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Featured Wineries

This is your guide to the best wineries in South America. Read all about the best wineries to visit in Argentina, the top wineries in Chile, the most exciting wineries in Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.

In the ultimate guide to South American wine, we have all the best wineries of South America in one place. Discover our free guide to the wineries of Latin America, including natural wines, family wineries, big brands, quirky wineries and some of the best for wine tourism, winery restaurants and wine hotels. Your guide to visiting the wine regions of South America.

Finca La Celia

by Clorrie Yeomans August 29, 2019

written by Clorrie Yeomans

A highlight within Eugenio Bustos and the southern Uco Valley, Finca La Celia winery is not only one of the oldest in the region but also one of the most significant players in Altamira and La Consulta. Although renowned for its elegant Malbec and Cabernet Franc under the hand of winemaker Andrea Ferreyra, La Celia has a large portfolio to discover and is open for visits both to the winery and historic posada.

About Finca La Celia winery

The oldest winery in the Uco Valley, La Celia was established in 1890 by Eugenio Bustos — after whom the town was later named. Eugenio left his estate to his daughter, Celia, which is where the estate’s name comes from today. At the time it was remarkably large, spanning over 40,000 hectares. The winery became so important to the region that the national train line was built to stop right at its front door!

In 2000, Viña San Pedro bought part of that original property, including the historic winery building. With over 380 hectares of vineyards to choose from, winemaker Andrea Ferreyra makes a range of wines which focus on Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. The mid-range Pioneer line offers great value, while Elite and Heritage are elegant exponents of Uco, and its recently launched Terruño is the top of the top. You can visit La Celia for a tasting and tour, or even stay overnight at their posada by the vines.

August 29, 2019 0 comment

Featured Argentina Featured Wineries San Juan & La Rioja Wineries Argentina Big Brand

Pyros

by Clorrie Yeomans August 29, 2019

written by Clorrie Yeomans

Rooted in the cooler climate and limestone-rich soils of Pedernal valley, Pyros is all about characterful reds from this grand cru of San Juan. Owned by the Pons family (see Salentein) since 2008, Pyros is now under the hand of one of Argentina’s most promising young female winemakers, Paula González, who works closely with consultant winemaker Paul Hobbs. The line up includes varietal Malbec, Syrah and Chardonnay wines as well as their Malbec-Syrah- Cabernet Sauvignon Special Blend. The top highlights are the Single Vineyard Malbec and the Limestone Hill Malbec, which comes from a special plot of their most calcareous-rich soils. The Pedernal terroir offers great concentration, tension and acidity which makes the Pyros wines age-worthy indeed

See other Pedernal Valley wineries and vineyards: Fuego Blanco, Callia, Finca Las Moras.

About Pyros Wines

Pyros Wines is a premium wine brand in San Juan, Argentina, from the renowned Pedernal Valley closer to the Andes. Owned by M.P. Wines (which also own Callia winery in San Juan and Salentein winery in Mendoza), Pyros has a good presence in both the domestic and export market and is particularly known for its Malbec and Syrah.

In 2008 Myndert Pon, the founder of Bodegas Salentein, visited the Pedernal Valley in San Juan and was inspired by its beauty and diverse terroir. Pyros is an important producer in Pedernal with promising young winemaker Paula González in charge today and Paul Hobbs as the consultant winemaker.

August 29, 2019 0 comment

San Juan & La Rioja Wineries Featured Argentina Featured Wineries Big Brand

Finca Las Moras

by Clorrie Yeomans August 29, 2019

written by Clorrie Yeomans

Finca Las Moras winery, founded in 1993, is one of the most prolific producers in San Juan with a wide range of wines. Owned by Peñaflor (Trapiche), the name of this winery comes from the fact that the vineyards are surrounded by mulberry trees, or ‘moras’.

With over 1,100 hectares of vineyards planted in various valleys in San Juan, their star wine is the Las Moras Gran Syrah made with their premium Syrah grapes from Pedernal Valley (1,350 metres), Zonda Valley (950 metres) and Tulum Valley (650 metres).

