Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Appellation Gualtallary

According to Brit Tim Atkin, one of the most international wine critics, this is “one of the most attractive terroirs in Argentina”. We are talking about Gualtallary in Argentina, home to high quality wines. This region, located in the Uco Valley, in Mendoza, lies in the west of the province, right on the border with Chile. It is unique because it is one of the highest points in Argentina, and home to vineyards planted between 1000 and 2000 metres above sea level.

The Altos Las Hormigas winery has vineyards growing at an altitude of 1,300 metres above sea level. These vineyards are planted with Malbec growing on sandy loam soils, with a high calcium carbonate component, which gives their wines a fresh and mineral character, with flavours like chalk. This winery was founded in 1995 by winemaker Alberto Antonini and businessman Antonio Morescalchi, and together they place very high importance on the terroir in a region where traditionally much more value has been placed on altitude (the higher, the better quality) and variety (Malbec). Here, the Andes, which create a barrier to the humid winds from the Pacific, and the proximity of the ocean, make for a good climate to grow vines. 

Now, with Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Appellation Gualtallary, the land itself is on show, given space to speak and express itself. To do this, the production process is very important. At Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Appellation Gualtallary the grapes are sorted on a double belt and vatted by gravity into small tanks. There they ferment for 15 days with native yeasts. After this, there is no pumping over and the cap is only moved by manual pigeage. After that, Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Appellation Gualtallary is racked into un-toasted oak foudres, where it ages for 18 months. Before bottling, where it ages for 12 months, the wine is lightly filtered so as not to alter its quality.