Winemaker Notes
Andeluna Cellars is a winery and vineyard rich with history and romance –just like the country it calls home. This beautiful place is the inspiration for the name Andeluna, which was chosen to symbolize the romance and heritage of the Argentine moon illuminating the magnificent Andes Mountains that frame the Uco Valley. The combination of great vineyards growing classic varietals, with world-class winemaking, creates flavors and wines that cannot be found anywhere else.
Premium quality wine starts with premium quality grapes, and this is the essence of Andeluna. In the late 19th Century, many Italians immigrated to Argentina seeking opportunities that the rich and beautiful land provided. Searching for nothing less than the perfect place to make the world's best wine, they came to Mendoza and planted vineyards that began the heritage of Argentina's winemaking industry.
For generations, Argentina has grown and perfected the traditional grape varieties of the Old World – Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay. But the feet of Andeluna don't rest in the soil of the Old World. Instead, they are planted firmly in the New World in a stunning series of vineyards that climb up the foothills of the Andes.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
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.