At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Producer
- Matías Riccitelli Wines
- Base
- Las Compuertas, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza
- Grapes
- Malbec, Pinot Noir, Bastardo, Semillón, Chenin Blanc and Garnacha
- Range
- High elevation Mendoza vineyards, Patagonia and minimal intervention lines
The Producer
Matías Riccitelli was born in Cafayate, Salta, and gained experience through multiple harvests around the world. He founded Riccitelli Wines after combining that experience with the teachings of his father and mentor, Jorge Riccitelli.
Malbec takes centre stage in the old ungrafted vines of Las Compuertas. The wider work reaches into high elevation Mendoza vineyards, Patagonia and minimal intervention ranges. Fruit is picked by hand, and fermentation uses indigenous yeasts exclusively.
Place
Altitude separates the Mendoza addresses. The winery sits in Las Compuertas, in the highest area of traditional Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza. The vineyards also reach Gualtallary's Monasterio area, Los Chacayes IG, San Pablo IG and Valle de La Carrera.
In Valle de La Carrera, a project developed with the Bombal family focuses on short cycle white and red varieties including Pinot Noir. The area is the coldest in the Uco Valley. Riccitelli Patagonia lies along the banks of the Río Negro and focuses on cool climate wines from old vineyards.
Wines
Malbec anchors the Mendoza range, while Viñas Extremas comes from vineyards above 1,500 metres. Riccitelli Patagonia extends beyond Malbec with Pinot Noir, Bastardo and Semillón.
V.I.N.O. began in 2019 as a sustainable, agroecological viticulture project and gave rise to the minimal intervention Kung Fu and Invader ranges. Invader highlights overlooked Argentine varieties including Semillón, Chenin Blanc and Garnacha.
The natural wines use spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in concrete eggs and clay amphorae. Concrete and clay are vessels that allow fermentation without the flavour of oak, keeping the grape and fermentation method at the centre of the wine.
Final Word
Riccitelli's natural wines are bottled without filtration, clarification or added sulfites.