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Uco Valley, Argentina: Where Elevated Vines Meet Timeless Horizons
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Last updated: October 5, 2024
Introduction
One of Mendoza’s most striking natural wonders, this remote and timeless region represents another world. It is a destination where potato and garlic crops intermingle with spectacular vineyards that cling to the foothills of the Andes. It is where growing vines at 1400 meters above sea level is considered normal – or even pedestrian! It is the inimitable – and fast-evolving – Uco Valley in Argentina.
Indeed, progress has occurred at a lightning pace in the region, with the acreage increasing yearly. Located to the south of Mendoza city, it is now home to some of the country’s top wineries: Domaine Bousquet, Zuccardi, and Clos de los Siete are among the Uco Valley’s leading celebrities, responsible for investing heavily in organic viticulture and sustainability. Their flagship grape variety, Malbec, yields floral and elegant red wine on the higher slopes – the growing volume of Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay is also world-class.
And yet, this is merely the beginning. Motivated by a desire to redefine Argentine winemaking in the eyes of the world, Uco Valley producers are among the nation’s greatest innovators.
Winemaking and regional classifications
The Uco Valley has no paucity of raw human talent – and capital – at its disposal. Neither does it lack architectural masterpieces: cutting-edge wineries such as Bodega Zuccardi blend seamlessly into the landscape despite their striking facades and clean lines. Inside, you’ll find the latest sophisticated winemaking equipment juxtaposed against cavernous barrel cellars and glass-fronted tasting rooms. It is all mightily impressive.
Many of the region’s global investors cluster together in Tunuyán, where the Andes rise directly from the vineyards in the central part of the valley.
There are six distinct subzones, including:
- Los Arboles
- San Pablo
- Vista Flores
- Villa Seca
It is even possible to practice dry farming in the wetter parts of Los Arboles, although climate change is increasing the need for irrigation. Nevertheless, producers in Tunuyán make a wide range of styles, encompassing structured reds, dry whites, and a growing volume of traditional method sparkling wine.
Diamandes, Casa Bianchi, and Michel Rolland have proven that Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc can all thrive in these alluvial soils, celebrated for their complex flavors and striking freshness.
Meanwhile, some of Argentina’s best and award-winning Malbec is produced from old vines that occasionally surpass the Lujan de Cuyo in finesse and floral perfume.
Artisanal Winemaking Techniques at Diamandes
However, in terms of winemaking, there is little to distinguish the Uco Valley from its peers and neighbors in South America. At Diamandes, for example, workers hand-harvest the Chardonnay berries and press them slowly to extract pure juice free of phenolics. This philosophy guides winemakers worldwide, from Beaune to Napa Valley.
The juice is then vinified in French oak barrels without malolactic fermentation – the conversion of malic to lactic acid is viewed as undesirable in hotter climes. The base wines are then matured in 50 percent new barrique for 12 months, adding structure, texture, and depth to the white wine. Like all great Argentine Chardonnays, it offers a balance of rich fruit and racy acidity, merging the best elements of the Burgundy and New World traditions. The apricot-scented Viognier, meanwhile, has more than a whiff of Condrieu.
However, Mendoza’s true celebrities are found in the vineyards of San Carlos to the south. It contains some exceptional parcels of old vine Malbec, judiciously harnessed by men like Sebastian Zuccardi to produce stunningly refreshing wines—La Consulta and Paraje Altamira are the two leading subzones, renowned for their calcareous soils and cooler mesoclimate.
Here, in these stone-covered topsoils, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah yield outstanding red wines: some very prestigious and expensive bottles are made in San Carlos, including Zuccardi’s ‘Finca Piedra Infinita’ Gravascal. Single-vineyard Malbec, often fermented and aged in neutral concrete, has become the height of fashion in a relatively short time.
Geography and terroir
Overshadowed by the (semi) active Cerro Tupungato volcano, the Valle de Uco has no equal in South American viticulture. The development of its versatile terroir is a relatively recent phenomenon: over 29,000 hectares are now planted in the zone, which is more than double the amount that was cultivated in the late 1990s.
Meanwhile, almost every leading producer in Mendoza has invested in the infertile, high-potential soils of the Uco Valley, where cool nights and mountain breezes yield elegant wines of incredible precision and verve.
Indeed, few destinations in Argentina can achieve delicate fruit flavors and vibrant acidities so easily. This is one of the key reasons why Bordeaux’s A-list has invested so much capital in the valley—Michel Rolland, Francois Lurton, Laurent Dassault, and the Bonnie family of Malartic-Lagravière are all semi-permanent residents here.
Geographic and Climatic Attributes
The valley is approximately 80 kilometers southwest of Mendoza city, stretching from Tupungato in the north to San Carlos in the south. Meandering for some 70 kilometers between these two subzones, it closely follows the course of the Tunuyan River and its life-giving irrigation. This is an essential part of viticulture in the valley – average rainfall is less than 200mm per annum in this dry continental climate.
On the other hand, the intensity of sunlight encourages high levels of phenolic ripeness; astringent tannin is seldom an issue in Argentine viticulture. This is further accentuated by the high-altitude climats (vineyard sites) that climb to 2000 meters in certain places. This combination of intense sunlight and high elevation produces a broad range of wine styles that, despite their differences, rarely lean into overripeness. Balance and harmony are the key priorities today.
