New producer spotlight: Viña Alta
Following Megan’s recent trip to Mendoza, we’re continuing our journey through Argentina with a closer look at one of the new producers she discovered along the way: Bodegas Viña Alta
Missed what Megan got up to in Mendoza? Read all about her trip here.
About Viña Alta:
Family-owned since 1965, Viña Alta farms 97 hectares of estate vineyards across four properties in Mendoza’s Eastern Oasis. Here, the high-altitude, dry conditions provide an ideal environment for growing a diverse range of grapes, from the classic varieties Argentina is renowned for to indigenous grapes that offer a fascinating insight into Mendoza’s viticultural heritage.
Today, the estate is led by Valentina Ludica and her children, Emiliano and Candela, the new generation of winegrowers taking Viña Alta in an exciting new direction. Alongside winemaker Miriam Gomez, they combine careful vineyard management with a sustainable approach and minimal-intervention winemaking.
Dry farming, avoiding synthetic herbicides and chemical inputs, and maintaining natural biodiversity are all part of their work in the vineyards. In the winery, Miriam explores more innovative techniques and minimal-intervention styles, allowing both native and international varieties to express themselves. The result is a collection of wines that feels distinctly contemporary while remaining firmly rooted in Mendoza.
The Range:
The Esencial wines showcase Viña Alta’s more experimental side, with a particular focus on varietal character and the diversity of Mendoza’s grapes.
Viña Alta Esencial Torrontés
One of Argentina’s most distinctive aromatic white varieties, Torrontés is all about fragrance and freshness, and Viña Alta’s Esencial is a lovely example. The nose is intensely aromatic, with jasmine, white peach and lime zest, while the palate is lively and refreshing, with delicate stone-fruit flavours and a textured finish.
Whole-bunch pressed and fermented in steel with ambient yeasts, the wine is then aged on its lees for four months, adding texture while preserving the variety’s signature floral character.
A wonderfully versatile food wine, it works particularly well with Thai, Vietnamese and Sri Lankan cuisine, as well as ceviche or a fresh goat’s cheese salad.
Viña Alta Esencial Naranjo
An expressive orange wine made from Pedro Giménez, one of Argentina’s most widely planted white varieties — and not to be confused with Pedro Ximénez. Here, extended skin contact throughout fermentation and a further period of post-fermentation maceration, totalling 40 days, gives the wine its distinctive colour, texture and structure.
Aromas of dried apricot, orange peel, chamomile and quince lead into a textural, savoury palate, with gentle tannins, notes of honey and dried flowers. Bottled without fining and with minimal additions of sulphur, it’s a characterful and beautifully expressive take on the orange wine style.
Its savoury texture makes it a particularly good match for aged cheeses, smoked fish, Middle Eastern dishes and roasted root vegetables.
Viña Alta Esencial Criolla
Made from Criolla Grande, a native Argentine grape with roots dating back to the 16th century, this is a wonderfully fresh and characterful light red.
The wine is made with light extraction and fermented in steel with native yeasts, preserving the delicate aromatics of the variety, before spending three months on its lees to build texture. The nose is fresh and fragrant, with dried rose petal, red cherry and raspberry, alongside a subtle earthy and herbal character. On the palate, it’s light-bodied with smooth tannins, lively acidity and refreshing red fruit.
A brilliantly versatile table wine, it’s best served lightly chilled and is ideal alongside charcuterie, pizza and tapas, or simply enjoyed as an aperitif.
Viña Alta Esencial Malbec
This is a more delicate and refined style of Malbec, showing the variety from a fresher, more elegant perspective. Fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel, the wine is then matured on cherry wood for three months. This allows slightly more oxygen contact, helping to soften the tannins while enhancing its red-fruit character.
The result is an aromatic and flavourful wine, with violets, ripe plum, black cherry and black pepper, alongside subtle notes of vanilla spice and dark chocolate. The palate is generous yet beautifully silky, with a supple tannic structure, pure fruit and refreshing acidity that keeps the wine feeling bright and balanced.
A natural partner for grilled meats and steaks, it also works particularly well with a rich mushroom risotto.
