One dream. One family legacy. Two terroirs. Since 1928, these three pillars have been the lasting values that have guided Argentina’s Bodegas Bianchi for four generations. This family-owned winery is situated in the sub-regions of both the Uco Valley and San Rafael.
In the Uco Valley, in Los Chacayes in the northwest of Argentina, the high and deep valleys of the majestic Andes Mountains lend a particular environment to the region’s grapes. Situated along the Tunuyán River, alluvial soils ensure the necessary water needed for the vineyard’s irrigation. It’s a rocky area, too, which gives the wines a mineral character with three-dimensional aromatics. All the vineyards sit between 2700 – 3900 ft above sea level, well above the fog line for long bouts of sunlight, perfect for phenolic ripeness and maturity.
San Rafael is one of only two DOCs in Argentina. It’s farther south than the Uco, so the climate tends to be a bit warmer, with sandy soils and lower altitudes. However, the east-west orientation of the mountain ranges allows for a funneling of cool air from the Andes resulting in longer hangtime for the grapes. Bodegas Bianchi is a leader in San Rafael, producing wines with excellent structure and complexity.
Water management and energy efficiency have made Bodegas Bianchi one of the most sustainable and innovative wineries in Argentina. Silvio Alberto, chief winemaker and one of the most well-known winemakers in all of Argentina, relishes marrying the traditions of yesteryear with the modern processes of today such as using clay amphorae for the winery’s top Malbecs and red blends.
