Jorge Cabeza is the Senior Winemaker working with Pepe Gallante at Bodegas Salentein in Mendoza’s Uco Valley. Since 2008 he has been working at Salentein and is responsible for bringing some of its top wines to the fore. He was born in Luján de Cuyo.
What made you fall in love with wine?
Being born in Mendoza means you grow up surrounded by wine so that’s how my love for wine started. But also, I like being outdoors and the fact that wine means sharing with friends and family.
What is the one winemaking technique you really geek out on?
I wouldn’t necessarily pick a winemaking technique but a grape variety, and it is Pinot Noir. Here at Salentein, we work with Pinot Noir quite a lot and use several winemaking techniques but what’s most interesting is that each year we face new challenges with this grape variety both at the winery and in the vineyards.
What is your favorite pairing for one of your wines?
I tried several pairings that I’ve enjoyed but there’s one that I remember liking a lot and it was quite unexpected: mollejas (sweetbread) with our Single Vineyard Chardonnay.
What is the one wine that you wouldn’t share with anyone else?
Wine is always meant for sharing. There’s a wine from Côte Rôtie that I’m saving for a special moment, like one of my children’s birthdays, because it reminds me of a place where I’ve worked in the past and it has a special meaning for me. But I will definitely share it with my family and friends. I just need to find the moment.
What is your guilty pleasure?
I think it’s just that I love drinking wine, which I consider a real pleasure. Sometimes I can feel a bit guilty the following day, after drinking too much, when I think about my liver and my body.
