Winemaker Notes
Uco was an Indigenous chief of the Huarpes Millcayac people who lived in the valley centuries ago. Around 1941-1493, the Incas incorporated the Valley to their vast empire, the Tawantinsuyu – translated as the empire of “the four parts”. The Valley would become part of the Collasuyu. In 1608, the Jesuits settled in Mendoza and in 1658 founded a rural property in the Uco Valley, the San José estancia. This gave birth to the town and what would later become the Atamisque estancia.
This property, which originally possessed 19,000 ha, was divided at the end of the 20th century. The estancia passed through several owners, until a French man acquired it: John Du Monceau. He had fallen in love with the place and had decided to settle down there with his wife, Chantal, whose grandfather had been a winemaker in the French region of Beaujolais. This prompted her to support the idea of building a winery in the property. Thus « Bodega Atamisque » was born, inspired by the name the land once possessed.
The first harvest was proudly achieved in March 2007.
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.
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.