Luján de Cuyo
Continental desert
The first Malbec appellation in Argentina, in the Andean foothills just south of Mendoza city, known for old vines and full, ripe wines.
Overview
About Luján de Cuyo
Luján de Cuyo lies immediately south of the city of Mendoza, along the Mendoza river, where the vineyards climb from the plain towards the foothills of the Andes. In 1993 it became the first Argentine appellation, a Denominación de Origen Controlada, for Malbec, and it remains the place most associated with the grape's rise, especially around Vistalba, Agrelo, Perdriel and Las Compuertas.
The wines are usually fuller, riper and rounder than those from higher sites in the Uco Valley, with dark plum and violet fruit, and the best come from very old vines. The area is also home to many of Mendoza's historic wineries, a number of them founded in the 19th century by European immigrants.
Luján de Cuyo is marked on the map.
Argentina
Shaded: Mendoza. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Continental desert
A high desert climate: bright sun, very little rain and large swings between warm days and cool nights. Vineyards are irrigated with Andean snowmelt, and hail and the hot, dry Zonda wind are hazards.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Alluvial soils of stony, sandy loam, with more clay in places, at roughly 900 to 1,100 metres. The stones and sand drain fast and keep yields low.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Luján de Cuyo is a DOC for Malbec, and wines are labelled by their district within it, such as Agrelo or Vistalba.
Luján de Cuyo DOC
Argentina's first controlled appellation, recognised in 1993 for Malbec.
Named districts
Vistalba, Agrelo, Perdriel and others, printed on the label and each with its own style.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.