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Zuccardi Valle de Uco

The huge family business in Argentina was founded in 1963 by Alberto Zuccardi (son of Italian immigrants from Avellino in Campania), who planted the first vines. It is divided into three areas. These are viticulture with two wineries, olive cultivation as well as tourism and hotel operations with the three restaurants "Casa del Visitante" and "Pan Y Oliva" in Maipú and "Piedra Infinita Cocina" in the Uco Valley. The winery "Bodega Zuccardi Valle De Uco" (all vineyards in the Uco Valley) is located in Paraje Altamira in the Valle de Uco in the Mendoza region. The second is "Bodega Santa Julia" (vineyards in the Uco Valley and eastern area of Mendoza) in Maipú.Each winery has its own vineyards and teams. In 2019, 2020 and 2021 Zuccardi Valle de Uco was named World's Best Vineyard and in 2022 was inducted into the "Hall of Fame".

The overall company is run by José Alberto Zuccardi, who serves as president of the national winegrowers' association. All 900 workers are permanent employees. In contrast to the day labourer system common here, the families (adults and children) can plan the whole year with a fixed income. Educational opportunities are provided with sports and recreation, adult education, childcare, music lessons, schools, computer centres and nutritional counselling.

Zuccardi Valle de Uco

Research & Development

The eldest son, Sebastián Zuccardi, is responsible for Research & Development. Laura Principiano is responsible for the new winery in Altamira, which went into operation in 2009, and Martin di Stéfano for the vineyards in the Uco Valley. The younger son Miquel has been producing olive oil since 2004. All wines and olive oils can be tasted and bought in the visitor centre "Casa del Visitante" (with exhibitions, concerts and two restaurants). The only daughter Julia is responsible for the visitor centre. In addition, excursions, tasting events, wine cellar and vineyard tours are organised. The winery extends over three levels. The reception and offices are on the ground floor, the production and research laboratory are on the ground floor and the wines are stored and matured in the cellar.

Vineyards

The vineyards in the Uco Valley at the foot of the 6,961-metre-high Aconcagua (Andes) cover a total of around 850 hectares of vineyards with different types of soil and microclimates. They range in altitude from 620 metres (Santa Rosa) to 1,100 metres (Altamira). There are six estates (fincas). These are, from south to north, Piedra Infinita (with the main house), Los Membrillos, Canal Uco, La Ribera, Vista Flores and San Pablo. Due to the hot and dry climate with extremely clean air, there are hardly any pests or vine diseases. Due to the low rainfall of only 20 cm per year, artificial irrigation by means of drip irrigation is absolutely necessary. The vineyards are cultivated in an environmentally friendly way.

Zuccardi - Paraje Altamira, San Carlos, Uco Valley

Vines

The vines are trained in the Vertical Trellis System ( trellis training) on wires stretched two metres high. This allows the leaves to receive intense sunlight, while the grapes below can ripen in good shade and ventilation. The red wine varieties Malbec (Cot), Bonarda (Douce Noire), Tempranillo, Syrah, Ancellotta and Caladoc are cultivated, as well as the white wine varieties Chardonnay, Viognier, various Torrontés varieties and Verdejo.

Cellar technology

In the cellar, gentle processing is carried out by using gravity. Vinification is carried out according to non-invasive principles with few interventions. Spontaneous fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts in special concrete tanks (there are no stainless steel tanks). The wines are then aged in 500- and 3,000-litre barrels in a manner typical of the terroir. The product slate is divided into the Santa Julia (basic wines), Fuzion (trendy wines), Familia Zuccardi (upscale), Malamado(port style) and Zuelo (olive oils) lines. A bottle-fermented blanc de blancs (Chardonnay) is also produced.

Source: ED's WORLD WINES
Bodega and vineyard: Zuccardi Valle de Uco

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