Terrazas de los Andes

The story of Terrazas de los Andes begins in 1992, when Hervé Birnie-Scott was sent to Argentina by Moët Hennessy to develop premium still wines complementing Chandon Argentina's sparkling wine production. After years of exploration across Mendoza's high-altitude foothills, the winery was formally established in 1996 at the La Perla estate in Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo, restoring a Spanish-style winery building constructed in 1898. The first Reserva Malbec vintage was produced in 1996 and introduced to the market in 1999. The estate was acquired by LVMH in 2008 and today operates under Estate Director Lucas Löwi, who leads a team committed to regenerative viticulture across the entire 500-hectare estate.

• Named for the distinctive Andean terraces, both geological and human-made, that define the stepped landscape of the eastern Andean foothills
• Founded as the premium still wine counterpart to Chandon Argentina, which was established in 1960 as Moët Hennessy's first international subsidiary
• Original vision centered on altitude as the key quality driver, systematically exploring how elevation refines Malbec's character and builds wines with international aging potential

The winery's defining characteristic is its systematic ascent through Mendoza's altitude bands. Vineyards begin at 980 meters in Perdriel and climb to 1,650 meters at El Espinillo in Gualtallary, the highest productive vineyard in the Uco Valley. Each site was acquired in stages as the team pushed higher: Las Compuertas was the first discovery, with ungrafted vines planted in 1929; Los Castaños in Paraje Altamira followed in 2006; Licán in Los Chacayes in 2007; and finally El Espinillo in Gualtallary in 2008. The estate also farms a Torrontés vineyard in Cafayate, Salta, at 1,800 meters. At these elevations, cool nights and intense Andean sunlight extend ripening seasons, preserving natural acidity while developing concentrated fruit and aromatics. Alluvial soils at Las Compuertas are composed of sand (36%), limestone (48%), and clay (16%), with stones at depth that add mineral complexity. Terrazas pioneered the use of precision drip irrigation in Mendoza to conserve glacier meltwater and access otherwise unreachable terrain.

• Elevation range 980–1,650m across eight primary vineyard sites; Las Compuertas at 1,070m is the highest site on the left bank of the Mendoza River
• Terrazas pioneered Gualtallary as a fine wine zone, planting there in 1993 before the area was widely recognized; El Espinillo remains the highest productive vineyard in the Uco Valley
• Precision drip irrigation using Andean glacier meltwater delivers a 60%-plus reduction in water usage compared to traditional flood irrigation; native vegetation covers 45% of total vineyard surface

Terrazas de los Andes organizes its wines across distinct quality tiers. The Reserva collection is the signature line, blending fruit from more than 100 plots across 12 unique terroirs in the Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo; the Reserva Malbec is produced in Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Torrontés expressions. The Grand range represents the fullest varietal expression, blending selected high-altitude parcels and aging in French oak for 16 to 18 months, with Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay bottlings. The Apelacion de Origen line interprets specific Mendoza Geographical Indications: Compuertas, Paraje Altamira, and Los Chacayes. The Parcel series offers single-plot precision from the finest individual sites, including Los Cerezos (a block within Las Compuertas), Los Castaños in Paraje Altamira, Licán in Los Chacayes, and El Espinillo and Parcel El Espinillo Malbec from Gualtallary. Torrontés is produced from a vineyard in Cafayate at 1,800 meters. Cheval des Andes, the joint venture with Château Cheval Blanc, sits above the portfolio as Argentina's most critically acclaimed collectible wine.

