Fabre Montmayou
How to say it
The Bordeaux-born visionary who helped put Argentine Malbec on the world map, crafting old-vine wines from Vistalba and Patagonia.
Fabre Montmayou is a pioneering Argentine boutique winery founded by Bordeaux winemaker Hervé Joyaux Fabre in the early 1990s. Operating two wineries across 339 acres in Mendoza and Patagonia, the estate is anchored by Malbec vines planted in 1908 in Vistalba.
- Founded in the early 1990s by Hervé Joyaux Fabre, a French winemaker from Bordeaux
- Original Malbec vineyard in Vistalba planted in 1908; first 15 hectares among the oldest in Luján de Cuyo
- Operates two wineries: Vistalba in Mendoza (Luján de Cuyo) and Rio Negro in Patagonia
- Total estate covers 339 acres: 217 acres in Mendoza, 122 acres in Patagonia
- Pioneered single varietal Malbec winemaking in Argentina
- Wines sold in over 20 countries; awarded multiple Decanter Gold Trophies
- Hervé Joyaux Fabre recognized as Best Winemaker in Argentina
History and Founding
Fabre Montmayou was founded in the early 1990s when Hervé Joyaux Fabre, a winemaker from Bordeaux, arrived in Argentina and purchased old Malbec vineyards in Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo. The original 15 hectares of Malbec vines date to 1908, making them among the oldest in the region. Fabre is recognized as a pioneer of the modern Argentine wine industry, helping establish Malbec as a world-class single varietal. Diane Fabre is a partner in the business. The winery later expanded to Rio Negro in Patagonia, establishing a second production facility.
- Founded in the early 1990s by Hervé Joyaux Fabre of Bordeaux
- Core Vistalba vineyard contains Malbec vines planted in 1908
- Fabre is credited as a pioneer of modern Argentine winemaking
- Diane Fabre serves as a business partner in the estate
Vineyards and Terroir
The estate spans 339 acres across two distinct Argentine wine regions. The Mendoza holdings cover 217 acres in Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo, at 1,150 meters elevation. Soils here are stony and alluvial, characteristic of the high-altitude piedmont. The climate offers long, dry, and mild autumns that allow gradual phenolic development. The Patagonian vineyards in Alto Valle de Rio Negro cover 122 acres and offer a contrasting cool climate, with sunny days and cold austral nights that preserve natural acidity in the grapes.
- Vistalba vineyards sit at 1,150 meters (3,800 feet) in Luján de Cuyo
- Soils are stony and alluvial in Mendoza; desert soils in Patagonia
- Patagonia's cool climate produces wines with high natural acidity
- Mendoza's long, mild autumns favor gradual, complete ripening
Grapes and Winemaking
Malbec is the flagship variety, grown on vines dating to 1908 in Vistalba. The estate also cultivates Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, reflecting Fabre's Bordeaux heritage and enabling both single varietal and blended wines. Torrontes is grown in Patagonia, adding a white wine dimension to the portfolio. Winemaking follows a fruit-driven philosophy with French oak barrel aging, combining modern technique with old-vine terroir expression.
- Malbec anchors the portfolio, with old vines from 1908 in Vistalba
- Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot) support blends
- Torrontes grown in Patagonia for aromatic white wines
- French oak used for barrel aging, with a fruit-forward winemaking approach
Have a bottle from this producer?
Scan the label or type the name. Instant sommelier-level context for any bottle.
Open in the app →Recognition and Legacy
Fabre Montmayou has achieved international acclaim since its founding, with wines distributed in over 20 countries. The estate has received multiple Decanter Gold Trophies and Hervé Joyaux Fabre has been recognized as Best Winemaker in Argentina. The winery operates under alternate names including Bodegas Fabre Montmayou, Bodegas Fabre S.A., and Domaine Vistalba, reflecting the dual-region identity of the estate.
- Wines exported to more than 20 countries worldwide
- Multiple Decanter Gold Trophies awarded to the estate
- Hervé Joyaux Fabre named Best Winemaker in Argentina
- Also known as Domaine Vistalba and Bodegas Fabre S.A.
Fabre Montmayou wines are fruit-driven with Bordeaux-influenced structure. Vistalba Malbec from old vines shows deep color, plum and dark berry fruit, and firm but integrated tannins from French oak aging. Patagonian wines offer brighter acidity and lifted aromatics from the cool-climate Alto Valle de Rio Negro.
- Fabre Montmayou Reserva Malbec$15-20Entry-level Luján de Cuyo Malbec showing the estate's fruit-driven style with French oak structure.Find →
- Fabre Montmayou Gran Reserva Malbec$25-35Old-vine Vistalba Malbec aged in French oak, expressing deep fruit and Bordeaux-influenced complexity.Find →
- Domaine Vistalba Corte A$55-70Flagship Bordeaux-style blend from 1908 Vistalba vines, showcasing the estate's top terroir expression.Find →
- Founded early 1990s by Hervé Joyaux Fabre (Bordeaux origin); a key figure in modernizing Argentine wine
- Core Vistalba vineyard: Malbec vines planted 1908, elevation 1,150m, stony alluvial soils in Luján de Cuyo
- Two-winery operation: Mendoza (217 acres) and Patagonia/Rio Negro (122 acres); total 339 acres
- Pioneered single varietal Malbec as a world-class category in Argentina
- Awards include multiple Decanter Gold Trophies; Fabre named Best Winemaker in Argentina