Embodying the adventurous spirit of vignerons in the south, Wapisa is the coastal vineyard and winery of the family behind Tapiz in Mendoza. With 60 hectares of vineyards in Viedma in Río Negro, it isn’t only the coastal climate and southerly location that makes this wine project unique but also their cellar… which is 10 metres under water!

Wapisa is the first winery in South America to experiment with a submarine cellar, in which their coastal Malbec is plunged into the 15°C watery chamber where a pressure of 1 bar is believed to give it a very different ageing process than what you would expect overground. 

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Read more about Wapisa taking their wine underwater in Patagonia

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About Wapisa wines & winery

Wapisa wines is the Patagonian project of Fincas Patagónicas (see Tapiz in Mendoza) making maritime wines from their 60-hectare vineyard in San Javier in coastal Río Negro. The winery is making Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir so far.

About the Wapisa vineyards

FINCA LOS ACANTILADOS

The vineyard is located 30 km away from Viedma, the capital of Río Negro, and has 120 hectares with vines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.

In 2019, Wapisa launched a new project to age wines in a submarine cellar in Las Grutas, Río Negro, and analyzed, in cooperation with the Universidad del Comahue, the effect of temperature, light, marine flora and fauna, salinity and pressure at different depths and its impact on wine ageing and evolution. After 8 months of ageing the wine underwater, they tasted the wines and got very positive results as the wine expressed a higher complexity in aromas and taste.

 

 

Wapisa wines

WAPISA

Beyond the submarine Malbec, Wapisa also produces a saline Sauvignon Blanc and fragrant Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

About the winemaker, Fabián Valenzuela

Fabián has more than 30 years of experience as a winemaker. As the son and grandson of winegrowers, he grew on a vineyard. His first job in a winery was at Susana Balbo and afterwards at Catena. Fabián has done harvests in France, Australia, Spain and United States and travels frequently to the most important wine regions of the world to meet with other winemakers and share opinions and experiences.

Wapisa also works with Jean Claude Berrouet as a consultant winemaker since 2012. Jean Claude became the first permanent winemaker at Château Petrus in 1964 and after working 44 harvests, he retired and continued working as a consultant for the Moueix family, owner of the Château. Jean Claude’s philosophy in wine is the expression of terroir, favouring the wine’s elegance.

 

Visiting Wapisa winery

Wapisa is not open for tourism but you can visit Bodega Zolo in Agrelo, Mendoza and taste Wapisa’s wines.

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Bodega Zolo offers tours and tastings from Monday to Friday at 10 am, 11:30 am, and 3 pm and Saturdays and holidays at 10 and 11:30 am. You can email the winery at [email protected] to book your visit.

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HOTEL AND RESTAURANT CLUB TAPIZ

Owned by the same family, Club Tapiz is a hotel and boutique winery located in Maipú, Mendoza, which offers one of the most charming stays in the region. The hotel is located in a residence built in 1890, surrounded by 14 hectares of vineyards and olive groves.

Restaurant Club Tapiz is under the direction of the renowned chef Soledad Nardelli and included among the top 50 in Latin America. It offers a seasonal menu with fresh products from their Fincas and the organic garden at Club Tapiz.