• Reserva tier: signature blends from 100-plus plots, fruit-forward and accessible; typically aged up to 12 months in French oak; average retail price around $18–20
• Grand tier: blends from the finest high-altitude parcels, aged 16–18 months in French oak; Grand Malbec and Grand Cabernet Sauvignon average around $55 retail
• Parcel range: single-plot selections from individual named vineyards; Parcel Los Castaños averages around $100, while Parcel El Espinillo Malbec reaches $180–$244 depending on vintage and market

The Cheval des Andes partnership was initiated in 1998 and produced its first vintage in 1999. The inspiration came from Pierre Lurton, then President of Château Cheval Blanc, who wanted to reconnect with the history of ungrafted Malbec that had traveled from Bordeaux to Argentina in the mid-19th century before phylloxera devastated the variety in France. The joint venture draws on two distinct vineyards totaling approximately 47 to 50 hectares: Las Compuertas in Luján de Cuyo (32 hectares at 1,070 meters, including ungrafted 1929-planted Malbec) and La Consulta in Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley (approximately 14–15 hectares at 1,150 meters with Malbec planted in 1945). Since the 2015 vintage, these two estates have served as the sole grape source. The technical team, led by winemaker Gérald Gabillet and overseen by Pierre-Olivier Clouet, has shifted toward greater freshness, using a mix of 225-liter Bordeaux barrels, 400-liter barrels, and 2,500-liter Slovenian foudres. The 2021 vintage earned 98 points from both James Suckling and Jeb Dunnuck and was ranked sixth in Vinous Media's worldwide Top 100 of 2024.

• Blend varies significantly by vintage: the 2021 was 48% Malbec, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot; the 2018 was 70% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon; blend is determined by which parcels are selected, not a fixed formula
• Since 2015, wine is produced exclusively from the estate's own 47–50 hectares; the shift from a blended-sourcing model to a single-estate wine marked a pivotal quality evolution
• Average retail price around $92–$107 depending on vintage; distributed through La Place de Bordeaux alongside the world's most prestigious fine wines

Terrazas de los Andes has positioned itself as a leader in sustainable and regenerative viticulture in Argentina. The entire 500-hectare estate is managed under regenerative organic principles, with 86 hectares already certified under the Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) framework, making Terrazas the 10th global winery and the first in the LVMH portfolio to receive this designation. The goal is full ROC certification for all vineyards by 2026. Water management is a central priority: the transition to precision drip irrigation using Andean glacier meltwater has achieved a 60%-plus reduction in water usage compared to traditional flood irrigation, recognized by The Drinks Business Awards with a Water Management Award. Native vegetation is preserved across 45% of total vineyard surface to support biodiversity and natural pest management. The winery's sustainability commitments include a target of 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within operations by 2030.

• 86 hectares Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC); first LVMH portfolio winery to earn this certification; full estate ROC target set for 2026
• Precision drip irrigation with glacier meltwater achieves over 60% water savings versus traditional flood irrigation; recognized with The Drinks Business Water Management Award
• Native vegetation preserved across 45% of vineyard surface; biodiversity programs include planting flowers and native plants to attract natural predators of vineyard pests

Terrazas de los Andes has built a strong international reputation across multiple quality tiers. The Reserva Malbec 2022 was ranked number 30 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2023, and the 2023 vintage scored 92 points on Wine-Searcher's aggregated critic score, all at under $20 retail, reinforcing the wine's value proposition. The Grand Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon score consistently in the low 90s from major critics at around $55. At the top of the range, the 2021 Cheval des Andes received 98 points from James Suckling and Jeb Dunnuck, 97 points from both Wine Advocate and Wine Independent, and was ranked sixth in Vinous Media's worldwide Top 100 of 2024, at approximately $92–$107 retail. The wines are distributed across more than 65 countries, with Cheval des Andes released through La Place de Bordeaux. The estate's identity within the LVMH portfolio, alongside Chandon Argentina and Cheval Blanc in Saint-Émilion, connects Argentine mountain fruit to deep Bordeaux winemaking heritage.

• Reserva Malbec 2022 ranked #30, Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2023; typically priced at $18–$20, making it one of the best-value Top 100 wines
• Cheval des Andes 2021 scored 98 points (James Suckling, Jeb Dunnuck), 97 points (Wine Advocate, Wine Independent, Vinous); ranked #6 worldwide by Vinous Media in 2024
• Distributed in 65-plus countries; Cheval des Andes is released through La Place de Bordeaux, the same distribution network used by First Growths and top classified estates