The Wineries
PerSe
Argentina, Mendoza
A project like no other. The golden duo David Bonomi and Edy del Popolo established PerSe in 2012. From the start wine critics over the world have been blown away by their uniqueness, purity and quality of their wines. The La Craie has received three times in a row 100 Parker points.
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This unique project found its roots at the Monasterio del Cristo in Gualtallary in the Uco Valley where they work in conjunction with the Monks. It is located at 1500 meter above sea level and is known for the white chalky soils. PerSe owns here two exceptional vineyeards that are each split into two parcels. The one vineyeard focuses solely on the Malbec grape, the other has both Malbec & Cabernet Franc.
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Escala Humana
Argentina, Mendoza
Tim Atkins’ Young Winemaker of the Year 2023 Germán Masera, started Escala Humana in 2015 with wife Ayelén. Germán began making wine in 2003 while studying Enology and Viticulture in Mendoza and has collaborated with Matias Michelini since 2016.
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Aye and Germán fell in love with two of these small vineyards where they grow Malvasia, Bequignol (a light bodied red varietal from Southwest France), Sangiovese and a few other varietals. They believe in a sensitive interpretation of the terroir: the soil, the climate, the topography, the vines and the culture of the people who make up “our own ecosystem”.
Escorihuela Gascón
Argentina, Mendoza
In 1880, a highly determined and enterprising 19-year-old, Miguel Escorihuela Gascón from Aragón, Spain, arrives in Buenos Aires. Work in a grocery store brings him in contact with Mendoza wine – sold in 300 litre oak barrels. Four years later Dom Miguel buys 17 hectares of prime land, plants vineyards and begins to build a winery.
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The Escorihuela Gascón winery (Godoy Cruz) is the oldest working one in Mendoza. Located in the heart of the city, it has a capacity of 8-million litres of wine per annum. With the conviction that great wines come from great vines, grapes are sourced from both own Estate vineyards and long-term growers, located in Mendoza’s premier winegrowing areas.
Familia Geisse
Brazil, Serra Gaúcha | Chile, Valle Colchagua
Late 2022 Altos de Pinto Bandeira became the New World’s first D.O. exclusively for traditional method sparkling wines. Altos de Pinto Bandeira, located in Brazil’s southern Serra Gaúcha wine regio, was first recognised as a unique location for producing sparkling wines by Chilean winemaker Mario Geisse.
Mario moved to Brazil in 1976 from famous Chilean winery Casa Silva to work for Moët & Chandon’s Chandon do Brazil. Three years later he founded the Familia Geisse winery in Pinto Bandeira. In 2020 Decanter declared him Man of the Year.
Durigutti
Argentina, Mendoza | Spain, Galicia
Héctor and Pablo Durigutti celebrated many great international awards in 2023 – from Tim Atkins’ Oenlogists of the Year and a Michelin star for Restaurant 5 Suelos, to being voted #13 of the World’s Best 50 Vineyards and oenotourism wineries - consolidating Las Compuertas’ reputation as a leading viticultural region and tourist attraction.
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Durigutti Family Winemakers came into being in 2002 with the winery’s first wine. In 2007 the brothers bought 5 hectares of prime vineyard in Las Compuertas and named it Finca Victoria.
Casa Valduga
Brazil, Vale dos Vinhedos | Chile, Valle Central
“Before making two bottles of wine, make one, but let it be well-made.” So says Luiz Valduga, patriarch of the family. And thus was the wine culture of Casa Valduga created.
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The avant-garde vision, elegant design, high technology and, above all, the family's values underscore the building of this brand. The ardent pursuit of innovation and continuous improvement are the traits the family stands for and consolidate Casa Valduga as an icon in the winery segment.
RAQUIS
Argentina, Mendoza
An homage to nature and origin, Raquis aims to capture the hearts of many by representing the beauty, sentiments & senses that come from Mendoza vineyards, together with the expertise of three famous wine professionals that have been the stronghold of the success of famous winery Viña Cobos. Andrés, Facundo and Ariel have embarked on a new journey that is about to leave it´s permanent marks on Argentinean wine history.
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“Raquis” reflects the Greek definition of “spine”, a support structure that holds the vital connection between grapes & plants, whilst simultaneously defining the purpose of taste & quality. By focusing on place, identity & surrounding nature, Raquis have committed themselves to represent their land & terroir zones, rather than the varietals that grow on it. This allows for a “freedom of speech” within winemaking, which refers to their vision of making wines based on purity, sincerity and transparency.
Perez Cruz
Chile, Maipo
60 years ago, Pablo Pérez and Mariana Cruz discovered the perfect place to create what would soon be Viña Pérez Cruz, on the southern shore of the Maipo Valley at the foot of the Andes Mountains.
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Here the slopes are located at a great height, situated on thousands of years of rock formations and earth movements, which resulted in uniquely stony and clayey soils - complex to cultivate but rich in minerals and blessed by the Mediterranean climate.
Vaglio
Argentina, Mendoza
José Lovaglio Balbo, son of Susanna Balbo, belongs to the third generation of viticulturists. He was born in the province of Salta and raised in the province of Mendoza.
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At the age of 18 he set off to USA to study viticulture and oenology. After obtaining his degree he moved back to Mendoza, where he started working with his mother.
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In 2012, José started his own project, Vaglio Wines. His winemaking approach embodies the will of his generation: winemakers that take the heritage of their parents to the next step and dig deeper into Argentina’s terroirs.
Riccitelli
Argentina, Mendoza
Energy, a lot of laughs and being highly innovative; this is Matias Riccitelli - son of Jorge Riccitelli, the man behind the success of Bodega Norton.
Established in 2009, Matias is recognised as the new winemaker of Argentina. Matias is known for doing things differently and keeping the energy in the wines. He focuses on natural elements, using breathing fermentation and barrels only - concrete eggs, cement tanks and wooden barrels.
In 2022 Matias Riccitelli was voted 55th of the World’s Best Vineyards. A year later Tim Atkins named them Best Cellar Door Experience, followed by James Suckling ‘s rating of Father and Friend as number 81 Best Wine in the World .
If these were not accolades enough, the Riccitelli Bistro also won a Green Michelin Star in 2023.
The succes has been noticed all over the world with a result that wine are being sold out before launching, which means small allocation per country.
MICHELINI I MUFFATO- Compañía Uruguaya Vinos de Mar
Uruguay, Maldonado
In 2019 the Michelini I Mufatto family started this project in the Maldonado coastal region under he name Compañía Uruguaya de Vinos de Mar. Maldonado is a place of great significance, with unique climatic, topographic and soil characteristics.
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Situated high on the hills, the estate is influenced by the maritime climate, its clouds and constant rainfall – providing all the elements required to make thrilling wines.
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The soil composition, a combination of granite, sand, silt and clay, is a decisive factor for the wines’ distinct identity. Select micro terroir ‘plots’, chosen for their specific characteristics, lead to wines of great purity, elegance and finesse.
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Compañía Uruguaya de Vinos de Mar produces wines from only three varieties: Albariño, Pinot Noir and Tannat.
Ernesto Catena
Argentina, Patagonia & Mendoza
Founded in the year 2000 by Ernesto Catena, eldest son of Nicolás Catena of Catena Zapata. A 4th generation winemaker, Ernesto has travelled and lived around the world, and along the way has earned a Bachelors degree in Computer Science and Economy, a Master’s in Design in Milan and a degree in history in London.
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Defined by many as the “bohemian” side of the Catena family, Ernesto is a tireless and avid reader, painter, art collector, horseman, polo player and archer.
