Valle de la Puerta

The Valle de la Puerta Vineyard was established in 1994, and now has 150 hectares under vine. Located in the Famatina Valley approximately 754 miles North West from Buenos Aires by road, the property sits between the Famatina and Velasco Mountain ranges, which are part of the Andes. This unique valley offers a  magnificent visual backdrop and provides well drained topsoil. A special microclimate, with hot and dry summer days and cool nights, combines with the clean air and desert like topography of the valley to ensure outstanding ripening conditions for grapes. Rain is scarce with only 4 to 8 inches per year and for this reason the winery has to source its water for irrigation from 200 metre deep wells. The winery was built in 2002 and is one of the most modern and technologically advanced wineries of its type in Argentina.

LAS OLAS:
The Las Olas range is aimed at regional wholesalers, private shops and restaurants. The wines are attractive and fruit-driven, a style that is easy drinking and offers excellent value for money. As with the La Puerta Alta and Reserva wines, symbols from the pottery of the ancient Diaguita tribes that lived in the area have been incorporated onto the labels.

LA PUERTA ALTA:
The La Puerta Alta wines are estate grown and bottled. The grapes are hand-picked from drip irrigated vines which are hand pruned and canopy-managed for optimum flavour ripeness. Once the wines are produced, the best reds are carefully selected for the Alta range and kept in separate tanks until both primary and secondary fermentation is complete. Then they are blended with Reserva wines that have been aged in French and American oak barrels for 6 months.

BONARDA - THE NEXT BIG THING:
Once considered the red work-horse grape of Argentina, Bonarda is finally being given the recognition it deserves. Valle de la Puerta have long been experimenting with the varietal as a stand alone wine and their experience with this grape has been rewarded with a plethora of accolades over the last few years. Most recently La Puerta Alta Bonarda 2009 was awarded the Trophy for Best Argentine Red wine under £10 at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2010.