Andeluna

#RecommendedbyWAE: ANDELUNA

At Wines Argentina Express, we are always committed to our province and to the tourists who visit it. This time, we take you to visit Andeluna winery. 

Location: Ruta Provincial 89 s/n. Distrito de Gualtallary. Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina.

A BRIEF FAMILY HISTORY

In the middle of the 90’s, Ward Lay, a North American decided to invest in Argentina, a country and its people that he admired greatly. Lay stemmed from a family who had great knowledge of the consumer market as his father was the founder of Frito-Lay and prior to that, president of PepsiCo. With access to resources and experience to make his venture a success, Ward Lay ventured in the world of wine. And thus Andeluna was conceived in 2003 along with learned people in the trade, in this case the Reina Rutini Family who were partners initially. The venture was housed in the best winelands in Argentina, in the Uco-Gualtallary Valley with international wine expert Michel Rolland heading up the project.

In October, 2011, Ward Lay passed away. The wine estate, however, continued to be managed by a dedicated and professional team who were committed to the same excellence as their founder. Lay’s heirs, at his request, decided to transfer his assets to people who were dedicated to his ideals and principles. The Barale family from the energy sector in Brazil as well as the wine sector in Argentina became the likely heirs. And within a short space of time, the Barale family took over the running of Andeluna.

The Barale family took over the running of the business and placed a strong focus on the human side as well as on the investments necessary for the wine estate and the cellars. The estate’s current objectives are to preserve the infrastructure necessary to produce wines of excellence as well as maintaining its image, along the lines laid down by Andeluna’s founders, maintaining its ideas and its inalterable principles.

Today Andeluna is a consolidated group. The estate has two areas of production: the first, and most important, is situated in Gualtallary, 10km from the town of Tupungato in the Uco Valley in the province of Mendoza while the second is close to Villa Atuel in the south of the same province with a bottling capacity of 2.300.000 liters. Andeluna is firmly rooted in Argentina as well as in 30 markets abroad with the firm conviction to being a reference to quality wine, locally as well as internationally. The wine estate in Mendoza is also a sought-after tourist destination within the province of Mendoza.

WHY THE NAME ANDELUNA?

Wine is conceived at the intersection of the real with the mystique.

ANDE: a combination of mountain, unique soil, water, altitude and man’s knowledge.

LUNA: a place of inspiration and magic, indispensable ingredients for the creation of a great wine.

ANDELUNA'S TERROIR

NATURE AT ITS PEAK

Our conception of piece of land goes beyond any theoretical definition and has much to do with the sensitivity that we feel in each natural element that interacts as the center of attention to reveal our identity. Weather, Soil, Vine, Human Being, Area, Flora and Fauna; all these converge and they fuse giving harmony between the physical and the biological thing to the point of which a grape has in all its creation that tumultuous information that then when it becomes wine, it will stop being…to express through the most exquisite definition something that for us is so simple: our Terroir. Terroir means that the wines from a specific area have unique characteristics defined by their soils, their weather, and the water that irrigates to the vineyards.

Andeluna is located in an almost 200 acres ranch above 1300 meters, in Gualtallary, Tupungato. The wines from this small region, coming from a very fresh area of Mendoza, offer a distinctive feature for its exceptional intensity in color, aromatic expression and structure.

Gualtallary defines itself by its altitute, extreme range of temperature – cold nights, extreme daily light-, rocky and downpours soils; an excellent underground drainage and rain shortage, these characteristics turn this area ecologically ideal for the growth of a healthy vine, without illnesses and it allows to harvest grapes in the perfect time of ripening.

Moreover, Gualtallary has a soil that gives special qualities to the wine. In between rocks, through sands, from time to time there is limestone. This calcareous soil makes the difference: there you find the structure. Those soils, hard to penetrate make the roots of the vines difficult to find depth and thus, they are not

fertile. This produces wines with great concentration.

For this reason, it is the Terroir chosen to create original wines and of great personality, where it dominates freshness and mineral characteristics of its soils.

“A glass of wine talks about its origin, of its place. It reveals autumm sensations after a austere vintage and it gives back fragances of deep soil and its suffered roots stones; the vibe of that man’s hands that makes worthy each bundle, in each bunch; the freshness of water which is vital and that is why it scarces. A place that identifies itself and which we adore because we are that place, because we feel Terroir.”
Manuel Gonzalez

In Andeluna vineyards, first quality grapes are obtained from vines of different ages planted by Italian inmigrants descendants, pioneers of the Argentine wine-making industry. By a careful canopy irrigation use, the grapes coming from small bunches of low production by acre.