You can see this across the valley, particularly in Tupungato’s dry whites. The most exciting of several subzones now being feverishly developed in the region, its clay-limestone terroir delivers Argentina’s finest Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. These rich-in-minerals, free-draining soils are extremely infertile, encouraging low yields and helping to control plant vigor.
The most important winemaking districts, Gualtallary and La Carrera have demonstrated that Mendoza should not limit itself to reds. Indeed, the top Chardonnays are beguiling and much-loved for their Burgundian finesse and aromas of citrus, grapefruit, and honeysuckle. As elsewhere, diurnal temperature variation ensures that ripeness does not come at the expense of losing acidity. Without it, high-quality winemaking would be simply impossible at these low latitudes.
Meanwhile, sustainability drives investment in the region, sponsoring a diverse range of initiatives, from conversion to organic methods to increasing biodiversity. Bodega Santa Julia, for example, has installed a solar park with 20,000 panels, reducing its need for fossil fuel-based energy. At the same time, rising summer temperatures have led to reduced snowfall in the Andes, lowering the amount of available irrigation water. As a result, Domaine Bousquet has pioneered a ‘Biofilter’ project designed to recapture and recycle wastewater.
Franco Bastias, head of agronomy & sustainability at Domaine Bousquet, says:
“Through a process of biological treatment, we will be able to capture the wastewater and clean it by utilizing the latest biofiltering technology to the point where we believe it will be portable. We will then reuse the water at the winery for irrigation and other needs,”
He also added:
“We believe Domaine Bousquet will be the first winery to filter water to the point of reutilisation as a portable resource. In addition, a wonderful byproduct of capturing all the wastewater is organic waste from the winery: grape skins/stems.”
It’s another milestone for the formidable talent pool transforming the Uco Valley.
Facts & Figures
Key wine styles
- Full-bodied red and white wines; a small volume of sparkling
Appellation structure
- Seven GIs (Indicaciones Geográficas), including Los Chacayes and Valle de Tupungato
Hectares under vine
- 29,139 hectares
Average annual production
- 5.8 million hectoliters per annum (total volume produced in Mendoza)
Approximate number of producers
- 140 wineries
Exclusive Expert Insights
Insight by Andrea Ferreyra, Head winemaker at Finca La CeliaWhen did your winery first start investing in the Uco Valley?
La Celia was the first winery to be founded in the Uco Valley, built at the beginning of 1883. Its founder was Eugenio Bustos, the same name as the town where the winery is located today.
You have had great success with growing Cabernet Franc in La Consulta. Tell us more about the style.
We were the first winery in Argentina to produce a 100% Cabernet Franc in bottle. The expression of Cabernet Franc from our soil is exceptional: the finish is very long, and its refined tannins are incredibly silky. This is an exquisite and subtle wine that boasts spicy aromas intermixed with menthol notes. Its bouquet dazzles us with fresh red fruit overladen with black fruit.
How would you describe Uco Valley Cabernet Franc to a wine lover who has never encountered the style before?
Cabernet Franc yields very transparent red wine, precisely displaying the vintage’s characteristics. In fact, in ‘fresh’ vintages, the aromatic profile is herbal, thin wines with evident tannins that are the backbone. In contrast, when the vintages are warm, the wines are sweeter, with a profile of black or ripe fruit, less intense herbal notes, or fresh fruit. In La Consulta, however, we enjoy one of the warmest growing seasons in the southern reaches of the Uco Valley. Therefore, we can expect a wine with an excellent tannic structure and great depth, an aromatic profile defined by herbal and fruity notes, and excellent length – the typical minerality of the region is evident in the mouth, producing sharp tactile sensations.
Key Grape Varietals
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Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape varietal native to the Burgundy wine region in France and one of the most popular varieties worldwide.
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The sauvignon blanc grape varietal, originally from the Bordeaux region of France, is now one of the world's most loved white varieties.
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Explore the allure of the Semillon grape & its legendary connection to Sauternes. Unveil the history & flavors of this captivating varietal. Cheers!
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Torrontes
Torrontés is a distinctive white grape variety from Argentina, known for its strong aromatic qualities featuring jasmine, lychee, and orange. It includes three sub-varieties: Torrontés Riojano, Torrontés Sanjuanino, and Torrontés Mendocino, with Torrontés Riojano being the most celebrated for its quality. Predominantly cultivated in Argentina's high-altitude vineyards, the cool nighttime temperatures help preserve the grape's acidity and enhance its aroma, essential for creating refreshing and high-quality wines.
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Discover the irresistible allure of Cabernet Sauvignon—a worldwide favorite with robust, dark-bodied flavor. Unleash your wine journey today!
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Cabernet Franc grape is a close relative of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and is the principal blending grape used in Bordeaux.
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Delve into Malbec, a dark, small grape native to France, cherished for its thick skin and exceptional flavors. 🍇🍷
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Syrah is dark-skinned and perhaps the most underrated of the 'noble' red grape varieties.
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Uco Valley gastronomy
Mesmerizing landscapes and superlative Malbec have put Valle de Uco on the international map. As a result, the area is brimming with high-end hotels and restaurants, where a jet-setting clientele enjoys the best local food and drink. The culinary offering, however, is rarely limited to grilled meat; a sophisticated mix of European and Argentine influences tends to steer kitchens in 2024. Highlights may include chard pastry, veal casserole, fresh shellfish, lamb navarin, and flan with dulce de leche (milk caramel). Or, best of all, take a leisurely picnic in the vineyards.
Wineries Recommended by Cellar Tours
Nearby Charming Towns and Cities
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More information
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