Zuccardi is a leading family winery of Mendoza, founded by engineer Alberto Zuccardi in the 1960s and now driven by third-generation winemaker Sebastián. Based in the Uco Valley, the estate champions high-altitude terroir—Paraje Altamira, Gualtallary and San Pablo—where stony, calcareous alluvials and Andean breezes deliver purity and tension. Farming is thoughtful and sustainable; irrigation is carefully managed with snowmelt from the Andes.

Winemaking prioritises transparency: native yeasts, raw concrete vats and large, neutral foudres over showy new oak. Malbec leads, joined by Cabernet Franc, Bonarda and Tempranillo, while Chardonnay and Semillón headline the whites. The portfolio runs from Zuccardi Valle de Uco and Polígonos to parcel and single-vineyard icons such as Finca Piedra Infinita. Expect vibrant, mineral wines with lifted aromatics, fine tannins and savoury length—benchmarks for modern Andean elegance and a clear voice for site over stylistic artifice.

The Uco Valley, located south-west of the city of Mendoza, is one of Argentina’s most prestigious wine regions, renowned for its high-altitude vineyards and dramatic Andean backdrop. Vineyards here stretch from 900 to over 1,400 metres above sea level, giving the region a distinctly cool, continental climate. Warm, sunny days are balanced by cool nights, which help retain acidity and slow ripening, resulting in wines with freshness and aromatic intensity. However, water availability is a constant challenge, and frost and spring hail are frequent hazards, requiring careful vineyard protection and irrigation.

Soils in the Uco Valley are predominantly alluvial, composed of sand, gravel and stones washed down from the Andes. These free-draining, poor soils limit vine vigour and promote concentration and complexity in the grapes.

Malbec is the star grape of the region, producing deeply coloured, elegant wines with aromas of blackberry, black cherry and violet, often accompanied by mineral and herbal notes. Other important varieties include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay. The main sub-regions – Tupungato, Tunuyán and San Carlos (including Paraje Altamira and La Consulta) – each bring their own nuances to the wines. Uco Valley wines are admired for their balance, purity of fruit and refined structure, making the region a benchmark for high-quality Argentine production

Malbec is a dark-skinned grape variety originally from southwestern France, particularly Cahors, where it was historically known as “Côt.” Once widely grown throughout Bordeaux as a blending grape, its plantings in France declined due to susceptibility to frost, coulure, and disease. However, Malbec found a new home in Argentina, where it has become the country’s flagship variety.

Viticulturally, Malbec thrives in warm, sunny climates with significant diurnal temperature variation, which helps develop rich fruit flavours while preserving acidity. The grape is vigorous, with large berries and thin skins, making it prone to rot in humid conditions but capable of producing deeply coloured wines in dry environments.

Globally, Malbec is most famously planted in Argentina’s Mendoza region, where high-altitude vineyards produce intensely flavoured wines with smooth tannins. It is also cultivated in Cahors, Chile, the United States (notably California and Washington), Australia, and South Africa.

In style, Malbec ranges from the rustic, tannic, and earthy examples of Cahors to the plush, fruit-forward wines of Mendoza. Typical flavours include ripe black plum, blackberry, and blueberry, often accented by cocoa, violet, and spice notes. Well-made Malbecs are full-bodied, with deep colour, supple texture, and a crowd-pleasing balance of fruit richness and structure.