The unique Gualtallary geology and climate express themselves in wines that we believe are naturally balanced, fresh and elegant
Gualtallary is a high-altitude wine region in the Tupungato district in the northernmost area of the Uco Valley. Located at the very top edge of Mendoza's viticultural range, it is Mendoza's coolest region.
The majestic Andes Mountains define the geography and climate of Gualtallary, providing sun, water, and precious resources for viticulture.
In high altitudes, the temperature drops from 28-26°C during the day to 10-12°C at night during the main ripening months, leading to a slow maturation. This unique phenomenon helps preserve the grapes' acidity and enhances their aromatic expression.
High altitude also brings increased levels of sunlight, promoting the vine to produce thicker-skinned grapes, leading to structured wines with ripe, velvety tannins, intense colour and exceptional ageing potential.
The combination of warm days and cool nights provides an ideal environment for grape growing and produces wines with exceptionally balanced fruit expression and freshness.
It has three distinct layers of varying depths: an alluvial topsoil, a calcareous middle soil and a deep mixture of stones, clay and sand. This variability within Gualtallary has inspired viticulturists, winemakers and soil experts to study and explore Gualtallary terroir over the last 2 decades.
Gualtallary has 2550 hectares of vineyards, ranging from 1000 to 1600 m altitude, with wide climatic variations and ranging from 1 - 3 on the Winkler climate scale. It has been divided into 5 sub-regions based on climate and soil conditions: Rio, La Vencedora, Albo, Monasterio and Las Tunas. Finca Ambrosia is in Albo which is Spanish for white, representing the white calcerous limestone which is found throughout the region.
Finca Ambrosia soils have the ability to regulate water availability for the vines. Their concentrated calcareous structure operates like a sponge that can hold water, which provides a balance in dry weather. This natural, more stable water supply to the vines ensures a more balanced delivery of nutrients maintaining the vine's balance and preventing stress during the dry season.
From a soil structure perspective, these soils tend to be more compact than other soil types, which can moderate root growth and therefore control the vine’s vigour, increase stress tolerance, and moderate the yield. Consequently, we not only have balanced vines, but also we can produce wines with increased concentrations of flavours, aromas, and colour.
Another essential factor for Finca Ambrosia soils in winemaking is the ability to produce grapes with a unique combination of tannins and acidity. The high limestone content of our soils, combined with the high elevation of the vineyards, leads to a cooler microclimate that allows grapes to ripen slowly and develop complex flavours. This also favours the retention of natural acidity in the grapes, helping to balance out the tannins and produce wines with great ageing potential.
