Rutini Wines

The Rutini winemaking tradition traces back to early 19th-century Le Marche, Italy, where Francisco Rutini produced wines in his native Ascoli Piceno. His son Felipe attended the Royal School of Agriculture at Ascoli Piceno, then emigrated to Mendoza in 1884, founding Bodega La Rural in Coquimbito, Maipú in 1885. In 1910 Felipe inaugurated expanded facilities and imported state-of-the-art European equipment to produce Argentina's first high-end wines. After his death in 1919, his widow Ernesta and sons Francisco, Italo, and Oscar continued the business. In 1925 the family planted the first vineyards in the Uco Valley, a move that seeded an entire region's reputation. The iconic Felipe Rutini label was conceived in 1981 and released in 1985 to mark the winery's 100th anniversary.

• Felipe Rutini (1866-1919) arrived in Mendoza in 1884; founded Bodega La Rural in Coquimbito, Maipú in 1885 under the motto 'Labor and Perseverance'
• In 1910 Felipe inaugurated expanded facilities and imported European equipment to produce Argentina's first high-end wines
• In 1925 the Rutini family planted the first vineyards in Tupungato, Uco Valley, pioneering one of Argentina's most important wine regions
• The Felipe Rutini label was first produced in 1981 and released in 1985 to commemorate the winery's centenary

Rutini's 400-plus hectares of Uco Valley vineyards span three distinct estates at altitude. Gualtallary in Tupungato (150 ha, planted 1998) sits at 1,180 to 1,270 meters on stony, well-drained soils and produces mineral-driven Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Paraje Altamira (70 ha) lies at 1,100 meters with stony soils and is certified organic, planted to Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Tannat, Gewürztraminer, and Petit Verdot. La Consulta in San Carlos (30 ha) sits at around 950 meters on loamy, clayey soils in one of the valley's oldest producing areas. High diurnal temperature ranges, low rainfall, and controlled irrigation across all sites create the long, slow ripening cycle that defines Uco Valley style.

• Gualtallary (Tupungato): 150 ha at 1,180-1,270 m, stony alluvial soils, planted 1998; source of Single Vineyard Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon
• Paraje Altamira: 70 ha at 1,100 m, stony soils, certified organic; planted to 11 varieties including Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc
• La Consulta (San Carlos): 30 ha at 950 m, loamy-clayey soils, one of the valley's oldest-established growing areas
• Uco Valley altitude range of 950-1,500 m delivers high diurnal temperature variation, preserving natural acidity and aromatic precision

Rutini's portfolio is clearly tiered from the approachable Trumpeter and Encuentro lines up through the ultra-premium Antología. The flagship Felipe Rutini is a Bordeaux-blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, conceived in 1981 and first released in 1985. The Apartado range, launched in 1997, takes its name from the Spanish verb 'apartar' (to set apart) and was born when the winery owner noticed Di Paola had been setting aside exceptional barrels; its composition varies by vintage to reflect the best barrels of each harvest. Antología, also launched in 1997, is the ultra-premium limited edition series identified by Roman numerals; no two editions share the same blend. The Single Vineyard range identifies specific estate sources and has garnered top international awards, including Best in Show at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards for the Gualtallary Malbec 2021.

• Felipe Rutini: Flagship Bordeaux blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec); first produced 1981, released 1985 for winery centenary; ranked among South America's top 50 wines
• Apartado: Launched 1997; vintage-variable composition drawn from finest barrels; includes Gran Malbec, Gran Blend, and Gran Chardonnay expressions
• Antología: Ultra-premium, Roman-numeral-designated limited editions launched 1997; no two editions share the same varietal blend
• Single Vineyard range: Terroir-specific releases from Gualtallary and Paraje Altamira; Gualtallary Malbec 2021 won Best in Show at 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards
• Colección Rutini, Encuentro, Dominio, and Trumpeter lines form the approachable and mid-range tiers; total output approximately 8 million liters annually

