his is the southernmost viticultural region in Argentina. The High Valley of Río Negro meets ideal weather conditions for the production of wines that will be the basis for sparkling wines made mainly from the Semillon grape. Likewise, varieties such as Pinot Noir and Merlot manage a balance between sugar and acidity reminiscent of European wines.
The best virtue of the area is the strong wind, as it produces dryness in the environment, thus avoiding the appearance of diseases. This is translated into the possibility of producing organic wines, without the addition of agrochemicals.
The great thermal amplitude- especially in the Fall, when the fruit matures, enables the grape to do so slowly and perform a better accumulation of acid sugars and flavors.
The Bodega Humberto Canale, founded in 1909 by the engineer after whose name the company was baptized, had a fundamental role in the development of viticulture in this region. In this way, the high valley of Río Negro acquired the category of specific terroir , and the grapes grown there were recognized as having the single qualities granted by the geographic location of such region.
Four generations later, the winery combines the founder's craft wisdom with the most modern techniques. The whole infrastructure is addressed to the constant enlargement of its operation capacity in order to assist the increasing export demand especially from Northern Europe and the United States .
Nowadays, the winery is managed by engineer Guillermo Barzi Canale, who together with a highly qualified team, the support of assistants of international prestige and under the protection of the great master Raúl de la Mota, form a group that harmonizes efforts in order to obtain the best viticulture of the cold areas.
It belongs to new winemakers that work with the same passion and tradition as the first immigrants who dared to cultivate these lands to plant the vines.
The Bodega Estepa vines are located in two Patagonian environments with antagonic features:
* the Alto Valle area, on the northern bank of the Negro River, where the weather is more humid and less hostile, with vineyards over 45 years old, characterized for being protected from the wind and for responding to traditional ridge type plantation systems. This area includes 50 hectares of vines, with Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon and Torrontés vineyards.
* and the steppe area, on the southern bank of the Negro River, where the weather is very dry and the soil very wild, in a picturesque site of 100 hectares with non-traditional vineyards. There, grapes co-exist with the local flora made up by jarillas, chañares, cactus varieties and wild fruit, sharing the same weather inclemencies with them. In these vineyards, growers aim at capturing the spirit of the Patagonian nature, the wilderness, the extreme.
The merge of these two vines, in addition to the technological advances implemented in the winemaking area, give way to limited productions of exclusive excellent wines that carry the history of each of the vintages, thus obtaining a moderate but strong wine, slightly sweet in the palate but with a remarkable influence of tannins -purely and entirely Patagonian.
En Buenos Aires: Carlos Pellegrini 961 - Piso 1 Tel: +54 (02941) 15-53-0412 E-mail
The Noemía winery project is the result of the discovery of an ancient vineyard, planted with Malbec grapes in the 1930s, in a remote nook of the Río Negro Valley. The arid weather of the area, the great amplitude between day and night temperatures, the well-defined seasons and the area free of any disease did the rest.
Countess Noemí Marine Cinzano, famous producer of Italian wines and Danish winemaker Hans Vinding-Diers, were partners in this project. They perceived the fitness of the place and the perfect micro-climate of the valley for the production of high-quality wines.
The vineyard occupies only 1.5 hectares, has been planted with Malbec pre-philloxera vines from the Massale selection and it is irrigated only 5 times a year. After ripening, grapes are collected at dawn, by hand, and then transported directly to the winery. All the production of Noemía de la Patagonia wines is purely handmade, without the intervention of any machine whatsoever. The endless commitment between winemakers, the effort and desire to make old style wines and the reliability of its owners in this delicate undertaking give origin to a rich, complex, concentrated, exuberant, delicate, elegant but, above all, genuine Malbec. All the production is exported directly to England.
The Agrestis S.A. vineyards and wineries are located 3 kilometers from the city of General Roca, in Alto Valle del Río Negro.
This area of the country is characterized by dry continental weather, scarce rainfalls, good sunshine, and a great temperature extremes during the grape ripening period. These features, along with the alluvial soils, allow the growing of fine vines that give origin to quite balanced wines. The Agrestis S.A. vines were imported from France in 1994 and planted in a 11-hectare surface. Among the varieties grown, the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes -used to make base wines for champagne- and Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir -used to make varietal wines- stand out.
A delicate storage and the most committed dedication from its makers have managed to produce around 30,000 bottles of NG Champagne per year, made with a Chardonnay - Pinot Noir blend, with the traditional champenoise bottle fermentation method, completely handcrafted. The most outstanding feature of this champagne is its intense yellow color, with greenish shades and a fine constant pearly texture. Its aroma reminds tasters of fruit such as bananas. It is balanced in the mouth, soft, with a fine dryness typical of champagne nature.
Besides, Agrestis S.A produces some 10,000 delicious bottles of Agrestis Pinot Noir, a varietal 100% aged in French oak casks, bottled without being filtered. This wine has a red ruby color, and the aroma of berries such as cassis, raspberries, currants and a smoked aftertaste. If you choose this alternative, remember to serve it at 18ºC.
his is the southernmost viticultural region in Argentina. The High Valley of Río Negro meets ideal weather conditions for the production of wines that will be the basis for sparkling wines made mainly from the Semillon grape. Likewise, varieties such as Pinot Noir and Merlot manage a balance between sugar and acidity reminiscent of European wines.
