Winery
Our winery is a tribute to the mountain, which gives the identity to our wines.
“We cultivate wines. Our work begins in the vineyard. In the winery we need to be very respectful so that our wines express, with transparency, the place where they come from.”
– Sebastián Zuccardi
A WINERY
rooted in the vineyard
When we began our journey in the Uco Valley, we sought those places that had captivated us with the unique expression of their wines. In the early years, we learned a lot about the genesis and diversity of the soils. We started dividing our vineyards by soil type, and only then, after forming our philosophy, did we begin to build the winery.
THE BUILDING
is a tribute to the mountain
In 2016, we inaugurated our Zuccardi Valle de Uco winery.
It is our tribute to the mountain range. From the first moment, we wanted it to be part of the environment, integrating completely into the landscape.
To construct it, we used only natural materials from the area: stones, sand and water. Surrounded by native vegetation, it is entirely made of concrete, both inside and out, from the stone walls to the vessels for the elaboration and aging of our wines.
Research
and Development
In 2009, Sebastián Zuccardi gave new impetus to the research and development department (I+D – Investigación y Desarrollo -– in Spanish) with the aim to study the Uco Valley in great depth. Here, we study the terroir and the various variables that impact wine quality, analyzing and controlling everything from the vineyard to the winery. From the beginning, we worked on classifying different microregions within the Uco Valley with varying soil types, where we refined all our vineyard practices, such as irrigation periods, the use of different training systems, the most suitable grape varieties and the optimal harvest time.
Concreto
AN ALLY IN EXPRESSING
IDENTITY
As we began deepening our style as viticulturists, where the mountain marks the identity of our wines, we felt the need to give great respect for the grapes that arrived at the winery.
For this reason, after years of studies, we defined that the ideal material for the vessels for our wines would be concrete, without any type of coating. Especially, conical-shaped vessels, which allow the wines to be made with the minimum intervention possible.
From the first moment, we were excited by the idea that our wines would be in contact with natural materials. Concrete does not impart flavors or aromas to the wine, and preserves the pure expression of its place of origin.
The small micro-oxygenation that concrete allows and the great thermal stability also contribute to better care at each stage of the winemaking process.
From the beginning we sought to be able to work in a more sustainable way with the environment, and this material allows a significant reduction in energy consumption.
Our team
Sebastián zuccardi
Winemaking Director
Trained as an Agronomist, Sebastián is part of our family's third generation and leads our Winemaking and Viticulture teams. Alongside his father José Alberto, he spearheaded the construction of the Zuccardi Uco Valley winery, inaugurated in Paraje Altamira in 2016. He is also one of the members of Alma 4, a project of sparkling wines crafted using the traditional method, which he initiated with three friends in 1999. He has participated in numerous harvests in different countries of the new and old world.
Laura Principiano
Head Winemaker
Laura graduated as an Agricultural Engineer from the National University of Cuyo, and she leads our Winemaking department and the Research and Development department (I + D, Investigación y Desarrollo, in Spanish), which brings together young winemakers and agronomists dedicated to studying the terroir and factors that influence wine quality and each micro-region. Since joining the winery in 2009, she has worked on the foundational concepts for the winery's design and construction. Among her experiences, she has participated in harvests abroad in Italy and Spain, as well as in various wineries in Mendoza.
Martín di Stefano
Viticulturist
Martín is responsible for the development of our vineyards in the Uco Valley. He started working at Zuccardi Valle de Uco in 2010, in the Research and Development department (I + D, Investigación y Desarrollo, in Spanish), the same year he graduated with honors as an Agricultural Engineer. In June 2010, he joined our vineyard management team full time, while also travelling to different wine regions around the world for harvest programs, including France, Italy, South Africa and Chile. His work philosophy revolves around a contemplative viticulture approach, based on closely observing the natural development of the plants, respecting the landscape and the unique conditions of each place, without imposing preconceived notions.
