The stone walls of the Bodega Zuccardi Valle de Uco seem to emerge directly from the ground as if they have always been there, an integral part of the hills at the foot of the Andes. This winery in San Carlos, in the province of Mendoza, was designed by Argentine architect Rafael Iglesia, who chose to build with the same gray volcanic stone that naturally surfaces in the surrounding land. The result is a building that does not impose itself on the landscape but continues it, with low and irregular volumes that follow the contours of the desert terrain.
The Zuccardi family has been producing wine in Argentina for generations, but it is with the Valle de Uco project that they have shifted their focus to the higher altitudes of Mendoza's wine region. The winery is located at about 1,100 meters above sea level, in the Paraje Altamira area, a subzone of San Carlos recognized for the exceptional quality of its alluvial soils and for the temperature variations between day and night that can exceed 20 degrees Celsius. These extreme conditions are exactly what winemakers seek to produce wines with both structure and freshness at the same time.
The terroir of Altamira and high-altitude Malbec
The Malbec is the main grape variety of this winery, but not the generic Malbec found everywhere in Argentina. The one produced in Paraje Altamira has characteristics that clearly distinguish it: deep color, silky tannins, and a mineral vein reminiscent of wet stone, a direct inheritance from the alluvial soils rich in limestone and quartz. The wines of the Zuccardi Valle de Uco line have received significant international recognition, including the title of Winery of the Year awarded by Wine Spectator in 2019, a verifiable fact that attests to the reputation built over the years.
During the visit, one can directly observe how the winery is designed to take advantage of gravity in the production process: the grapes arrive on the upper floor and descend by gravity to the fermentation tanks, avoiding mechanical pumps that could damage the skins and alter the aromas. The tanks themselves, visible through large windows during the tour, are made of concrete and wood, chosen based on the aromatic profile that is desired for each individual vineyard.
The tasting experience
The tasting room is integrated into the stone architecture and offers a direct view of the vineyards and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, which on clear days appear surprisingly close. The guided tastings follow a path that starts with the more accessible wines in the range and progresses to the flagship labels, such as the Zuccardi Finca Piedra Infinita, produced from a single vineyard and considered one of the most sought-after Malbecs in the country. The staff explains the differences between the parcels during the tasting, an approach akin to premier cru Burgundy applied to the Andes.
Visitors to the winery can choose from different experience formats: from a simple tasting with food pairing to more in-depth visits that include a tour among the vines. The in-house restaurant, Piedra Infinita, offers a cuisine that highlights local products from the Cuyo region, with pairings designed to enhance the house wines. Booking the restaurant in advance is almost mandatory, especially during the high season months from October to March.
How to get there and practical advice
The winery is located about 100 kilometers from the city of Mendoza, reachable by taking Provincial Route 92 towards San Carlos. There is no direct bus connection, so the most convenient way to get there is to rent a car in Mendoza or book an organized transfer, a service that many hotels in the city offer as a daily package combined with other wineries in the Uco Valley.
The best time to visit is early morning, when the light on the Andes is clearer and the winery is less crowded. The grape harvest takes place between February and April, during which you can witness the arrival of the grapes and the crushing process, an experience that transforms the visit from a simple tasting to a practical lesson in high-altitude viticulture. Bring a warm layer even in summer: the evenings in Altamira cool down quickly as soon as the sun sets.
What to Expect from the Architecture
Those arriving expecting a traditional winery will be surprised. The building designed by Rafael Iglesia has won the Dedalo Minosse Award, an international recognition for architecture commissioned by private individuals, and is considered one of the most successful examples of integration between contemporary architecture and the natural landscape in South America. The stones used for the construction come from the bed of the nearby Tunuyán River, which means that each block has an irregular and unique shape: walking along the outer walls, one can notice how no course of stones is identical to another.
The interior is deliberately austere, with concrete floors and low ceilings that maintain a stable temperature, functional as much as aesthetic. The winery does not seek to impress with ostentatious luxury, but with the coherence between the place, the production process, and the final product: a philosophy that is clearly read in the glass.
