Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Bodega Aniello is a small winery looking to explore the value of the ancient winemaking tradition of Patagonia, while keeping contact with the Italian roots of its members. The winery’s CEO, Maria Cruz De Angelis, is a descendant of Raffaele De Angelis, an Italian who made wine in Sorrento a century earlier.
Aniello’s wines fully channel the character of Patagonia in general and Rio Negro in particular. Geographically dynamic, Argentina’s cool climate Patagonia region is a combination of jagged mountains, plateaus, snow, rivers, plains and sea. The eastern bank of the upper Río Negro region is carpeted by sandy, loamy soils. The constant breezes and low relative humidity help keep the Aniello vineyards pest-free. The resulting wines are considered more elegant and refined than many of the more common, warm-weather wines from the Mendoza area.
One of the most southerly regions on the globe for fine wine production, Patagonia has experienced extraordinary vineyard expansion since the early 2000s.
Patagonia vineyards occupy the lower foothills of the Andes at 1,000 to 1,600 feet. Here cold air drops at night from incredibly steep elevations—the Andes reach well over 15,000 feet in this zone—a phenomenon that produces drastic diurnal shifts. Cold nights contrasted with hot summer days produce grapes with striking color, full ripeness, great finesse and aromatic intensity.
Favored for its luxury brands, the Patagonia wine growing region of Argentina focuses on a diverse array of international varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillón and Viognier among the white grapes, and Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon for reds.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.