The wines of Zuccardi are, without doubt, exceptional.
Behind every bottle lie years of research, patient observation, and respect for nature. From vineyard to cellar, every decision is made to enhance the character of place: altitude, fresh climate, stony soils, and the commanding presence of the Andes.
The agronomy and winemaking team at Zuccardi Valle de Uco works hand in hand, interpreting each parcel and each harvest with precision. Harvesting at the exact right moment, fermenting in vessels that preserve fruit purity, and ageing in materials that do not mask the terroir are part of a philosophy that prioritises identity over fashion. ¹
Here is a capsule of the wines and food pairings I enjoyed at Riley’s Fish and Steak in September along with some very hasty and very brief wine notes taken during lunch.
Reception wine:
Zuccardi el Camino de las Flores 2024
ORIGIN: Finca Las Cerrilladas, Gualtallary Monasterio, Tupungato, Uco Valley, Mendoza
ALTITUDE: 1360 m | 4462 ft
F I N C A | S I N G L E V I N E Y A R D W I N E S
I have been exploring various areas of the Uco Valley, with one of our main goals being to express the valley’s unique and exciting terroirs through our wines.
I believe that transparency is beauty, and in my view, Chardonnay—when grown and vinified
appropriately— is one of the best grapes to convey a true sense of place.
In recent years, I have focused on identifying and vinifying different Chardonnay plots from our Finca Las Cerrilladas in the Uco Valley, Mendoza.
Following this precise work, I have been particularly pleased with certain parcels that have shown exceptional character.
For the 2024 vintage, we bottled those specific selections, which have also stood out in previous vintages. The vineyard was planted in a very organic and irregular manner, respecting the natural contours of the landscape.
This wine comes from selected parcels bordering dry streams surrounded by native vegetation. In spring, these areas bloom with vibrant yellow and white flowers.
The Chardonnay vines growing near those streams reflect not only the character of the calcareous soils, but also the richness of the surrounding biosphere.
This is how El Camino de las Flores (Le Chemin des Fleurs) was born.
Sebastián Zuccardi
Absolutely delicious, crisp, fresh, fruity with a slight citrus touch, some stonefruit, pear. Fresh floral scents. As it sits the citrus ceomes more pronounced. Lovely on its own, would also pair well with food. I saved some Camino to try with the kale salad and found the citrus notes in the wine complimented the dish.
Appetizer
Kale “Caesar” Salad
baby kale, crispy chickpeas, lemon, parmesan vinaigrette, brioche
As the salad was served Zuccardi quickly stepped away only to return with a small bottle of olive oil produced by his son Miguel. The olive oil passed around for us to add to our salad – so good.
Zuccardi Concreto 2023
ORIGIN: Cosecha 2022 / 2022 Vintage: IG Paraje Altamira, San Carlos, Valle de Uco, Mendoza
ALTITUDE: 1100 m | 3906 ft
VARIETY: 100% Malbec
V I T I C U L T U R I S T W I N E S
Concreto is a very important wine in my life. Beginning to make it was a key step on our way. With it, we managed to free ourselves from ties and to deepen our confidence in the place where we cultivate.
With Concreto we seek to “undress” the wine, enhance its expression of the place and reveal the texture imparted by the calcareous soils of the Uco Valley. We select only the most stony and calcareous plots of the vineyard and vinify with the whole bunch, as was done in the past.
Fermentation and storage are done completely in concrete vessels without epoxy, to avoid the influence of aromas and flavors which do not come from the vineyard, and to amplify the texture that conveys the energy of the Uco Valley.
Sebastián Zuccardi
I enjoyed this wine with a taste of Wagyu Beef Carpaccio that was shared with the table.The richness of the carpaccio is matched by the Concerto, both are luscious. Even as I finish the carpaccio the wine remains so fresh.
