At 1,250 meters above sea level in Mendoza's Los Chacayes geographical indication, Casa de Uco operates as one of the most visibly committed organic producers in Argentina's Uco Valley. The estate stretches across 320 hectares, with 20 hectares under certified organic production, surrounded by the Andean foothills and their extreme diurnal temperature swings.
Backstory
Casa de Uco was founded by the Buenos Aires-based Tonconogy family and opened its doors as a wine resort and winery in 2014. From the beginning, the project was conceived around terroir-driven winemaking in one of Mendoza's most prestigious new appellations. Head enologist Gustavo Bauzá, passionate about sustainable and organic viticulture, oversees production. Italian consultant Alberto Antonini brings decades of international winemaking experience to the property's wines and private vineyard program.
The Region
The Uco Valley, located approximately 70 kilometers southwest of Mendoza city, has become the standard-bearer for refined Argentine winemaking. Los Chacayes, within the Uco Valley, sits at some of the highest elevations in the region, yielding grapes with natural acidity, intense color, and aromatic precision that lower-elevation Mendoza vineyards rarely achieve. With 330 days of sun per year and a semi-desert climate, the land demands irrigation but rewards patience with extraordinary concentration.
Vineyards and Farming
All wines are sourced exclusively from the estate's own vines in Los Chacayes. The 20 organic hectares are certified by OIA (Organización Internacional Agropecuaria). The winery uses no chemical pesticides and fertilizes with natural compost produced on-site. The alluvial soils with their excellent drainage and access to clean aquifer water create conditions for vine stress and flavor development that drive quality in the glass.
Winemaking
Casa de Uco makes wines with indigenous yeasts, pursuing authentic terroir expression over typicity engineered through winemaking additives. The El Salvaje line includes organic varietal wines and extended maceration orange wines, fermented without additives and aged in vessel without filtration. The goal across every label is minimal manipulation of grapes that have already done the work in the vineyard.
The Wines
The estate produces the Flora y Fauna Malbec, the Winemaker's Blend, and the Vineyard Selection series alongside the El Salvaje range. The El Salvaje Orgánico line offers Malbec, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and a Blanco de Gris, each grown and made under organic principles. These wines represent a clear-eyed look at what altitude, volcanic soil, and Andean sunlight can do when left relatively alone.