Mariano Di Paola, head winemaker since 1993, has defined Rutini's house style for over three decades through a philosophy of constant experimentation and precision viticulture. The modern Tupungato winery, which began construction in October 2008 and has operated since the 2009 vintage, was designed by Di Paola to move all grapes by gravity rather than pumps. It features Argentina's first optical sorting system, rotating truncated conical fermenters, conical stainless steel tanks, concrete eggs, and unique diamond-shaped tanks designed and patented by Di Paola himself. A temperature-controlled cellar holds 600 French oak barrels, and the facility has capacity for 400,000 bottles of sparkling wine per year. In 2015 Decanter named Di Paola one of the world's top 30 winemakers; in 2018 Tim Atkin MW awarded him Winemaker of the Year. The winery has also earned certification under the Bodegas de Argentina Sustainability Protocol.

• Mariano Di Paola, head winemaker since 1993; Decanter top-30 winemaker (2015); Tim Atkin MW Winemaker of the Year (2018); also a former professor at Don Bosco University
• Tupungato winery (construction began 2008, operational 2009 vintage): full gravity-flow handling, Argentina's first optical grape sorting system
• Unique diamond-shaped fermentation tanks designed and patented by Di Paola; also uses concrete eggs, rotating truncated conical fermenters, and stainless steel tanks
• Temperature-controlled cellar with 600 French oak barrels; capacity for 400,000 bottles of sparkling wine annually
• Certified under the Bodegas de Argentina Sustainability Protocol; ongoing carbon and water footprint reduction initiatives

Rutini wines are built around the Argentine table but reach well beyond it. The Trumpeter and Colección Rutini Malbecs pair naturally with asado-style grilled beef, chimichurri-dressed short ribs, and herb-crusted lamb. The Single Vineyard reds, with their high-altitude mineral precision and fine tannins, complement umami-rich preparations such as mushroom risotto, aged hard cheeses, and charcuterie boards. The Apartado and Felipe Rutini blends have the structure and concentration to stand alongside game meats, braised short rib, and sophisticated herb or truffle-based sauces. The Antología's complexity and bottle age make it a candidate for slow-cooked preparations where layers of flavor can mirror the wine's own evolution on the palate.

• Trumpeter and Colección Malbec: Grilled beef asado, chimichurri lamb, empanadas, aged provolone
• Single Vineyard Malbec and Cabernet Franc: Mushroom-based dishes, charcuterie, aged hard cheeses, herb-crusted meats
• Apartado and Felipe Rutini blend: Braised short rib, game meats, truffle-based sauces, aged Gruyère
• Antología: Slow-cooked or long-braised preparations; fine-dining contexts where complex, aged wines are celebrated

The original Bodega La Rural in Coquimbito underwent a full renovation in the 1990s, preserving its 19th-century architecture while incorporating modern technology. Today the property houses the Bodega La Rural Wine Museum, widely cited as the largest wine museum in South America. The collection, assembled by Dr. Rodolfo Reina Rutini (Felipe's grandson), totals approximately 4,500 original historic pieces spanning machines, carriages, colonial-era terracotta containers, oak vessels, coopering tools, and oenological instruments. The museum attracts tens of thousands of tourists annually and stands as a living record of Mendoza's viticultural history alongside Rutini's own. Recent years have seen the winery grow its team, with new winemaking talent joining Di Paola to carry the legacy forward.

• Original Bodega La Rural (1885, Coquimbito) renovated in the 1990s; now houses the largest wine museum in South America
• Museum collection of approximately 4,500 historic pieces assembled by Dr. Rodolfo Reina Rutini, Felipe's grandson
• Modern Tupungato winery opened 2009; produces the entire premium-and-above portfolio from 400-plus hectares of Uco Valley fruit
• In 2025, the winery expanded its winemaking team with new head of winemaking Juan Pablo Murgia (Tim Atkin MW Winemaker of the Year) and first oenologist Martina Galeano (UC Davis Masters)