Altocedro, The Phoenician, 2020

With its near-desert conditions, extreme elevation and wide diurnal shift, grape vines have proven to thrive in various regions of Argentina. With plantings dating back to the 1920s, the fruit from Uco Valley was originally used to add colour and acidity to the wines of warmer areas until winemakers in the 1990s saw larger potential for the region. Today, Uco Valley is producing some of the most influential wines of Argentina. The valley, which runs north to south, is 70 km long and 40 km wide. To the south, the region is capped by desert conditions with cold winds blowing in from Patagonia; to the north, by hills of 1400 metres of elevation and higher. To the east, the region runs into a series of gorges and dry riverbeds.