The Argentine winery "Bodega Norton" in Luján de Cuyo in the
Mendoza region was founded in 1895 by the English railway engineer Sir Edmond James Palmer Norton (1865-1944). In 1989 the Bodega Norton was acquired by the Austrian entrepreneur Gernot Langes-Swarovski. Son Michael Halstrick is the current president of Bodega Norton and has lived in Argentina since 1991. After the purchase, extensive structural changes took place. Furthermore, additional vineyards were planted, new plantings were made and the latest winery technology was adapted. Today the winery is one of the most modern and qualitatively best wineries in
Argentina. The cellar master is Jorge Riccitelli, Pablo Minatelli is responsible for the vineyards.
The five vineyards Agrelo, La Colonia, Lunlunta, Medrano and Perdriel are located between 800 and 1,100 meters above sea level at the foot of the Andes and comprise 705 hectares of vineyards on gravel soil with a sandy surface. They are planted with Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Syrah, Tempranillo and Torrontés. The wines are marketed in three different quality levels: Young Varietal, Barrel Select and Reserva. The flagship of the house is the cuvée "Privada", a cuvée of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec which is one of the best Argentine red wines. It also produces bottle-fermented sparkling wines from 100% Chardonnay. The most important market is Argentina.
The Langes family owns a further 300 hectares of vineyards in Argentina and 190 hectares in the Changli area in Hebei province in eastern
China.
