Antucura winery, founded by Gerardo Cartellone and Anne-Caroline Bianchieri in 1998, is one of the flagship wineries in Argentina and I am happy to introduce you to the story of two remarkable people.
Gerardo Cartellone, coming from an Argentine industrialist family (agriculture, energy supply and construction industry), is familiar with viticulture since his early childhood. His grandparents who imigrated from Italy at the beginning of last century had laid the foundation for this family tradition and had planted their first own vines in Argentina.
His wife Anne-Caroline Biancheri is a successful entrepreneur with an own publishing company in Buenos Aires. She acquired her interest for fruit- and viticulture as well from early childhood, having grown up on her parent´s farm.
With Gerardo´s and Anne-Caroline´s own common winery project in Argentina the couple had two fundamental aims: they wanted their children to be able to grow up in a natural environment far from life in the big city and furthermore they wanted to make one of the best ultra-premium wines in Argentina. The impressively beautiful piece of land by Tunuyán in the Uco Valley at the foot of the Andes mountains in the province of Mendoza seemed just perfect for their plans. Seven years later, in 2003, the first Antucura Blend was created and could fully step up to the high expectations. Antucura means „stone of the sun“ in ancient Mapudungun, the language of the indigenous inhabitants of this beautiful and still quite aboriginal region. As a matter of fact, the entire property which surrounds 100 hectares, is dominated by fist big round stones which have become the trademark of the winery. Due to this poor, alluvial soil, the dry and healthy climate and the high thermal amplitude between hot days and cool nights the grapes are of an exceptional quality. Enologist Jean-Hugues Matteini and enologist consultant Michel Rolland work the grapes, which belong to the most high quality grapes in Argentina, with special care making use of gravity flow instead of pumps which means that the berries are treated as gently as possible during the entire production. Antucura concentrates exclusively on the elaboration of red varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (the clones were selected in Pomerol, France), Malbec, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
For those who would like to see the wonderful place in the Uco Valley with their own eyes, get to know the great wines and experience the fantastic hospitality of Gerardo and Anne-Caroline have the chance to stay at their new lodge „Casa Antucura“ amidst the vineyards with the most stunning view of the Andes mountains.



 
50% Cabernet Sauvignon 50% Merlot
Vineyards: Tunuyán, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Altitud: 1000m
Soil: mixed alluvial soil (clay, pebbles, rocks)
Yield: max. 6.000 kilos per hectare
Production: 10.000 bottles
Harvest: Manual
Fermentation: fermentation at 24 - 26° C in stainless steel tanks. Extended maceration for 30 - 45 days. Natural malolactic fermentation
Aging: 16 months in new French oak barrels
Bottle aging: 12 months
Winemaker: Jean-Hugues Matteini

Description: Intense ruby red with violet hues. Elegant nose with aromas of red fruit and berries, delicate spice and toasted notes. Fullbodied, with an elegant long finish

 
50% Merlot 40% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Malbec
Vineyards: Tunuyán, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Altitud: 1000m
Soil: mixed alluvial soil (clay, pebbles, rocks)
Yield: max. 6.000 kilos per hectare
Production: 25.000 bottles
Harvest: Manual
Fermentation: fermentation at 24 - 26° C in stainless steel tanks. Extended maceration for 30 - 45 days. Natural malolactic fermentation
Aging: 65% of the wine for 10 months in French oak barrels
Bottle aging: 12 months
Winemaker: Jean-Hugues Matteini

Description: Intense ruby red with violet hues. Complex nose of ripe berries, raspberry marmalade, eucalyptus and hints of chocolate and vanilla. Soft and sweet tannins with a wonderful minerality and a persistent finish.