After a stunning visit to Zuccardi Valle de Uco, where we explored the wines that are so intimately shaped by the mountains, we found ourselves stepping away from the tasting rooms and into the embrace of the Andes. The hike up Cerro San Pedro offered a rare opportunity to connect with the very terroir that gives Zuccardi’s wines their unique character — a landscape that reveals, at every turn, the many faces of the Uco Valley.
From the moment we began the ascent, the snow-capped peaks loomed in the distance, towering over the valley below. These mountains are more than just a backdrop; they are the very lifeblood of the vineyards we had just explored. The melting snow feeds the tributaries and rivers that carve through the valley, bringing essential water to nourish the vines. The extreme temperature shifts between day and night, a hallmark of the continental climate dictated by the mountains, shape the grapes as they grow, enhancing their vibrancy and complexity.
Walking the trail, we saw firsthand how millions of years of geological forces have shaped this landscape. Rocks, worn down by the relentless freeze and thaw of the mountains, tumble down, carried by creeks and rivers, toward the valley. Minerals, dissolved by the water, are deposited in the soils, creating the terroir that sustains Zuccardi’s vines. It’s this dynamic, ever-evolving process — the intersection of rock, water, and time — that gives Zuccardi’s wines their purity and transparency, a true expression of the land.
The story of Zuccardi is, in many ways, the story of the land itself. In 2009, Sebastian Zuccardi, the oldest son and family’s viticulturist, committed to capturing the essence of Uco Valley’s diverse terroirs through precision viticulture and winemaking. This commitment, to truly understand and express the identity of the land, has resulted in wines that reflect the mountains, the rocks, and the minerals that shape them.
As we reached the summit of Cerro San Pedro, the view was nothing short of breathtaking. The rugged beauty of the Andes stretched before us, a reminder of the raw forces that sculpt not only the landscape but also the wines we had the privilege of tasting. Here, in the quiet majesty of the mountains, the connection between the land, the vines, and the wine felt more tangible than ever.