Salentein winery is easily one of the most impressive wineries to visit in Mendoza. Founded in 1996 by a Dutch entrepreneur, the estate is based in the heart of the Uco Valley with some of the most striking modern architecture in Argentina. As well as the showcase winery, dubbed the wine cathedral, Salentein has an art gallery, sculpture garden, two restaurants, a wine hotel, a chapel and another workhorse winery. With all this on offer, as well as some of the finest wines in Tunuyán, it’s easy to see why Salentein is one of the most-visted wineries in Argentina.

 

About Salentein winery

 

Salentein was one of the true modern pioneers of the Uco Valley, established in 1996 by Dutch entrepreneur and visionary Myndert Pon. Focused on high-altitude viticulture for premium wines, and with a vision for creating an important wine tourism route, Salentein helped paved the way for modern wineries in the Uco Valley which has now become one of the best-known wine regions in Latin America. 

Today Myndert’s children Frederike, Mariette and Ben now run the family business, and Salentein is not only recognised for the quality of its wines but also as one of the landmark contemporary wineries of Argentina with celebrated architecture and design.

A stunning building outside and in, renowned local architects Bormida & Yanzon designed Salentein winery with a functional gravity flow system in mind, but also creating a very handsome Greek amiptheatre-style cellar room and a Southern Cross formation to the winery. The acoustics here are amazing, and Salentein holds tango and classical music concerts here twice a year to prove it. A huge stone mural of a compass rose at the center also makes it picture-perfect for concerts.

About Salentein vineyards

Focused on using sustainable viticulture techniques, including using cover crops since its foundation, Salentein is in the process of converting its vineyards for organic certification. With 786 hectares of vines in total, Bodegas Salentein has the following estates:

San Pablo GI

 

In the newly-approved San Pablo GI, Salentein has 270 hectares of vineyards planted which range from 1,200 to 1,600 metres in altitude. In the lower sector (1,200 to 1,350 m.a.s.l.) the soils are typically aluvial with sandy loam and stony soils with high concentrations of calcium carbonate. In the higher sector (between 1,350 and 1,600 m.a.s.l.) the soils are more mixed with sandy loam with some fluvial depositis and a range of more shallow and deep soils.

Because of the cooler climate at this altitude, the main varieties planted here are Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc.

An exciting new vineyard is being planted currently on the hillsides at the very top of the estate, surrounded by the native plants and forests… one hectare of Malbec is already in the ground, but watch this space for some new varieties to come!

Paraje Altamira GI

In Paraje Altamira, Bodegas Salentein has 10 hectares of vines planted at an altitude of 1,075 m.a.s.l. The soils are mainly sandy loam with lots of pebbles and rocks covered in calcium carbonate. Here they have just Malbec planted.

Los Arboles

The main vineyard of Salentein is in Los Arboles, where they have 468 hectares planted between altitudes of 1,050 and 1,180 metres. In the lower sector (1,015 to 1,100 m.a.s.l.) the soils are typically sandy loam with some rocks after 30 to 50cm depth. In the upper sector (1,100 to 1,180 m.a.s.l.) the rocks start at just 20cm depth. In both sectors the rocks and pebbles are covered in calcium carbonate.

In this vineyard, there is a wide range of varieties planted including

Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. 

La Consulta

Salentein has 38 hectares planted in La Consulta, at an altitude of 1,050 m.a.s.l. The soil profile here is also based on sandy loam and after 60cm rocks appear.

 

About Salentein wines

 

Salentein’s wine portfolio is focused exclusively on the elegant and fresh expression of wines ot be found in the Uco Valley. From the entry-level wines through to their icon-level wines, the goal is to express best this high-altitude terroir.

Salentein Reserve (Barrel Selection)

This is varietal line focuses on their main grape varieties grown in the estates with a diverse range of altitudes from 1,050 to 1,600 m.a.s.l. The line reflects Uco Valley and its abundant sunshine in the day, cool nights and rocky soils, with fresh, vibrant wines. Within the range you’ll find Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and a Rosé.

Numina

Numina, which means spirit in Latin, is a range focused on the expression of the main Los Arboles estate of Salentein. The varietal line includes Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in youthful expressions, from Finca el Oasis and Finca La Pampa vineyards. 

The Gran Corte range is a premium line within Numina which are select parcels of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot for more concentrated and intense wines.

