10 Mendoza wines that represent the DNA of their creators

At Finca Feliz, the wine La Cielito, Unique Rows, is an example of how a wine has a great story to tell. Lis Clement, owner and winemaker of the estate, chose this wine to represent her. “La Cielito has an impressive story: in October 2022, a fierce frost destroyed almost all of the estate's vineyards, leaving only 5% standing. With that small harvest, and despite the difficulties, we created a wine that stands out for its purity and quality,” says its creator.

The name "Unique Rows" refers to the only rows of vines that survived, symbolizing how adversity can be overcome. Bonarda and Syrah are the two varietals that make up this wine. Additionally, Lis Clement has transformed her vineyard into an agroecological one.

With an interesting profile, on the nose it offers red and black fruits, and on the palate, the texture of this wine is smooth and elegant. La Cielito expresses Lis's resilience, as well as her dedication to making authentic wines.

Álvaro Viluches and Máximo Escopinaro are the creators of Niño Libre Rosado 2024, a wine that reflects their style and captures their essence as winemakers. Made with Malbec from a century-old vineyard in Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, this rosé is a showcase of the artisanal and authentic. What defines this duo is their refusal to follow established formulas: they produce small batches to highlight the unique characteristics of each harvest. For them, this way of working is essential as it allows each wine to be a unique experience.

Vilches and Escopinaro's 2024 rosé stands out for its sensory profile, with notes of sour cherry, strawberry, and cherry, framed by the natural acidity characteristic of the soil where the grapes grew. From conception to tasting, the wine manifests a genuine connection with tasters, confirming the effectiveness of their method and the quality of their work. The structure of the 2024 rosé shows a free and disruptive attitude.

Enologist Victoria Brond has created a wine that reflects her passion for the native, for showcasing nature in its purest state: the Pet Nat of Criolla Grande by Alpamanta. This wine is an ode to the Criolla grape, a variety that has been adapting to Mendoza's land for years and that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. According to Victoria, “it's the opportunity to show something native that has years of adaptation to the territory. Basically, it's as if it had been waiting to be discovered by someone who appreciated its value.”

For the enologist, what makes this wine special is its profile, and she sought to create something truly original. “The Pet Nat is a mix of simplicity and purity,” she says. Made without sulfites and using an ancestral method, “it's a wine that represents a unique interpretation and is like drinking directly from the tank during harvest. It's a way of experiencing the grape and the place as they are, without unnecessary embellishments,” Brond tells us.

Cadus Criolla Chica, created by Santiago Mayorga, showcases the spirit of exploration and bravery that characterizes the winemaker. Since 2017, Santiago has worked with this varietal cultivated in an old pergola in Vista Flores (Tunuyán, Uco Valley). “The selection of vines and experimentation with fermentation techniques—stainless steel tanks, barrels, and concrete eggs—have resulted in a wine of great subtlety and elegance with a complex texture,” he shares.

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Creating this wine was an adventure for Mayorga, who didn't settle for the traditional; instead, he opted for cold fermentation with stems and left the wine in a concrete egg to give it a distinctive touch. This approach reveals his ability to transform a classic into a fresh and light wine. Each bottle is a part of his style.

In addition to its visual appeal, its cherry-red color symbolizes dedication to aesthetics and balance in winemaking. “I am proud to have elevated Criolla Chica to a superior quality category, and that it has been recognized as a red grape with Geographical Indications (IG) status,” he expressed.

Daniela Pi, a young Mendoza native and winemaker, begins by saying, “My vision as a winemaker is well represented by the wine Imperfecto. This Malbec, which initially shows the familiarity and friendliness of this classic grape, reveals a touch of Cabernet Franc after a few minutes, offering a surprise factor to those who try it. This twist is a mirror of how I identify with wines that defy expectations, providing a twist that keeps interest and curiosity in every sip.” Daniela has managed to convey her fascination with life's “imperfections” in a wine.

Monotony is not part of her life, and she finds beauty in what deviates from perfection. From the label with intentionally mis-separated syllables to the small percentage of Cabernet Franc that “contaminates” the Malbec, everything about this wine celebrates the imperfections she speaks of.

