From the atlas
Finca La Celia
Finca La Celia in Eugenio Bustos, Uco Valley, works Malbec and Cabernet varieties through geological study, separate lots and small scale vinification.
At A Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Region | Uco Valley, Argentina |
| Village | Eugenio Bustos |
| Main grapes | Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc |
| Signature wines | La Celia Malbec Reserva and Finca La Celia Pioneer Cabernet Franc |
| Defining feature | Geological subdivision, separate harvesting and small lot vinification |
The Producer
Finca La Celia covers 511 hectares in Eugenio Bustos, with 380 hectares planted to vines. Malbec accounts for 55% of the planted area, while Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc each account for 13%.
Andrea Ferreyra is La Celia's winemaker and Agustín Leiva its agronomist. Their work sits within an estate that has been divided by geological origin, with separate harvests and small lot vinification for the studied vineyard areas.
Place
Eugenio Bustos sits in the Uco Valley of Mendoza, where La Celia's vineyards range from 980 to 1,100 metres above sea level. The estate describes the climate as dry continental, with a wetter season from December through February.
A large difference between day and night temperatures slows berry ripening and supports the development of tannins and anthocyanins. The trellised rows run north south with a slight inclination toward the east.
Soil And Site
La Celia studied soil conductivity at depths of 75 and 150 centimetres before digging more than 150 soil pits across the vineyard. The work identified three soil profiles corresponding to Paraje Altamira, La Consulta and Eugenio Bustos.
These profiles give the estate separate geological areas to harvest and vinify. The soil names remain tied to the vineyard study and to the way the wines are handled in the cellar.
Story
Andrea Ferreyra guides the winemaking and Agustín Leiva guides the agronomy at La Celia. The estate began a deeper vineyard study in 2013, subdividing the property by geological origin.
The studied areas were then harvested separately, with the resulting lots vinified separately in small batches. La Celia's vineyard work therefore reaches the bottle through separate lots instead of one undivided estate harvest.
Vineyards And Cellar
The vineyards average 20 years of age and use fully pressurized drip irrigation. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc form the most clearly documented part of the estate's planting profile.
Pioneer Cabernet Franc completes 100% malolactic fermentation. This process converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid. The wine is aged 30% in unoaked concrete vats and 70% in used French oak barrels. Concrete without oak preserves the fresh fruit profile, while used oak contributes subtle spice.
Wines
The current range includes La Celia Malbec Reserva 2023 and Finca La Celia Pioneer Cabernet Franc 2021. The Reserva range is positioned around fruit character and balanced oak ageing.
Pioneer is positioned as a line expressing the best results of a single distinctive terroir. The two wines therefore occupy different places in the range, with Reserva centred on Malbec and fruit with oak balance, and Pioneer centred on Cabernet Franc and a defined terroir.
In The Glass
La Celia Malbec Reserva has a red colour with violet hues, followed by fresh plum and red fruit aromas. The palate is intense but approachable, with soft tannins integrated with oak notes. The finish is vivid and long.
Pioneer Cabernet Franc combines fresh and ripe fruit with black pepper, graphite and gunpowder notes. Oak ageing adds subtle spice. On the palate, the region's characteristic reactive tannins lead into a long finish.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose La Celia Malbec Reserva 2023. Its label places Malbec in the Reserva range, whose stated profile combines fruit character with balanced oak ageing. This gives the first bottle a clear grape and range position before the Pioneer Cabernet Franc introduces the separate terroir focused line.
Anecdote
The old residence at Finca La Celia dates from 1931. In 2008, the casona was declared part of Argentina's winegrowing historical cultural heritage. The house belongs to the same Eugenio Bustos property as the vineyards, winery and wines, and La Celia presents it as an historic residence where visitors can stay. Its two recorded dates remain attached to the estate, construction in 1931 and heritage designation in 2008.
Final Word
Finca La Celia makes Uco Valley wines from an estate divided by geological origin, with Malbec Reserva and Pioneer Cabernet Franc showing two distinct range positions.
Sources
- https://terroir.laceliawines.com/
- https://terroir.laceliawines.com/clima
- https://terroir.laceliawines.com/suelo
- https://terroir.laceliawines.com/poligonos
- https://laceliawines.com/en/
- https://laceliawines.com/en/our-wines/
- https://laceliawines.com/en/our-wines/malbec-reserva/
- https://laceliawines.com/en/our-wines/pioneer-cabernet-franc/
- https://www.systembolaget.se/produkt/vin/finca-la-celia-5099001/
- https://www.systembolaget.se/produkt/vin/la-celia-5034401/