Wine Tours - Argentina - Uco Valley

Zuccardi: Architects of the Andes and the Science of Terroir

Some wineries are visited for the wine, but a visit to the Zuccardi family in the Uco Valley is a pilgrimage to the future of Argentine viticulture. As a three-time winner of "Best Vineyard of the World" and "New World Winery of the Year," Zuccardi is an icon. For our blog, we traveled to Tunuyán to discover how they translate the raw power of the mountains into world-class wines.

A Cathedral of Concrete and Stone

The journey to the Uco Valley is an experience in itself. After a two-hour trek through the rugged landscape of Mendoza, Finca Piedra Infinita appears at the foot of the Andes. The building is an architectural masterpiece that blends seamlessly with its surroundings. Built with regional materials—local concrete, sand, and granite—the path to the entrance resembles a futuristic "space expo." It is a monument to the mountains surrounding the property.

The Transformation: From Mass to Micro-Terroir

During an impressive masterclass led by winegrower Martín di Stefano, we learned that the Zuccardi family has embarked on an enormous philosophical journey. While they were still focused on mass domestic consumption in the 1960s (when Argentinians still drank 90 liters a year!), the youngest generation decided 25 years ago to completely change course. Their focus shifted to the highest quality wines and the discovery of the Uco Valley.

Martín explained that they initially managed the vineyards tightly and efficiently, but soon noticed that the quality varied enormously from vine to vine. This led to a ten-year investigation where they literally went deep. By digging two-meter-deep pits everywhere, they discovered a chaotic patchwork of soil beneath the ground. Just five meters apart, the soil can change from sand to solid limestone, once carried by prehistoric rivers from the Andes.

We Cultivate Mountain Wines

In the Uco Valley, everything revolves around two words: Diversity and Mountains . The vineyards are situated at extreme altitudes between 1100 and 1700 meters. Because there is hardly any rainfall (less than 255 mm per year), the vineyards are entirely dependent on pure meltwater from the Andes.

Zuccardi has now completely redesigned their vineyards based on these soil types. No more straight lines, but small, organic plots that follow the contours of the landscape. They even leave natural shrubs ( jarilla ) between the vines to ensure biodiversity. "Balance is everything," says Martín. "No stress in the vineyard means no stress in the wine."

The Cellar: A Tribute to the Stone

Entering the wine cellars, in operation since 2016, feels like walking through a sacred cave. The architecture, with its beautiful alcoves and pillars, is designed to give visitors the feeling of wandering through the caverns of the Andes.

Here, Sebastian Zuccardi's vision is immediately apparent: no rows of gleaming oak barrels, but imposing concrete cones and eggs ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 liters. These barrels, made of cement and sand from the region, have perfect wall thickness, protecting the wine from temperature fluctuations. Concrete allows the wine to breathe, but unlike wood, it doesn't add flavor. Zuccardi aims to showcase the pure texture and chalky minerality of the soil. Oak use is kept to a minimum; the house's four "Icon wines" are entirely oak-free.

The Tasting: A Journey through the Heights

Under Martín's guidance we tasted seven wines that beautifully illustrate the Zuccardi pyramid:

• Zuccardi Blanc de Blancs (La Carrera): A sparkling Chardonnay from one of the highest vineyards (1,550m). After 30 months on lees , this wine is complex, with notes of brioche, honey, and a razor-sharp minerality.

• Fosíl Chardonnay (San Pablo): Often described as a "Burgundy of the mountains," this wine vibrates with energy, with aromas of citrus and blossom, and a salty, chalky finish.

• Concreto Malbec: 100% Malbec aged exclusively in concrete. Raw, floral, and bursting with pure fruit. The name is a tribute to the vats ( concretos ).

• Aluvional (Altamira vs. Gualtallary): A captivating parallel tasting of the 2020 vintage. The Altamira is silky, elegant, and rounded. The Gualtallary, sourced from a desert region at 1,360 meters, displays power, firm tannins, and notes of tobacco and spice.

• Finca Piedra Infinita 2020: The absolute crown jewel. A complex Malbec with deep black fruit and a harmonious structure. A wine that proves that Argentine wines can effortlessly age for 20 years.

The Treasure of the Cellar

At the end of the tour, we found the "Iconic Cellar": a circular library filled with historical volumes, with a gigantic granite boulder at its center, excavated during construction. It's the ultimate tribute to their motto: Rooted in the Vineyard .

The visit concluded with a lunch featuring Poligonos Chardonnay – a "Village Wine" whose tropical fruit and refreshing acidity made it the perfect accompaniment to the Argentinian empanadas. It became clear to us: at Zuccardi, they don't make wine; they capture the soul of the mountains in a bottle.