产区详情

Ugarteche is a small wine-growing sub-region of Mendoza, Argentina. Located at the southern edge of the wider Lujan de Cuyo region at slightly lower altitudes than the rest of the valley, the area produces soft, rich, red wines made from Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The region centers on the small village of Ugarteche on the south-western edge of the Lunlunta hills, 25 miles (40km) south of the city of Mendoza. The Uco Valley is just over the hills in the south, and the foothills of the Andes Mountains, ever present on Mendoza's western horizon, are about 10 miles (16km) away.

Ugarteche sits at around 3000ft (900m) above sea level, at a latitude of 33°S. Locations at low latitudes such as this are generally too hot for grapes to flourish, but the area's high altitude moderates temperatures, creating a balanced climate. Warm, sunny days are followed by nights that are cooled by westerly winds from the mountains, leading to a diurnal temperature variation that extends the ripening period and leads to a balance of sugar and acidity in the grapes.

The alluvial clay and stone soil is sandier here than in the neighboring Agrelo district and is sufficiently well drained to encourage deep root growth, a factor that contributes significantly to vine strength. While rainfall in Ugarteche rarely exceeds eight inches (200mm), snow-melt water is brought to the area via the Tunuyan River, which originates in the Andes.

The area has long been a wine-growing district, although in the past it was more commonly planted with grapes intended for mass-produced wines and grape juice, including Criolla Grande and Cereza.