ZUCCARDI - ONE OF MY FAVOURITE ARGENTINIAN WINEMAKERS
Chances are, if you’re reading this blog post, you’ve had some Argentinian wine at some stage. If not, I truly suggest you run out and get some to try. It’s generally really good stuff! Well known on the world stage as a serious winemaking country, Argentina has a lot to offer. Most notably, Argentina is a source of real great new world Malbec wines.
Though there are many amazing winemakers in Argentina, one of the ones I think every wine lover should know is Zuccardi.
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Argentina with my family. Our trip included a visit to Mendoza (one of the key winemaking areas of Argentina) as part of our itinerary. Over four days, we learned so much about this gorgeous part of the world, which has garnered international attention in the recent past and is backdropped by the jaw-dropping Andes Mountains. It was during this visit that I discovered one of the properties owned by the eponymous Zuccardi family and became a fan of this Argentinian legend!
Simply put, my visit to Zuccardi Valle de Uco is not one I will ever forget. And it steeped into me a deep and almost childlike enthusiasm for Zuccardi wines.
If you’re looking for an easy-drinking, reliable, great value wine from Argentina, I say go for a Zuccardi Malbec and you can’t and won’t ever go wrong!
WHAT MAKES ZUCCARDI SO SPECIAL?
Founded in 1963 by Alberto Zuccardi, this winery has its roots in a deep appreciation for engineering miracles because Alberto was an engineer by trade. In the earliest days. Alberto got his start by planting vines in Maipu Mendoza, while experimenting with an irrigation system that he created himself. Boy, have things come a long way since then!
The Zuccardis made bulk wine for over two decades, before making the switch to bottling their own wines. There are now three generations of the Zuccardi family involved in this venerable family business and Alberto and his son have even been called out as being amongst the 5 most influential people in Argentinian winemaking! In addition to being one of the largest wine producers in the country, the Zuccardi family is also known for being a pioneer in the cultivation of non-traditional grape varietals in Argentina. They are also deeply committed to sustainable winemaking practices and giving back to the communities that they are in. Pretty impressive, right?
A BIT ABOUT THE ZUCCARDI FAMILY ESTATES
According to their website, today, the Zuccardi family cultivates more than 800 hectares of land across five distinct estates, most of which are at significant elevation levels, with the highest being at 1100 metres above sea level!
Uco Valley Zuccardi Property (image from Zuccardi Valle de Uco website)The Zuccardi family estates are all located in Mendoza, with three of the five being located in the Uco Valley which is essentially the foothills of the Andes mountains. Here’s a bit of information about each one:
La Consulta - 37 hectares located in the San Carlos district of the Uco Valley, at approximately 1100 metres above sea level. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec is grown here.
Vista Flores - 55 hectares located in the Tunuyan district of the Uco Valley, at approximately 1000 metres above sea level. Mostly Chardonnay, Malbec, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon is grown here.
Altamira - 90 hectares located in the San Carlos district of the Uco Valley, at 1100 metres (this estate is technically 20 metres higher than La Consulta). They concentrate on growing Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Caladoc, Ancellotta and Tempranillo here. This is the site of their Uco Valley winery.
Santa Rosa - 475 hectares located in the district of Santa Rosa, just outside of Mendoza city, at 650 metres above sea level. This is a very dry, desert-like area. This was the family’s second winery purchase.
Maipu - 180 hectares located in the Maipu district, also just outside of Mendoza city, also at 650 metres above sea level. This was the site of the family’s original winery.
These estates contribute to many wines made under several labels and by a few different winemakers but the one I love is the family’s namesake winery, Zuccardi.
To learn more about the full portfolio of Zuccardi family wines, wine making techniques and properties, click here
A BIT ABOUT THE ZUCCARDI UCO VALLEY WINERY...IN CASE YOU CAN VISIT!
Bodega Zuccardi Valle de Uco (image from official Zuccardi Valle de Uco website)I had the pleasure of visiting the Zuccardi winery in the Uco Valley in January 2019. Known as “Bodega Zuccardi Valle de Uco”, this winery rises like a majestic giant as you drive up to it. Situated against the backdrop of the Andes Mountains, which look close enough to be a five minute drive away, the concrete building is a homage to the mountains themselves and made from materials that are sourced from the area.
With vast wine making facilities, a jaw-dropping cellar, and a stunning restaurant, a visit here is not something that you soon forget. So fantastic is Bodega Zuccardi Valle de Uco that it has been awarded the distinction of World’s Best Vineyard and Best Vineyard in South America in both 2019 and 2020.
If you go, booking a tour is an absolute must. On the tour, you get a chance not only to tour the winery, but to really see and touch the soil that makes the wines from here so distinct. From alluvial soils shaped by runoff from the Andes to large rocks in the soils, experiencing the terroir that the winemaker, Sebastien Zuccardi, pays so much attention to in his wine-making, really helps you understand the terroir at play here.
I also highly recommend having a meal at the onsite restaurant, Piedra Infinita Cocina. Light-filled and boasting spectacular views of the Andes, this restaurant serves imaginative meals made with locally sourced ingredients, all served with Zuccardi wines. This is a phenomenal way to taste the range of what Zuccardi does and wile away several hours of the day in the most pleasant and hedonistic of ways :)
To learn more about visiting Bodega Zuccardi Valle de Uco, click here
IF YOU CAN’T GO, YOU CAN STILL TRY!
Of course, not everyone can visit Argentina, and the Bodega Zuccardi in Valle de Uco. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out! One of the things I love about Zuccardi wines is how accessible they are, both in terms of availability and price point. While the Zuccardi family portfolio is vast, a good representation of the wines in the portfolio are widely available. Here are two that I’ve tried recently that I think are pretty good!:
Zuccardi Series A Malbec 2018 (Price - $17)
“Series A” stands for Series Argentina and these wines are known as ‘regional wines’ in the portfolio, made from diverse fruit from the region and intended to highlight the different soils and climates of Argentina. This wine is made from 100% Malbec grapes.
My tasting notes - Redish-purple olour, velvety mouthfeel. Medium bodied and fruit, with a little more on the red fruit side. This wine displays prominent aromas of raspberries, blackberries and tobacco and is juicy and tannic.
A serious wine that would be perfect with steak or grilled pork. More full-bodied and less refined than the Zuccardi Q (see below).
Zuccardi Q Malbec 2015 (Price - $20)
Made from fruit taken from select vineyards from the best sites in Mendoza, a portion of this wine is fermented in concrete eggs, with only a small amount seeing oak treatment in used barrels. As a result, Zuccardi Q is a pure and terroir-driven wine.
My tasting notes - Dense dark purple character in the glass, this wine displays loads of blueberry, blackberry and floral notes, and a hint of chocolate, with a long and zesty finish. Medium bodied.
Very easy to drink with a silky quality, well balanced, nice acidity. It’s such a great price for a wine this good that I bought a case, which is something I rarely do!
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you are interested in learning more about Argentinian wine, be sure to include Zuccardi in your “must try” wines. You won’t regret it!
Cheers! :)