About Finca Las Moras winery

Established in 1993 under the guidance of renowned viticulturalist Richard Smart, Fincas Las Moras has significant vineyard plantings in San Juan and is one of the best-known brands and wineries in the region.

With a capacity for producing 9.5 million litres of wine, the facilities of Finca Las Moras winery are modern and temperature controlled to be able to produce quality white and red wine in the heart of the Tulum Valley.

About the winemaker, Eduardo Casademont

The winemaker is Eduardo Casademont who works closely with the rest of the Peñaflor team including the group’s winemaking director Daniel Pi.

Eduardo has been making the wines of Finca Las Moras since 2006 and studied winemaking in Mendoza at Don Bosco.

About the Finca Las Moras vineyards

With over 1,100 hectares of vines, Finca Las Moras vineyards are spread around several wine regions of San Juan. The principal wine regions are:

Pedernal Valley

At an average of 1,350 metres in altitude, this is one of the highest-altitude wine regions in San Juan and the combination of cooler temperatures, wide diurnal range and chalky soils produce red and white wines of freshness, concentration and structure.

Zonda Valley

Named after the famous Zonda wind that blows through the region, this wine region of San Juan is tucked into the foothills of the Andes mountains and is at an average of 950 metres in altitude. The region is suitable for a wide range of grape varieties and produces wines with a full body, good fruit concentration and structure.

Tulum Valley

The largest wine region in San Juan, the Tulum Valley has an average altitude of 650 metres and is one of the warmest wine regions of San Juan. Here the wines reach phenolic ripeness quickly and the wines are known for their approachability and ripe fruit expression.

About Finca Las Moras wines

With a wide range of wines, there are varieties and styles of wines to suits most budgets and tastes within the range. Some highlights include:

SAGRADO PEDERNAL

At the very top end of Finca Las Moras wine portfolio is Sagrado Pedernal: a complex Malbec from the prized Pedernal Valley which offers richness, structure and juicy fruit expression.

MORA NEGRA

Mora Negra is a typically Argentine blend of Bonarda and Malbec, both of which are very important varieties from San Juan, and is a rich blend from the Tulum and Pedernal Valleys.

GRAN SYRAH

Gran Syrah is one of the top Syrah wines from San Juan and in Argentina, and is a complex blend taking the top lots of Syrah grapes from all three of their main wine regions.

PAZ

The Paz collection, meaning peace, is a series of wines including a pure Malbec, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, a Syrah, a Bonarda, and a Sauvignon Blanc which is focused on the best varietal expression of these emblematic varieties from emblematic wine regions in San Juan.

DEMENCIAL

Demencial is a duo of wines from Pedernal Valley, including a fresh Pinot Noir and an interesting Blanc de Blancs blend of Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

LOS INTOCABLES

Meaning ‘the untouchables’, Los Intocables is an innovative range of wines from Finca Las Moras which have been aged in oak bourbon casks to impart a layer of toasty, vanilla and caramel aromas, which are typically found in bourbon. The range includes Black Malbec and Black Cabernet Sauvignon, the grapes for which are picked from very low yielding vines for their intense and deep colour; a red blend of Syrah, Merlot and Bonarda; and a Chardonnay, which although the name is White Chardonnay it takes on an amber hue following the ageing process in Missouri bourbon barrels.

FINCA LAS MORAS BARREL SELECT

This is a premium range of wines specially selected from top parcels of vineyards and aged in French and American oak for a minimum of 8 months. The series includes a Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah blend; a Syrah; and a Malbec. There is also a tropical-scented Chardonnay, which spends 6 months on the lees.

FINCA LAS MORAS LOVE

Within the other ranges for everyday drinking comes the Love line, which is focused on approachable varietal expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Chardonnay.

ALMA MORA

Alma Mora is an easy-drinking line with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, a white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot, a Syrah rosé, and a sparkling Extra Brut wine made from Chardonnay, Semillon and Malbec.

