Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
A project born of two spirits moved by intertwined passions: music and wine. Marcelo Pelleriti, winemaker and musician. Pedro Aznar, musician and maker of wines.
Marcelo y Pedro met in August 2012. Immediately the amount of things in common it became clear in an intense conversation from the city of Mendoza to Uco Valley. They noted that the passion for making wine and making music were going through the same way. Pedro confided that for years he has dreamed of having a vineyard and live the wine world from within. Marcelo told about the Villa Winery in The Vines of Mendoza, a unique terroir for renowned winemakers to have their own projects ... thus was born this wonderful venture.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