Zuccardi Poligonos San Pablo Cabernet Franc 2020
(Village Wine)
ORIGIN: IG San Pablo, Tunuyán, Valle de Uco, Mendoza
ALTITUDE: 1400 m | 4593 ft
VARIETY: 100% Cabernet Franc
Unfortunately winery notes were not available for this vintage.
The colour is incredible, dark, very dark, rich red with a lighter rim. Not oaky but a similar richness. Quite light scents of blackberry promising a very fruitiness on the palate. Fresh scents with a touch of the old world.
Rich, light, delicious and inviting. Dark ripe fruits and an underlying freshness. Slightly lean and at the same time rich and lingering with a fabulous finish. Clean, pure, fresh.
Entrée
Truffle Risotto
cultivated mushrooms, truffle tapenade, arugula,parmigiano
Zuccardi Finca Piedra Infinita Gravascal Malbec 2022
ORIGIN: Finca Piedra Infinita, IG Paraje Altamira, San Carlos, Valle de Uco
ALTITUDE: 1100 m | 3609 ft
VARIETY: 100% Malbec
In the search for the purest expression of the identity of Finca Piedra Infinita vineyard, we reached this small plot of 0.73 hectares. Located on its north-east side, it shows the typical facet of Paraje Altamira soil, with large gravels and granite stones covered with calcareous material at a depth of 50 cm.
Sebastián Zuccardi
FI NCA PIE DRA INFI NITA G RAVA SCAL 20 22
TH E PLAC E
This vineyard, planted at 1100 meters in the highest area of the alluvial fan of the Tunuyán River, reflects the characteristic identity of Paraje Altamira. Its soils rest upon an infinity of stones and large granite rocks covered with calcareous material,
with a complexity that can only be found very close to the Andes.
There are hidden places in every vineyard with such a marked identity that they stand out among the rest. This wine originates from a small plot of 0.73 hectares, located in the northeast sector of the estate. In this unique and unrepeatable corner of the vineyard, Malbec plants grow on soil where enormous gravels and granite rocks covered with calcareous material emerge at a depth of 50 centimeters.
HAR VES T
The 2022 vintage was fresh and well balanced. The particular combination of intense sunlight with low temperatures allowed the vine to ripen steadily and keep its natural acidity intact.
These conditions gave rise to elegant, fine and complex wines, with a great balance between juiciness and freshness.
VI NIFI CA TI O N
Manually selected grapes, filling of tanks by gravity. Fermentation with native yeasts in concrete vessels without epoxy. Aging in concrete vessels.
C OMP OSI TIO N
GRAPE: 100% Malbec ALCOHOL: 14% vol.
TOTAL ACIDITY: 6,09 g/l PH: 3,63
Sebastián Zuccardi, Winemaking Director
Laura Principiano, Head Winemaker
Heavenly scents of dark ripe fruits with a touch of cranberries. A more distinguishedness in the mouth. Rich but also holding back. Medium body, excellent, smooth. Great acidity and lingering it enhances the risotto.
Zuccardi Finca Piedra Infinita Supercal 2022
In the search for the purest expression of the identity of Finca Piedra Infinita vineyard, we reached this small plot of 0.93 hectares. Located on its west side, it shows the most extreme facet of Paraje Altamira soil, full of stone in the surface, covered with an extraordinarily rich layer of calcareous material.
When we make these wines, I like to think that they come from a said place, “lieu dit.” Those of us who work in this vineyard every day, know that it has special places, with unique characteristics.
Sebastián Zuccardi
FI NCA PIE DRA INFI NITA S UPE RCAL 20 22
O RIG IN
Finca Piedra Infinita, IG Paraje Altamira, San Carlos, Valle de Uco, Mendoza. 1100 m | 3609 ft.
TH E PLAC E
This vineyard, planted at 1100 meters in the highest area of the alluvial fan of the Tunuyán River, reflects the characteristic identity of Paraje Altamira. Its soils rest upon an infinity of stones and large granite rocks covered with calcareous material, with a complexity that can only be found very close to the Andes.
