wine. On a recent visit, it was evident that Salentein has turned winemaking into a complete sensory experience — one that celebrates nature, creativity, and culture…
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Argentina’s Terroir Icon: Why Zuccardi Became a Global Benchmark
Zuccardi Winery is located in Valle de Uco, at the frontal range, above the principal range of the Andes Mountains, with vineyards perched at altitudes between 1,000 and 1,500 meters above sea level. This prime location allows the vineyards to benefit from intense sunlight, cool mountain nights, and scarce but vital Andean meltwater. Founded in the 1960s by Alberto Zuccardi and now led by third-generation winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi, the estate has become a global benchmark for Argentina’s next chapter in fine wine—where precision, place, and purity take center stage. Today, Zuccardi is celebrated not only for world-class Malbecs, but also for a terroir-driven approach that has reshaped the way the…
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Bodega Trivento: Winds of Innovation and Sustainability in Argentine Wine
Bodega Trivento, founded in 1996, has become one of Argentina’s most dynamic wine producers, not only through the global success of its Malbecs but also by setting benchmarks in innovation and sustainability. Its name, Trivento—meaning “three winds”—pays homage to the Polar, Zonda, and Sudestada winds that shape Mendoza’s vineyards, cooling the vines and giving the wines remarkable freshness and poise. Today, the winery is recognized not just for its commercial strength but also for its forward-thinking approach to environmental and social responsibility. Vineyards and Terroir Trivento farms across some of Mendoza’s finest subregions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Altitudes range from 900 to 1,200 meters, with long,…
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Terrazas de los Andes: From Mountain Terraces to Glass
Founded in the 1990s by Moët Hennessy, the Terrazas de los Andes estate has built its reputation on a simple yet powerful philosophy: exceptional wines are born where altitude, soil, and climate converge in perfect balance. “Born where the earth meets the sky,” Terrazas literally crafts mountain wines and has truly captured the spirit of Mendoza, making them one of Argentina’s most influential producers. The estate name, Terrazas, is by most appropriate, as their vineyard “terraces” from Las Compuertas to Gualtallary climb the foothills of the Andes, ranging from 1,000 to 1,600 meters above sea level. At these heights, vines thrive despite dramatic temperature swings—searing daytime sunlight followed by cool…
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Mapping Altitude: Bodega Alta Vista’s Precision in Terroir-Driven Winemaking
Few Argentine wineries have embraced the study of terroir with the rigor of Bodega Alta Vista, located in the Las Compuertas wine appellation in Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina. Founded in 1998, the Mendoza-based estate has committed itself to terroir-driven precision, exploring how altitude, soil composition, and microclimate shape the character of Malbec and other varieties across Argentina’s most prized vineyard sites. Alta Vista is celebrated for its single-vineyard Malbecs, each crafted to reflect the unique soils and microclimates of Mendoza’s prized subregions. The vineyards are all between 900 and 1,200 meters above sea level, spread across Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley. On a visit to the winery, we…
