Familia Zuccardi is situated in the province of Mendoza and Santa Rosa Estate is situated 85km east of Mendoza City, both in the foothills of the Andes some 650m above sea level. The area possesses excellent conditions for the production of high quality fruit.

See News Item - click here

Almost desert like, there are around 350 sunny days a year, with an average of 16°C temperature fluctuation between day and night during the growing season, pure air and clear light. Irrigation, using fresh, clean water from the Andes is carefully controlled. Around 800,000 cases are produced annually.

It was founded in 1963 by Alberto Zuccardi, father of the current Director, José Alberto Zuccardi. Alberto was a concrete pipe and irrigation specialist and saw the wine making potential of arid land, which others regarded as beyond the pale. His son José Alberto shares his father's love of innovation and has experimented with numerous grape varieties.

The wines reflect this unique climate developing excellent aromas, ripe, rich fruit, and complexity and giving consistent quality from year to year. José Alberto Zuccardi, President of the family company La Agricola, which owns Santa Rosa estate, believes that vineyard management is the key to the ultimate success of the wines. Always keen to innovate he has championed less common grapes such as Viognier and Tempranillo, which, under the skilful hands of winemaker Rodolfo Montenegro, have achieved widespread recognition.

In 2003 Rodolfo selected a group of indigenous yeasts from their own vineyards, and produced wines such as Viognier, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Bonarda, and Tempranillo with these native yeasts.

Rodolfo continued to develop these regional yeasts, trying to find a differentiation in the style of the wines, and they’re really pleased with the wines finesse and structure. Rodolfo is now planning to produce all the wines with indigenous yeast in the future.

A recent development is the release of the Q range of wines. These premium wines are made from fruit grown on the Santa Rosa estate and are a clear demonstration to the rest of the world of the quality Argentina can produce.

Last year, the company released Zuccardi Zeta 2002. This is the realisation of José Alberto's dream of blending the finest Malbec and Tempranillo fruit from their Maipu and Santa Rosa vineyards, the signature Zuccardi wine. Sebastian, José Alberto’s 23-year old son, joined the team in 2004 whilst completing his Agronomy course at the University of Mendoza. His youngest son, Miguel, makes a range of single varietal olive oils.

USP: Familia Zuccardi are great innovators. They pioneered the planting of Viognier and Zinfandel grape varieties, use their own vine training methods and have converted much of their acreage to organic production. They increasingly tour their vineyards on horse and by dog-cart and employing men and women in preference to using machines. The result of their self-belief is wines with personality.

STOP PRESS!!!!

Santa Rosa have now launched the first commercially available Zinfandel from Argentina. Showing immense concentration and weight, this is sure to become one of the stars of the range.