There are hidden places in every vineyard with such a marked identity that they stand out among the rest. This wine is born from a small plot of 0.93 hectares, located in the northwest sector of our vineyard. In this unique and unrepeatable corner of the vineyard, Malbec plants grow on soil completely filled with alluvial stones covered with calcareous material.
HAR VES T
The 2022 vintage was fresh and well balanced. The particular combination of intense sunlight with low temperatures allowed the vine to ripen steadily and keep its natural acidity intact. These conditions gave rise to elegant, fine and complex wines, with a great balance between juiciness and freshness.
VI NIFI CA TI O N
Manually selected grapes, filling of tanks by gravity. Fermentation with native yeasts in concrete vessels without epoxy. Aging in concrete vessels.
C OMP OSI TIO N
GRAPE: 100% Malbec ALCOHOL: 14% vol.
TOTAL ACIDITY: 5,94 g/l PH: 3,58
Sebastián Zuccardi, Winemaking Director
Laura Principiano, Head Winemaker
A mix of freshness and richness. Ripe black fruit but yet the wine maintain an underlying freshness on the nose. A bit lighter with medium well integrated tannins. Perhaps lighter than the Gravascal and also fresh.
Both the Gravascal and Supercal were excellent with the truffle risotto.
Dessert
Lemon Tart
basil oil, crème fraîche, raspberry
Zuccardi Aluv Parje Altamira 2019
A “Paraje” is a recognized site inside a village (Geographical Indication) that stands out because of its distinct climate and soil characteristics, although it does not have strictly defined boundaries, politically speaking.
These wines come from a selection of vineyards within a Paraje, a unique site that truly expresses the character of the place. The place is the protagonist, with its varieties, soil and history.
ORIGIN: Cosecha 2022 / 2022 Vintage: IG Paraje Altamira, San Carlos, Valle de Uco, Mendoza
ALTITUDE: 1100 m | 3906 ft
VARIETY: 100% Malbec
Concreto is a very important wine in my life. Beginning to make it was a key step on our way. With it, we managed to free ourselves from ties and to deepen our confidence in the place where we cultivate.
With Concreto we seek to “undress” the wine, enhance its expression of the place and reveal the texture imparted by the calcareous soils of the Uco Valley. We select only the most stony and calcareous plots of the vineyard and vinify with the whole bunch, as was done in the past.
Fermentation and storage are done completely in concrete vessels without epoxy, to avoid the influence of aromas and flavors which do not come from the vineyard, and to amplify the texture that conveys the energy of the Uco Valley.
Sebastián Zuccardi
The wine was fresh with ripe fruit scents. Deeply rich with excellent notes of black and ripe fruits.
Wine Awards
Ten perfect wines in just six years: a milestone that establishes Zuccardi Valle de Uco as a benchmark for Argentine wine worldwide. A complete list of the wines, vintages and critics who have bestowed this historic recognition:
Visits & Tastings
Visitors can tour the spaces of the winery and experience walking through the vineyards, discovering the characteristics and particularities of the different soils that give the wines their unique identity.
TOURISM: Open Monday through Sunday
TIMES: 9:30 am – 11:00 am – 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
All programs are by reservation.
Restaurant
The restaurant “Piedra Infinita” opened its doors in March 2016. Located in Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley, in front of the majestic Andes Mountain range.
In this unique mountain and vineyard setting, you can enjoy a course menu made with regional ingredients, featuring a delicate gourmet expression paired with wines of Zuccardi Valle de Uco.
Open Monday through Sunday from 12:30 to 2pm for lunch service. Please inquire about dinner service.
The restaurant can seat up to 50 places.
Winery history, and wine notes courtesy of the winery. Bottle shots courtesy of the winery website. My brief notes (in italics). I received an invitation to attend the lunch and experience the wines and also the pleasure to meet and speak with the most charming, José Zuccardi, Director of Familia Zuccardi.
Feature image: MyVanCity
¹ courtesy of the winery
