Cuello Roca

History

The company turned 84 in 2022. It carries on the farm that a pioneer, Humberto Cuello, started in Medanitos in 1938 with his wife, Aurora Roca. Its various divisions grew out of the need to process and sell the produce of the Istataco estate: 650 hectares on the right bank of the Abaucán river.

The winery

To diversify, the first Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines were planted at Istataco, farmed fully organically. The wines were so good that the family decided to build a fine-wine winery. Drawing on the metalworking experience gained building its raisin-packing plant, the company made the whole production line in its own workshops, in stainless steel, as well as the tanks.

The grapes grow in desert conditions, free of disease, so no pesticides are ever used: the wines are fully organic.

It was the first fine-wine winery in Tinogasta, set up to make the most of the area’s natural conditions as Argentina’s wine industry was transformed.

The wines

The grapes are picked by hand and carried in special baskets to the winery in Tinogasta. Because high-altitude vines build up so many polyphenols, fermentations are short, 4 to 5 days.

Primary fermentation takes place in stainless-steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 26 to 28 °C for reds. A cooling tower built in the metal workshop provides enough cooling for six 4,300-litre tanks fermenting at once.

The stainless-steel equipment avoids corrections and treatments, so the wine is entirely natural. The wines see no oak, so that the strong varietal character of the area comes through without flavours from the wood.

Grape varieties

Reds: Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo and Tannat. Whites: Chenin and Chardonnay.