| Region of production: | Mendoza IG |
| Winery Location: | Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza |
| Year Established: | 1998 |
Vineyard Holdings
65 ha
- Mirador (4 ha): Medrano, Mendoza IG. Malbec on silty clay alluvial soil at 700 meters in elevation.
- Bella Vista (12 ha): Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo IG. Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon on loamy alluvial soil at 980 meters in elevation.
- Altamira (8 ha): La Consulta IG. Malbec on alluvial soil with layers of limestone and volcanic ash. 1,050 meters in elevation.
- Diamante (14 ha): Tupungato IG. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc on alluvial soil with some volcanic ash. 1,100 meters in elevation.
- Memento (27 ha)
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Finca Mirador (Mendoza IG): 100% Malbec. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels. Inaugural vintage 2000.
- Finca Bella Vista (Luján de Cuyo IG): 100% Malbec. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels. Inaugural vintage 2003.
- Finca Altamira (La Consulta IG): 100% Malbec. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels. Inaugural vintage 1999.
- Quimera (Mendoza IG): A Bordeaux-style blend primarily of Malbec, with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Grapes are from Medrano and Tupungato. Aged 12 months in French oak barrels. Inaugural vintage 2002.
- Malbec (Mendoza IG): 100% Malbec. Aged nine months in French oak barrels. Inaugural vintage 2009.
Average Total Production
- 480,000 bottles
Summary
Since its establishment in 1998, Achaval-Ferrer has become one of the most highly sought-after Malbec producers in Argentina. The winery takes its name from Santiago Achaval, the founding winemaker, and his business partner, Manuel Ferrer. Italian winemakers Roberto Cipresso and Tiziano Siviero were also part of the early production team. After a series of high scores for its three single-vineyard Malbec wines, Achaval-Ferrer achieved cult-like status among collectors. In 2011, the SPI Group, owners of vodka producer Stolichnaya, purchased the brand’s majority shares. Santiago Achaval has since gone on to establish Matervini. Gustavo Rearte serves as Achaval-Ferrer’s winemaker today.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Achaval-Ferrer seeks out ungrafted old vines and reduces yields to achieve concentrated flavors. The winemaking team minimizes temperature control during fermentation, avoids pre- and post-fermentation maceration, refrains from adjusting acid, and bottles the wines without filtration.
Producer Website: Achaval-Ferrer