Photo Credit: Fernando Garello via Compfight cc
The Uco Valley is the highest region to grow wine in Mendoza, it has been a while since we have been listening about this place, but nowadays a region in the valley has been in sight of some of the most important winemakers in Argentina… The name of this tiny, though incredibly unique region, is Gualtallary.
When I say tiny, I refer to an area that barely has a bit more than 650000 squared feet, with all letters, a micro-region in the wine world. A wine region that has a terrific potential for grapes that give wines such as Sauvignon Blancs that are among some of the most mineral and fresh that I ever tried in Argentina, Cabernet Sauvignons that have a beautiful notes of fresh fruit and red peppers, and of course, delicious Malbecs with a complex and elegant floral nose and very rich, really concentrated in the mouth.
Photo Credit: Fernando Garello via Compfight cc
The terroir that distinguishes Gualtallary is of soils of alluvial origin, deep, poorly fertile, gives very concentrated wines and at the same time, immensely mineral due to the layers of limestone and chalk that this soil has. This particular feature is what makes this part of the Valle de Uco so different, when looking wines with a new personality, this is where winemakers go to in the last years.
In this area, there are a bit more than 1000 hectares of vineyards planted, although due to the water distribution not all the 8000 hectares left could be used for wine purposes. This clearly affects the price of the land, which is close to 75.000 USD a hectare, almost a 50% more than some of the most important regions for wine in the province.
So remember, today the focus of the new generation of wines is on new terroirs. Next time you buy a bottle, check if they make a special reference on where it comes from on the label, and particularly if it is from Gualtallary. Trust me, you will find a wine very different from what your are used to. It does not matter if it is a Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon (or why not Cabernet Franc or Chardonnay), the ones from Gualtallary for sure will blow your mind! (and your palate!)
If you have any recommendations on Gualtallary wines you like or any suggestion on other micro-region wine that we should try, do not forget to comment.
Thanks for reading my dear wine lovers. Un abrazo!
Diego