Achaval-Ferrer

Achaval-Ferrer began in 1998 as a collaboration between two Argentine businessmen, Santiago Achaval and Manuel Ferrer, and two Italian friends, Tiziano Siviero and consultant winemaker Roberto Cipresso. The original plan was to bring Roberto to Argentina and plant new vineyards, but in 1998 Cipresso discovered the neglected Altamira site and persuaded Achaval to purchase it. The debut wine, Finca Altamira 1999, immediately made history as the first Latin American wine to receive 5 Decanter stars. In 2011, the founders sold the winery to SPI Group's Tenute del Mondo wine division. Gustavo Rearte serves as head winemaker, and Santiago Achaval remained as president until 2013.

• Founded 1998 by Argentines Santiago Achaval and Manuel Ferrer alongside Italians Tiziano Siviero and Roberto Cipresso
• Debut wine Finca Altamira 1999: first Latin American wine to receive 5 Decanter stars
• Acquired in 2011 by SPI Group via its Tenute del Mondo wine division, alongside Ornellaia and Masseto
• Physical winery constructed in 2006 in Lujan de Cuyo, with a view over the vineyards toward the Andes

Achaval-Ferrer's reputation rests on three distinct Finca vineyards, each expressing a radically different Malbec character. Finca Bella Vista, planted in 1910 on the south bank of the Mendoza River in Perdriel (Lujan de Cuyo), sits at 990m on clay-loam soils over a bed of eroded river rocks. Finca Mirador, planted in 1921 in Medrano, Maipú, lies at around 750m in an ancient dry riverbed with deep sandy soils; cooling night breezes preserve natural acidity in fully ripe fruit. Finca Altamira, planted in 1950 at 1,100m in the Paraje Altamira zone of the Uco Valley, features a shallow surface of limestone and volcanic ash over layers of eroded volcanic rock. Each of the three Finca wines is produced in strictly limited quantities; the 2019 vintage yielded just 6,710 bottles of Bella Vista, 4,220 of Mirador, and 9,468 of Altamira.

• Bella Vista (1910, Perdriel, 990m): clay-loam soils over river rock; elegant, aromatic style with silky tannins and juicy acidity
• Mirador (1921, Medrano, 750m): ancient dry riverbed with sandy soils; cool nights preserve acidity in a monolithic, spice-driven Malbec
• Altamira (1950, Uco Valley, 1,100m): shallow limestone and volcanic ash over volcanic rock; mineral, citrus, and balsamic character
• Ultra-low yields from ungrafted, century-old vines; phylloxera kept at bay naturally by flood irrigation with Andean snowmelt

Fermentation at Achaval-Ferrer takes place in epoxy-lined concrete tanks at warm temperatures of up to 32.5 degrees Celsius, which helps disperse alcohol alongside evaporating water while keeping extraction gentle. The team practices a deliberate hands-off approach throughout the process. All wines are bottled without fining or filtering, preserving the subtle aromatic and textural qualities that define each vineyard site. Oak aging ranges from approximately 9 to 18 months in French barrels depending on the wine. For the Finca series, the shift toward incorporating used barrels from the 2018 vintage onward allows the vineyard character to speak more clearly. Precise furrow irrigation using Andean snowmelt, rather than general flooding, is used to manage vine water needs while supporting the ungrafted vine populations.

• Fermentation in epoxy-lined concrete tanks at up to 32.5°C for color and flavor extraction while managing alcohol
• Minimal intervention: no fining or filtering before bottling, preserving terroir character and aging potential
• French oak aging ranges from 9 to 18 months by wine tier; Finca series shifted toward used barrels from 2018 to emphasize vineyard expression
• Precise furrow irrigation with Andean snowmelt channels protects ungrafted vines from phylloxera naturally

Achaval-Ferrer's Finca wines consistently rank among the most critically acclaimed Malbecs in the world. The inaugural Finca Altamira 1999 was the first Latin American wine to earn 5 Decanter stars. The 2009 Finca Altamira received 99 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, one of only two Argentine wines ever to do so at that time. The 2010 Finca Bella Vista earned 95 points and the #10 spot in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2012, the first time an Argentine wine achieved that ranking. In 2013, the 2010 Finca Altamira was named Best Malbec in the World by Wine and Spirits magazine. As of 2023, Achaval-Ferrer ranks second among Ultra-Premium Argentine brands in the IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

• Finca Altamira 1999: first Latin American wine to earn 5 Decanter stars; debut wine that established the winery's international standing
• 2009 Finca Altamira: 99 Robert Parker points, one of only two Argentine wines ever to reach that score at the time
• 2010 Finca Bella Vista: 95 Wine Spectator points, #10 Top 100 of 2012; first Argentine wine to achieve that ranking
• 2010 Finca Altamira named Best Malbec in the World by Wine and Spirits magazine in 2013; ranked 2nd Ultra-Premium Argentine brand, IWSR 2023

Achaval-Ferrer produces wines across three clear tiers. The Mendoza Malbec is the entry-level wine, blending fruit from multiple zones including Lujan de Cuyo, Maipú, and the Uco Valley, with around 60% estate fruit. Quimera is a Malbec-dominant Bordeaux-style blend of Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, with the blend shifting each vintage; in 2020 it was 48% Malbec, 13% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The three Finca single-vineyard Malbecs represent the pinnacle, all from ungrafted vines more than 70 years old. In 2022 the winery released its first white wine, Quimera White, a blend of 63% Chardonnay, 23% Semillon, 10% Viognier, and 4% Sauvignon Blanc. A fourth Finca wine is currently in development.

• Mendoza Malbec: entry-level blend from multiple zones, approximately 60% estate fruit, aged in French oak
• Quimera: Malbec-dominant Bordeaux blend; 2020 composition was 48% Malbec, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
• Finca trio: Bella Vista, Mirador, and Altamira; single-vineyard Malbecs from ungrafted vines dating to 1910, 1921, and 1950 respectively
• Quimera White 2022: first white wine in the winery's history; 63% Chardonnay, 23% Semillon, 10% Viognier, 4% Sauvignon Blanc

Achaval-Ferrer's vineyards are entirely ungrafted, with the oldest parcels dating to 1910. In Mendoza, flood irrigation from Andean snowmelt prevents phylloxera from surviving in the soil, allowing vines to remain on their own roots. Within individual vineyard blocks, the natural genetic diversity of clones accumulated over more than a century contributes directly to complexity in the finished wines. Gustavo Rearte, as head winemaker, oversees a philosophy centered on allowing this viticultural heritage to express itself with as little intervention as possible. The Finca trilogy has been distributed to more than 35 markets worldwide, and the estate has confirmed a fourth Finca wine is in development, reinforcing its long-term commitment to single-vineyard terroir expression.

• All Finca vineyards are ungrafted pre-phylloxera vines; flood irrigation with Andean snowmelt prevents phylloxera survival
• Natural clone diversity within century-old blocks contributes layered complexity impossible to replicate with modern plantings
• Head winemaker Gustavo Rearte leads minimal-intervention approach respecting the identity of each distinct site
• Finca wines distributed across more than 35 markets; a fourth Finca wine is currently in development