Often referred to as “Argentina’s Napa Valley” the Uco Valley is the hottest and fastest growing wine region in the country. If you don’t already know about the Uco Valley, you should. Not only is it home the most high-profile foreign investment in the region, it’s producing some of Argentina’s highest quality, best scoring wines. The cool, dry weather and high altitude combine to make the Uco Valley a type of vine growing paradise. Michel Rolland and Paul Hobbs both have vineyards there, and so does Vines of Mendoza!
Fifty miles southwest of Mendoza city, Uco Valley has historically been known for fruit production, but in the past ten years wineries have been moving in and vineyard land has spread rapidly. Because the wine industry here is so new, there is a notable lack of information on the area, but here at Vines we’re looking to change that!
A few things that make the Uco Valley unique:
Foreign Investment
Of the forty-some wineries operating in the Uco Valley, about 70% are foreign owned. Land and labor costs here are just a fraction of what they would be in France or California and the climate and soil of the Uco is ideal for the production of premium wines. Mainly French and Dutch investment drive the region today and the big names with big money are bringing a lot of worldwide attention to the valley. Michel Rolland has invested over $60 million in his Clos de Los Siete project in Vista Flores.
Climate
The most rustic of all of Mendoza’s regions, the Uco Valley is high, dry desert where vines grow incredibly close to the foot of the Andes. The drive into the Uco is always breathtaking, as a lush green valley sprawls wildly before the dramatic mountains. Here you can find vines planted up to 1400 meters high (4,600 ft). Because of the high altitude, the soil here is very rocky and sandy, with good drainage and almost no organic matter. Perfect for encouraging those vines to struggle and increasing concentration in the fruit. With an average temperature of 14° C (57° F) and over 250 days of sunshine a year, the grapes get plenty of sunlight but still enjoy cool nighttime temperatures that allow the plants to rest and develop good acidity.
The Grapes
Malbec and Cabernet seem to be the current stars of the Uco Valley, developing into aromatic, concentrated wines with marked minerality. However, the likes of Chardonnay, Semillon, Merlot, and Syrah have also had success in the valley. Uco is divided up into four main regions: Tunuyan, Tupungato, La Consulta, and San Carlos, each with it’s own microclimate ideal for different grape varieties. Pinot Noir, a classically finicky varietal is also growing well here, producing elegant wines with power and structure. An Uco Valley Pinot I tasted recently tasted almost exactly like one of my favorite Sonoma Valley Pinots- a velvety mouthfeel with rich, earthy characteristics and lively strawberry fruit. Yum.
Keep an eye out for more Uco Valley Harvest Diary updates to get the latest on what’s happening in the region!
About the author: Cara De Lavallade is a Level II Court of Masters Sommelier from Seattle, Washington. Temporarily relocated to Mendoza, she is smelling and tasting all she can to gain a better understanding of the local juice. Look for her wine reviews, bodega visits, and other winey musings on The Vines of Mendoza blog this spring.