Click on the link to buy these wines: -

		CHENIN BLANC, Vida Organica An organic wine. Pale and delicate in colour but with fresh and intensely fruity aromas and flavours. Hints of apple, peach and herbaceousness lend this wine its intriguingly refreshing character.
		BONARDA SANGIOVESE, Vida Organica This Organic Bonarda Sangiovese is full of wonderful spicy, ripe, red fruit aromas. It is full-bodied and flavoursome, reminiscent of blackcurrents and berries, yet elegant and balanced.
		SPARKLING CHARDONNAY, Vida Organica This elegant sparkling wine was created from selected, organically grown grapes. It is fresh, lively and enticing, w ith delicious flavours of, very ripe granny smith apples and appealing yeasty notes. Great celebratory wine. Suitable for Vegans & vegetarians.
		Mixed Case of Organic Wines - Vida Organica
		CHENIN/CHARDONNAY, Santa Rosa Broad attractive white with ample tropical fruit and ripe apple flavours
		CHENIN-TORRONTES, Santa Rosa Light, fresh and crisp with subtle exotic fruit character and a little honey. A refreshing change!
		SANGIOVESE BONARDA, Santa Rosa An intriguing blend from one of Argentina's most consistent producers. Juicy, savoury and ripe with silky texture and good length
		TEMPRANILLO-BONARDA, Santa Rosa A soft, approachable red with juicy ripe berry fruit, ripe tannins and a silky finish.
		SAUVIGNON BLANC, Santa Rosa Clean and crisp with vibrant grassy fruit and hints of pineapple and melon. Well balanced and long.
		VIOGNIER, Santa Rosa Santa Rosa were one of the first wineries in Argentina to produce Viognier and it has been a massive hit. Well balanced, with crisp acidity and measured alcohol. Apricot fruit dominates with just a touch of spice.
		CHARDONNAY, Santa Rosa An elegant style of chardonnay showing broad melon and pineapple fruit character with hints of toasty oak.
		PINOT GRIGIO, Santa Rosa Pinot Grigio's popularity has not escaped the innovative Argentinians and here we have a crisp, attractively zingy example filled with ripe apple and pear like fruit.
		SYRAH ROSE, Santa Rosa A vivid, bright pink with all the ripe, succulent fruit one would expect. Soft, well rounded and oh so gluggable, this is the perfect accompaniment to long sunny days- or the perfect refuge from long wet days!
		SANGIOVESE, Santa Rosa Medium bodied red with scented raspberry and bramble fruit overlaid with hints of spice and dried fruits. Well balanced and juicy
		MALBEC, Santa Rosa Quickly becoming the most important red for Argentina, this Bordeaux export produces full, robust wines with deep plummy fruit, structured tannins and good length.
		PINOT NOIR, Santa Rosa- Mendoza Superb value pinot, full and lush, velvety cherry fruit, fine integrated tannins and a soft yet juicy finish.
		ZINFANDEL, Santa Rosa The first Zin' to be produced in Argentina and a bit of a cracker. Big alcohol (14.5%) and big fruit make for a stunning value bottle with bags of personality.
		TEMPRANILLO , Santa Rosa A stunning example that will worry those greedy Riojan's! Dark and concentrated with silky strawberry and violet fruit character, soft tannins and nice charred oak. Supple and vibrant, at its best with lamb.
		PINOT NOIR RESERVA, Familia Zuccardi This wine is characterised by ripe, wild strawberry fruit on the nose, overlaid with hints of mocha and toasty oak. The palate is silky smooth with juicy yet elegant violet tinged strawberry fruit and structured by creamy, balanced tannins.
		MALBEC RESERVA, Familia Zuccardi This Reserva Malbec is a vibrant fruity and complex red wine. Full bodied and violet in colour with lots of red fruit aromas and a hint of cherry character. It's an excellent partner for red meats and cheeses.
		Caladoc Red, Familia Zuccardi An unusual hybrid grape from the "tangoing Errol Flynn" of the Argentinian wine world. Soft, appealing brambly fruit with supple tannins and a juicy finish.
		TORRONTES TARDIO, Dessert Wine Familia Zuccardi A delicate sweet wine with pear, apricots and citrus aromas. It will drive your taste buds nuts with fresh fruit and honey flavours.
		MALAMADO LIQUEUR WINE, Zuccardi Argentina has almost made the Malbec grape its own and on this evidence it's not difficult to see why. A port style wine with immensely concentrated, spicy bramble and raisin character. Rich and ripe with a well balanced sweetness and a long finish.
		"Q" Chardonnay, Familia Zuccardi A full bodied example with hugely concentrated tropical fruit character and touches of honey and butter. Complex and rich with hints of nuts and vanilla from the barrel fermentation. Long, well balanced finish.
		"Q" TEMPRANILLO, Santa Rosa The top wine from our Santa Rosa range and a clear warning to other countries that Argentina is serious about making quality wine. Huge concentration of ripe strawberry and plum laden fruit. Clever use of oak and a long, long finish. Decanter review 2006 - More info
		"Q" MALBEC, Santa Rosa The variety that Argentina has almost claimed as its own. Dark, rich and intense with deep leathery fruit cake like fruit, balanced oak and great length.
		"Q" MERLOT, Zuccardi A rich, dark wine with concentrated ripe plummy fruit. Well balanced with smooth, velvety tannins and well integrated oak character. Displays great length and complexity with satisfying, savoury finish."
		"Q" CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Zuccardi A richly textured, velvety red with concentrated cassis, vanilla and plum fruit character. A well balanced wine with creamy tannins and spicy oak flavours adding complexity and style.
		Zuccardi Zeta, Familia Zuccardi The ever inventive Jose Zuccardi has long harboured dreams of releasing a true "icon" wine from his native Argentina and Zeta is the fruits of his labours. Immensely concentrated with layer upon layer of dark fruit, spice, and well integrated, creamy oak. Whilst the structure is impressive, the weight of fruit makes for an appealing wine in its youth and potential superstar for the future.