During the farming time a polyphenolic maturity process is performed through daily tastings. The grapes are harvested manually, early in the mornings, and then they are placed in bins for a careful selection in the winery.

PHOTO GALLERY

ACTIVITIES IN THE WINERY

RESTAURANT 

6 COURSE MENU – SUMMER 2019

– Avocado Gazpacho, Poached Tomatoes, Roasted Caramelized Pistachios and Basil Ice cream.

ANDELUNA 1300 SAUVIGNON BLANC

– Rice Noodle Nest, Smoked Trout, Basil, Thyme and Mint Emulsion.

ANDELUNA MALBEC ROSÉ

– Confit Goat, Apples in 3 types of cooking, “Jarilla” Syrup Reduction and Goat Demi Glace Sauce.

ANDELUNA ALTITUD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 

– Filet Mignon, Zucchini Risotto and Brie Cheese.

PASIONADO CUATRO CEPAS

– Lavender Parfait, Honey and Saffron.

ANDELUNA 1300 TORRONTÉS

– White Chocolate Soup, Black Chocolate Mousse, Carob Bean, Orange and Ginger Sorbet.

ANDELUNA ALTITUD MERLOT

To check other alternatives and prices, visit the Andeluna page

TASTINGS

2 varietals of the 1300 Line

2 varietals of the Altitud Line

Pasionado Cuatro Cepas

Served with: mineral water, walnuts and raisings.

To check other alternatives and prices, visit the Andeluna page

COOKING CLASS

Be part of our kitchen secrets, from the beginning to the end

The activity takes place during the morning. The class begins at 10 am and ends at 12:30, when the restaurant opens. The guest will be involved in the preparation of the mise en place of some of the most characteristic course of the 6 courses tasting Menu. He also will learn how to make the traditional ´empanada´ mendocina. Then we will give him unusual ingredients to create his own version of it. He will be witness and part of the making of.

At the beginning will be an informative meeting with the chef and rest of the staff. With a glass a wine and a relaxed atmosphere, the guest will enjoy participating and knowing the kitchen secrets from inside. Always will be a perfect moment to take pictures and have fun! After the class, the guest will enjoy the complete menu on a table with a privilege sitting.

To check other alternatives and prices, visit the Andeluna page

BLENDING GAME

We invite you to create your own wine and label.

Be a winemaker for a day!

The visitor creates his own wine blend, while playing to be a winemaker, learning the differences between the varietals and challenging the structures. The activity is led by an Andeluna guide at all times. It takes place in the gardens, in the central living room or in our underground cellar.

To check other alternatives and prices, visit the Andeluna page

ANDELUNA'S BEST WINES

PASIONADO - CUATRO CEPAS

Tim Atkin 94 pts. vintage 15

Decanter Wine Awards, 92 pts. SILVER MEDAL vintage 14

Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Michael Schachner, 92 pts. vintage 14

Tim Atkin, 94 pts. vintage 14

James Suckling, 91 pts.vintage 14

Decanter Wine Awards, GOLD MEDAL 95 pts.vintage 13

Guia Descorchados, 94 pts.vintage 13

James Suckling, 95 pts.vintage 13

Tim Atkin, 95 pts. Argentina Best Red Blendsvintage 13

Guia Descorchados, 93 pts. vintage 13

PASIONADO - MALBEC

Tim Atkin 94 pts. vintage 15

Decanter Wine Awards, 92 pts. SILVER MEDAL vintage 14

Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Michael Schachner, 92 pts. vin. 14

Tim Atkin, 94 pts. vintage 14

James Suckling, 91 pts.vintage 14

Decanter Wine Awards, GOLD MEDAL 95 pts.vintage 13

Guia Descorchados, 94 pts.vintage 13

James Suckling, 95 pts.vintage 13

Tim Atkin, 95 pts. Argentina Best Red Blendsvintage 13

Guia Descorchados, 93 pts. vintage 13

PASIONADO - CABERNET FRANC

Tim Atkin 96 pts., vintage 15

James Suckling 95 pts., vintage 15

Decanter Wine Awards, 92 pts. SILVER MEDAL, vintage 14

James Suckling 91 pts., vintage 14

Descorchados, 93 pts., BEST CAB FRANCS, vintage 14

Tim Atkin, 93 pts., vintage 14

Decanter Wine Awards, 93 pts.,, vintage 13

James Suckling, 95 pts., vintage 13

Tim Atkin, 92 pts., Argentina Best Other Reds, vintage 13

Guia Descorchados, 92 pts., vintage 13