Zuccardi Valles Chardonnay

Tasting Notes Zuccardi Valles Chardonnay

The nose reveals clear aromas of lychee, pineapple, and other tropical fruits, with a soft, slightly buttery nuance in the background. On the palate, the wine is round, smooth, and fruity, with a pleasant freshness that provides sufficient balance. The tropical fruit notes clearly return and are complemented by a soft, creamy impression. Despite its round character, the wine remains pleasantly lively thanks to its fresh acidity.

Wine & Food Pairing

This approachable Chardonnay is delicious as an aperitif, but also pairs well with grilled sea bass, salmon, smoked fish, and other light fish dishes. Due to its round structure, it also complements poultry, creamy dishes, and Asian dishes with tofu. It's also a great combination with a chicken or avocado salad.

Additional Information

For the Valles Chardonnay, the grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness. In the winery, they are immediately pressed and then fermented with indigenous yeasts. Afterwards, the wine rests on its fine lees for some time. This contributes to the wine's round and soft mouthfeel.

The Valles Chardonnay thus shows a different side of Zuccardi. While wines like Fósil and Botánico are strongly focused on minerality, tension, and the specific terroir of their vineyard, Valles is primarily an approachable Chardonnay where fruit and drinkability are central.

At the end of the 19th century, the Zuccardi family emigrated from Italy to Argentina. In the 1950s, Alberto V. Zuccardi founded an irrigation company, a logical step in a country where agriculture is barely possible without irrigation. To demonstrate the success of his system, he planted his first vineyards in Maipú in 1963, followed by an expansion near Mendoza. Since 1985, his son José Alberto Zuccardi has led the family business, which is now globally renowned for its quality. Zuccardi has been repeatedly named Best Vineyard in South America, and their wines consistently achieve top ratings, with some even reaching 100 Parker points.

Fun Fact

The Uco Valley experiences more than 250 sunny days a year, but thanks to its high altitude, the vineyards cool down significantly at night. This combination of abundant sun and cool nights helps the Chardonnay develop its ripe fruit aromas while maintaining sufficient freshness.