The creative process behind Imperfecto began with a playful reflection on life's imperfections. The name was chosen as a mockery of the inability to reach the perfect score of 100 points, and playing with the mathematical concept of Pi, an irrational number perfect in its irregularity. “I knew we had captured the desired essence when, upon presenting the wine, people understood and appreciated the message: it's not about a perfect Malbec, but a celebration of imperfections that, instead of detracting value, add character and authenticity to each bottle,” concludes Daniela.

In her constant quest to capture the essence of her wines, enologist Agustina Hanna demonstrates a remarkable ability to infuse her personality into each one. An example is her connection with Ruca Malen Chapter 2 White Blend, a wine that embodies the duality of her character. This blend combines Sauvignon Blanc and Semillón, two varieties that showcase the energy and freshness Agustina values in her work.

From the vineyard to the winery, this wine demonstrates a constant balance between intuition and Agustina's technical knowledge. The decision on how to make it, whether adjusting extraction or determining barrel use, is guided by a connection to the plant and the harvest moment. This deep involvement ensures that each wine is an extension of herself.

The authenticity of Chapter 2 White Blend is evident when it reaches that ideal point that Hanna detects, capturing the essence she wants to share with the world.

When we mention the word “raquis,” we refer to two things: in anatomy, the spine that supports our entire body, and in botany, the central axis of a spike or plume. This idea of support and structure is what the wine Raquis Monastery, signed by Andrés Vignoni, reflects.

“The philosophy we use in the making of these wines is postmodern: it combines traditional elements with contemporary approaches. By dispensing with unnecessary inputs and using ancient, simple resources, we achieve exceptional transparency and depth of flavor in our wines. Our goal is to reach distinctive elegance and a richness of flavor that defines them,” Vignoni tells us.

Andrés has spent the last decade working between Argentina and Europe. One could say he is in a constant state of "maturation" of wine, moving from harvest to harvest. In this continuous process, he has learned to observe not only the outside world but also to look inward. This introspection allows him to refine small details that make each wine unique and dynamic.

Paula Michelini, one of the outstanding winemakers of the moment, feels that each of her wines is a manifestation of her vision. But when asked by Time Out which one best represents her, she responded: “La Chica del Dragón and Descendants of Mountain Winegrowers express my nature, and that's what I identify with.” These wines are distinguished by their floral and herbal notes and a notable unctuousness on the palate.

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Paula also told us that in creating these whites, she has sought “to convey that these are wines thought from the vineyard,” working with methods such as regenerative and agroecological agriculture. She firmly believes that “respect for the land is one of the most beautiful values we can have as human beings,” allowing the wines to express themselves purely and sincerely.

The creative process of these whites has been part of her learning, “a super exciting journey,” particularly with La Chica del Dragón, where she enjoys working with various vineyards and making different wines every year. “There is a lot of art and spontaneity in these wines; I think from the first moment of making them, it is seen that it will be different from what has been done before.”

Among the wines mentioned in this article, recognized for revealing the DNA of their creators, Cosmovision of Stella Crinitia by winemaker Micaela Kuri stands out as a manifestation of her vision and philosophy. “This 100% agroecological Chardonnay from the Uco Valley not only challenges the conventions of traditional wine but also represents a profound commitment to nature and authenticity. The spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts and aging in French foudres, used barrels, and roll-fermenters impart a sensory complexity that reflects my passion for vibrant, fresh, and disruptive wines.”

This wine pays tribute to the sacred feminine and to all women who, from different spheres, promote the care of Mother Earth. Kuri has achieved a natural expression, maintaining the complexity of the varietal while offering new sensations.

The creative process that brought Cosmovision to life was born from the commitment of Joanna Foster, the winery’s owner, and Micaela Kuri’s dedication to natural practices and highlighting the work of rural women. This wine not only celebrates a philosophy of life but also stands out for its ability to capture the true essence of its origin.

The sparkling wine Malpensado, made from Roussan and Marsan varieties, represents the personality of Constanza Gaitieri, who specializes in developing unconventional products. These varieties, rarely used for sparkling wines in Mendoza, come together in a wine that has spent over 40 months on lees, a process that enriches its aromas and characteristics.

The prolonged aging on lees gives the wine depth and nuances distinguished by its fresh aromas. Gaitieri mentions that her passion for trying new formulas is a fundamental part of her work, which translates into wines that capture the essence of the new and exciting.

Gaitieri's creative process is also influenced by her experience in Europe; this international background enriches her perspective and contributes to the distinction of her sparkling wines.