[AKyung Wine Cellar] The Terroir of Uco Valley Fully Captured in a Single Sip

<12> Argentina 'Familia Zuccardi'

Winery in Mendoza Uco Valley established in 1963
Beautiful landscape awarded 'World's Best Vineyard' for 3 consecutive years
Uses concrete fermentation tanks to accurately reflect terroir

Editor's NoteNo two wines under the sky are the same. Even when using grapes grown on the same land each year and employing the same methods of winemaking and aging, the results differ every time. Wine is a 'drink of chance' created by the harmony of humans and nature. Each wine, which silently disappears after leaving only a single intense memory, carries an intriguing story. 'Akyung Wine Cellar' shares one by one the stories of wines that are crafted and matured according to their unique circumstances.

"We cultivate wines."

Sebastian Zuccardi, owner and winemaking director of the winery 'Familia Zuccardi' located in Mendoza, Argentina, describes wine not as something to be 'made' but 'cultivated.' For him, winemaking is less about applying dazzling and complex techniques to create something new, and more about faithfully capturing the terroir?the totality of the natural environment surrounding the vineyard?exactly as it is inside the bottle.

For him, wine is a journey. Wines that vividly embody the terroir where the grapes were grown and the stories of those who cultivated them guide the drinker back to the place they came from. Zuccardi hopes that the beautiful terroir contained in a sip of wine is conveyed directly to those who drink it. He often says, "I believe wine is the winery's interpretation of the vineyard, terroir, and vintage. Familia Zuccardi always strives to present wines that transparently and accurately express terroir. That is our identity."

Front view of the Familia Zuccardi winery.

Challenge to Terroir → Reflecting Raw Terroir

Zuccardi’s beginnings stemmed from a challenge to terroir. Alberto Zuccardi, an engineer, was obsessed with battling Mendoza’s semi-arid climate. Mendoza, situated between the Andes Mountains to the west and the Pampas plains to the east, is a dry region with an average annual rainfall of only 200 mm, making an irrigation system essential for farming.

When Alberto Zuccardi first established a vineyard in the Maipu region of Mendoza in 1963, it was to test the irrigation system he developed. He aimed to prove the excellence of his work by cultivating grapes himself. However, he soon realized his true passion lay in grape growing, expanded the vineyards, and broadened the business into wine production, paving the way for future generations. His son, Jose Alberto, took over the family business in 1985 and improved wine quality, and now his grandson Sebastian manages the entire operation, building a reputation as one of Argentina’s leading wineries.

Sebastian Zuccardi, the owner and winemaking director of Familia Zuccardi.

Sebastian, the third-generation head of Familia Zuccardi, devoted himself to terroir. He judged that deeper research was necessary to accurately understand terroir’s impact on wine quality, so in 2009 he established a research and development department to initiate a winery innovation. He focused on the Uco Valley, located southwest of Maipu in the vast Mendoza region, recognizing its diverse soils as ideal for studying the relationships between grapes, soil, and other variables.

Sebastian classified the soils of Uco Valley by their characteristics and conducted comprehensive research on grape growing practices, including optimal grape varieties, canopy management, irrigation systems, and harvest timing. This advanced understanding of terroir gave him confidence in producing wines that transparently express terroir, leading to the construction of a new winery in Uco Valley in 2016.

The new winery also gained architectural attention, enhancing Zuccardi’s recognition. Built as a low-rise structure harmonizing with nearby mountains using locally sourced stone and sand, the winery was praised for its originality and eco-friendly design. It ranked first for three consecutive years from 2019 in 'The World's Best Vineyards,' selected by 600 wine experts, making it a popular destination for tourists.

Front view of the Familia Zuccardi winery.

Concrete, a Partner for Transparent Identity Expression

The Uco Valley, where Zuccardi’s winery is located, is the highest area within Mendoza, Argentina’s premier wine region. The altitude ranges from 900 to 1500 meters, with an average annual temperature around 14°C, making it relatively cool. The cool night temperatures at high altitude help maintain acidity and fresh fruit flavors in the grapes, often contributing floral aromas to the wines. Indeed, Malbec wines produced here benefit from the altitude’s acidity, which provides freshness and supports long aging potential.