DADÁ

Dadá is a youthful range which plays with the aromas of different oak toastings to create a portfolio of wines: Dadá 1 which is a combination of vanilla and red fruits, Dadá 2 which offers aromas of mokka coffee and black fruit, and Dadá 3 which is all about spices. There is also a range of other limited bottlings, including a sweet Malbec and a sweet Muscat.

FINCA LAS MORAS

There is also the Finca Las Moras classic range which is the entry-level range and offers great value for everyday wines with good varietal typicity.

SPECIALITIES

There is also a range of Specialities, which are special releases and lines of wines from all the ranges and show the innovative spirit of the winemaking team.

Visiting Finca Las Moras winery

Finca Las Moras winery is not open for public visits.

Video about Los Intocables

August 29, 2019 0 comment

Featured Argentina Featured Wineries North: Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán, Catamarca Wineries Big Brand Hotel Winery

Bodega El Esteco

by Clorrie Yeomans August 21, 2019

written by Clorrie Yeomans

Bodega El Esteco winery was founded in 1892 in the Calchaquí Valleys by French brothers David and Salvador Michel, along with David’s Italian wife, Gabriela Torino. Pioneers of the winemaking industry in the Calchaquí Valley, the winery was one of the first to commercialise Torrontés wines, which became one of the first Argentinean wines to be exported internationally. Today, the winery is owned by the Peñaflor Group (who also own Trapiche) and produces a diverse range of wines which includes red, white, rosé and sparkling wines, all of which you can taste on a visit to the winery or by staying overnight at their luxury wine hotel, Patios de Cafayate.

About Bodega El Esteco winery

One of the longest-running wineries in Argentina, El Esteco was first founded in 1892 by brothers David and Salvador Michel, two immigrants from France, and David’s Italian wife, Gabriela Torino, who came to make a life in the New World in Salta. They planted vines in the Calchaquí Valleys and their children and descendants continued to grow the business acquiring more vineyards and commercialising some of the first Torrontés wines internationally.

In 2004, Grupo Peñaflor purchased the estate and pivoted to focus on high quality wines relaunching as Bodega El Esteco. Today the winery makes some of the most exciting wines from the Calchaquí Valleys from their expansive vineyard estates with 780 hectares between Cafayate and Chañar Punco. Bodega El Esteco makes a diverse range of varieties and blends and produces on average 15 million bottles a year across the ranges.

About Bodega El Esteco vineyards

Bodega El Esteco has over 780 hectares within the Calchaquí Valleys, all of which are high-altitude vineyards over 1,600 metres above sea level. The vineyards are split between the regions of Cafayate (with 520 hectares planted) and Chañar Punco in Catamarca (with 260 hectares planted).

Cafayate vineyards, Calchaquí Valley, Salta

With several vineyards in Cafayate, these vineyards are where El Esteco winery gets some of their most treasured wines from old vines which can be up to 80 years old. Some of the old vines, in particular, are planted in the traditional pergola system, whereas newer plantings are in VSP. Soils are typically poor and sandy with good drainage.

El Esteco winery has also planted an exciting new vineyard in El Socorro where very rocky soils provide a different terroir which in combination with the 1,800 metres altitude the winemaking team believe it will produce unique wines with the Malbec and Cabernet Franc they have planted to date.

Chañar Punco vineyard, Calchaquí Valley, Catamarca

Chañar Punco vineyard is 80 kilometres away from Bodega El Esteco in a unique sub-region in northern Catamarca at the southern tip of the Calchaquí Valley. The vineyards, which were planted in the late 1990s, are surrounded by the Quilmes Mountains and average around 2000 meters above sea level, providing a unique microclimate with high solar exposure, hot days and cool nights, along with poor, rocky and calcareous soil.

The vineyard orientation runs from North to South which allows fresh winds from the north to pass through the vines’ canopy. The vineyard is irrigated by a drip irrigation system.

