Las Compuertas wine region is one of the most distinctive in Lujan de Cuyo, particularly notable for its cooler microclimate and higher altitude within this region of Mendoza, Argentina. Making excellent Malbec wines in particular, here is the ultimate guide to the wines and producers of Las Compuertas.

Guide to Las Compuertas

Notable producers in Las Compuertas

Quick guide to Las Compuertas

Best wines to try from Las Compuertas

Map of Luján de Cuyo

 

 

Guide to Las Compuertas GI & wine region

Pegged against the foothills on the western edge of Luján de Cuyo, Las Compuertas is one of its highest-elevation sub-regions and its vineyards are often on a slight incline. The higher altitude and stronger mountain influence due to its proximity to the foothills mean that nights in Las Compuertas are cooler than those in areas further east, but the days are also hotter. One of the greatest benefits of Las Compuertas is that, being the closest to the mountains, it is the first region in Luján to receive water from the acequias and so Las Compuertas (which translates as floodgates in English) gets a more abundant water supply than other regions.

The vineyards are planted on ancient river terraces and the region’s proximity to the mountains means that it has much bigger stones and mixed soils that the rivers transported down from the Andes over time. The soils are a big mix of clay, sand, pebbles, calcareous material (caliche) and big rolling stones, which is why many producers identify small plots within their vineyard by soil type and stagger the harvest accordingly.

There are only 400 or so hectares left in Las Compuertas, as housing pressure has made land here very expensive. Those that do remain are notable for their age and quality, and their 100-year-old vines often produce some of the best wines in Luján — not only Malbec but field blends too.