Salentein Single Vineyard

This is the innovation line of Salentein which focuses on specific expressions of small lots from unique vineyards in the Uco Valley. Within San Pablo GI, there are currently several releases: Single Vineyard “Viñedo Los Jabalies” Malbec, Single Vineyard “Viñedo La Pampa 1997” Malbec, Single Vineyard “Viñedo Los Jabalíes” Pinot Noir, Single Vineyard “Viñedo Las Secuoyas” Chardonnay and Single Vineyard “Viñedo Los Nogales” Sauvignon Blanc.

From Paraje Altamira GI, there is currently Single Vineyard “Viñedo El Tomillo” Malbec; and from Gualtallary, there is Single Vineyard “Los Cerezos” Malbec. 

These are focused and precise wines which reflect the vineyard conditions, variety and vintage.

Primus

Meaning first in Latin, Primus was the first icon line of Salentein and one of the landmark super premium lines when it first launched in the Uco Valley. These top-end wines are focused on the optimum varietal expression and come from select lots and the best barrels from the vintage. There is a Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Primus line.

Salentein Gran VU “Valle de Uco”

The new icon of the winery, Gran VU is a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon which is carefully put together by winemaker José Gallante in order to embody the essence of the Uco Valley expression of these varieties and is a homage to the pioneering spirit of the winery’s founder, Myndert Pon. 

 

About the Winemakers

There are four winemakers at Bodegas Salentein: José Galante (Chief Winemaker), Jorge Cabeza (Head Winemaker), Carlos Bauzá and Gabriela García

About the winemaker, José Gallante

José Gallante, also known as Pepe, is one of Argentina’s most experienced winemakers. Born in San Martín in Mendoza, he was born into a wine family with his father and grandfather as winemakers. Pepe started making wines in the early 1980s after studying winemaking at Don Bosco University.

He started his career at Bodegas Esmeralda in Junín, Mendoza, and at the age of 26 he became head winemaker at Catena Zapata, owned by the same family, where he continued to work until 2010. During the 90s he worked in Simi winery in the US for a season, and spend most Argentine winters visiting different wine regions in France and Spain to learn more about quality wine production.

In 2010, José Gallante became Chief Winemaker at Bodegas Salentein where he continues to guide and lead the winemaking team into expressing the best from the Uco Valley. Patient, creative and experienced, Pepe is considered one of Argentina’s top winemakers.

Jorge Cabeza, Senior Winemaker

Aged 37, Jorge Cabeza is the Senior Winemaker working with Pepe Gallante at Bodegas Salentein. Born in Luján de Cuyo, Jorge studied winemaking in Mendoza and sepdn several years working in different wineries in Mendoza as well as visiting and working in the wine regions of France, staying for a season in the Rhône and also working in Chile’s Casablanca Valley. In 2008 he started working at Salentein, and since 2010 he has been Senior Winemaker.

 

Visiting Salentein winery

 

As one of the most-visited wineries in Argentina, it is definitely worth booking ahead to visit Salentein, and you can spend at least half a day here – and a night too if you fancy – exploring the estate.

You can visit the winery for a tour and tasting either in a private group or as part of the regular public tours, which are on offer Tuesday through Sunday. There are also some more adventurous tasting and tour options, including a blending game – whereby you learn how to make your own wine blend.

For those visiting with younger members of the family, you can book for a special family-friend private tour too.

One of the highlights of visiting Salentein is the Killka art gallery which includes one of the biggest fine Dutch art collections in Argentina as well as a contemporary art exhibition with artists from Argentina. In the surrounds of the gallery is a sculpture garden too, which makes a rather striking image with the Andes mountains in the background.

About Salentein restaurant

The contemporary restaurant overlooks the vineyards, winery and sculpture garden with wall to wall glass windows. The menu is all of mainly local ingredients and designed to give visitors an experience of authentic Argentine cuisine with a contemporary twist.

All the dishes can be paired with Salentein’s wines and the restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday until 4pm.

Visiting Posada Salentein

If you want to linger for longer in this beautiful corner of the Uco Valley, you can stay overnight in the Posada Salentein – a cosy 16-bedroom hotel which has been designed based on traditional estancia architecture. The rooms are all divided between three separate houses and surrounded by gardens with fruit trees, grapevines and a small swimming pool.

There is also a special hotel restaurant which serves authentic Argentine meals each evening.

 

Video on Bodegas Salentein