About Bodega El Esteco wines

High-altitude vineyards characterise the wines of Bodega El Esteco in all their lines which range from everyday, easy-drinking wines to some of the most complex and ageworthy of the Calchaquí Valleys.

AMARU

Amaru is the entry-level line of wines from Bodega El Esteco, meaning water in the native Quechua language. The wines are fruit-forward and easy-drinking focused on expressing the variety, which includes Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Torrontés and a Torrontés Rosé.

DON DAVID

The Don David Reserve wines are a homage to the winery’s founder, David Michel, and is a good value line of monovarietal wines including Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Syrah, Bonarda, Torrontés and Chardonnay. The red wines typically spend 12 months in oak, adding some structure to the otherwise fruit-driven portfolio.

CICLOS

Inspired by the impact of the moon and sun and the great diurnal range of temperatures in the Calchaquí Valleys, the Ciclos line of wines includes monovarietal Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Torrontés and Sauvignon Blanc wines, as well as a rosé of Malbec and their top of line ‘Icono’ red blend made of Malbec and Merlot which spends 15 months in barrel. Within the Ciclos wines there are also three sparkling wines made in the Charmat method: an Extra Brut made from Chardonnay grapes, a Rosé made from a blend of Malbec and Pinot Noir, and a Torrontés Dulce which is a sweet sparkling wine for desserts and aperitifs.

EL ESTECO

The El Esteco range of wines offers excellent value for complex and distinctive wines which really reflect the high altitude terroir of the Calchaquí valleys. The two main varieties are Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, which each display the much darker, spicier and fresher character so typical of the high-altitude vineyards, and there are limited-edition releases of ‘El Esteco Old Vines’ wines. This range of Old Vines wines includes Torrontés (one of the best in Argentina), Criolla, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon – which are all worth hunting down.

ALTIMUS

A long-standing icon of the Calchaquí Valleys, Altimus is the top red blend of the vintage – changing percentage of varieties and location of parcels each year, depending on what lots and barrels performed best. Malbec often leads in the blend, framed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, occasionally with Tannat, Syrah or Bonarda. It is a complex wine which spends around 18 months in oak barrels and can cellar well for over a decade.

EL ESTECO CHAÑAR PUNCO

I think this is one of the most distinctive wines in Northern Argentina. Coming from the special Chañar Punco vineyard in Catamarca, this is always a powerful wine with intense dark fruit, mineral and animal aromas coming from the rich blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot grapes planted in this field blend. It is aged for 18 months in barrel and cellared for several years in bottle before release, and could keep cellared for many more! One to decant and enjoy with steak.

About the winemaker, Alejandro Pepa

Bodega El Esteco winemaker Alejandro Pepa was born in Mendoza but moved to take up the challenge of making high-altitude wines at Bodega El Esteco where he has been for several years and focused on capturing the freshness and intensity of this extreme terroir.

“Cafayate has immeasurable riches in its soils with unique grape varieties and an excellent terroir for producing great quality grapes and wines,” says Alejandro Pepa, who works side by side with the lead viticulturist for El Esteco Francisco Tellechea.

Visiting El Esteco winery & Patios de Cafayate Hotel

Bodega El Esteco winery is in a gorgeous colonial-style white building just outside the centre of Cafayate, and offers a host of wine experiences so you can enjoy the wines and privileged location of the winery and its vineyards.

Tasting experiences include a classic tour and tasting of its emblematic wines, or you can dig in deeper with a special micro terroir tasting which focuses on special lots and old vines. You can also do a special tasting of their icon range of wines at the winery.

On Friday evenings, the winery hosts a special tasting and wine-paired dinner under the stars so you can enjoy the flavours of the Calchaquí Valleys by starlight.

To linger even longer in the evenings, book yourself in for an overnight stay at their gorgeous Hotel Patios de Cafayate which has 32 rooms in a beautiful colonial-style mansion with stunning vineyard and mountain views.

August 21, 2019 0 comment

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