Additionally, most vineyards in Argentina’s wine regions lie near the Andes Mountains, where intense sunlight creates unique photosynthesis and ripening conditions. Vineyards on mountain slopes receive concentrated direct sunlight, and ultraviolet intensity increases by 10?12% for every 300 meters of elevation gain. To protect against light damage, grapes develop thicker skins, which increases anthocyanins (color pigments), tannins, and aroma and flavor compounds. This results in Argentina’s top-quality Malbecs being characterized by deep color, rich flavors, and excellent structure (tannins).

Mendoza, a major wine region in Argentina. Sucardi's vineyard is located in the Uco Valley in the highlands of Mendoza.

To delicately preserve the terroir of Uco Valley, Zuccardi adopted concrete fermentation vessels instead of stainless steel tanks or oak barrels. Concrete vessels were commonly used for fermentation and aging before stainless steel tanks were developed but fell out of favor due to challenges in maintaining cleanliness and management. However, recently, the thick concrete walls’ ability to regulate temperature during fermentation and aging without expensive temperature control equipment has highlighted their economic and eco-friendly advantages, leading to renewed popularity.

Most importantly, the micro-oxygenation effect that softens tannins is considered the greatest strength of concrete fermenters. Malbec fermented in concrete vessels exhibits softer and cleaner expressions of acidity, minerality, and tannins. Sebastian Zuccardi cited the ability to make wine with minimal intervention as the reason for introducing concrete vessels. He explained, "Concrete does not impart flavors or aromas to the wine and preserves the pure expression of origin. The slight micro-oxygenation allowed by concrete and its excellent thermal stability contribute to better control at every stage of winemaking."

Concrete vessels are generally coated internally with epoxy resin or glass to maintain inertness and act as a waterproof barrier. However, Zuccardi uses uncoated concrete vessels to maximize the texture imparted by the limestone soils. The wine that maximizes the strengths of these concrete vessels is a 100% Malbec named 'Concreto,' crafted to exclude any aromas or flavors not derived from the vineyard.

Concrete fermentation tank of 'Familia Zuccardi'.

Argentina’s Pride, 'Serie A' Crafted from Malbec

Malbec is Argentina’s representative grape variety in both production volume and quality. Originally from Cahors, a wine region in southwestern France, Malbec shines even brighter in Argentina. The name 'Malbec' is a nickname; its official name is 'Cot.' The French name combines 'mal' meaning 'bad' or 'evil' and 'bec' meaning 'mouth' or 'beak.' In Cahors, France, Malbec (Cot) is made into elegant, soft, long-aging wines.

In contrast, Argentine Malbecs are generally made into wines with ink-like deep color, overwhelming rich fruit aromas, and a heavy texture. Even within Argentina, styles vary by altitude: vineyards at lower elevations produce heavier wines emphasizing rich black fruit flavors, while higher-altitude vineyards like Uco Valley produce more elegant and fresh styles, often exhibiting strong floral aromas.

'Zuccardi Serie A Malbec'

Zuccardi’s main lineup is also dominated by Malbec wines. Among them, 'Zuccardi Serie A' is a series designed to showcase the richness of Argentina’s diverse microclimates and soils, named after the first letter 'A' of Argentina. Serie A classifies the best growing regions by variety and selects top vineyards along the Andes foothills, expressing the characteristics of Argentina’s representative grape varieties well.

'Zuccardi Serie A Malbec,' the flagship wine of the series made from 100% Malbec, stands out with its intense and vivid purple color. It features attractive aromas of ripe red fruits like plum and cherry with subtle herbal notes, and on the palate offers round tannins, balanced acidity, and an elegant, refreshing fruity finish, embodying all the charms of Uco Valley Malbec.

"Familia Zuccardi will continue to create, innovate, and push boundaries to develop the unique personality of new Argentine wines," says Sebastian Zuccardi, owner and winemaking director.

Front view of the Familia Zuccardi wine cellar.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.