The Cueva de las Manos Estate

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Maipe

Nuna

Ayni

Chakana

Cueva de las Manos is produced in a state-of-the-art winery, Chakana, built with the purpose of achieving outstanding quality.

Chakana winery was founded by Juan Pelizzatti on May 2nd, 2002. Juan was driven to enter the wine industry first and foremost by his passion for wine, and also by the desire to invest his time and money on a product of agriculture. Although Juan did not know it at the time, the company was founded on the same day the Chakana was celebrated on the Andes highlands: on that same day, the Southern Cross (the Chakana for the Inca people) becomes vertical in the night Andean sky.

Juan's mission is to create an integral experience to introduce world consumers to the taste and culture of the Andes. His vision is to become one of the top 20 exporters of wine from Argentina, by consistently offering outstanding value for money.

Wine is currently produced in four different levels at Chakana, by winemaker Gabriel Bloise:

Entry Level: Maipe

Reserve Level: Maipe Reserve, Cueva de las Manos, Nuna

Estate Selection

Ayni

The winemaking process is focused on treating the grapes with great care and with strict control of every step of the production.

Wines are designed under the responsibility of the renowned international wine consultant Alberto Antonini.

The winery is located on a 150 ha. estate, 34 km South of the city of Mendoza, in Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo.

The grapes grown are 35 year-old Malbec, Bonarda and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Deep and textured soils facilitate plant development and confer great body and structure to the wines.

The year-long sunny and dry conditions allow almost organic viticulture practices. The outstanding feature includes a great daily thermal amplitude, with mild days and cold nights, permitting a particular richness of polifenols that improves the wines flavors and color.

A drip irrigation system has been set up to achieve a precise control of the vegetative cycle and a rational use of water. Waters are processed and used in the vineyards.

The Cueva de las Manos Vineyards

Chakana sources grapes from their own four estates:

Agrelo

Acreage: 150 ha, 120 ha with vineyards

70 ha entry level

40 ha reserve level

10 ha estate & ayni

Acreage by varietal at Agrelo Estate:

Malbec: 50 ha

Cabernet Sauvignon: 30 ha

Syrah: 10 ha

Bonarda: 10 ha

Tannat: 2,5 ha

Petit Verdot: 2.5 ha

Cabernet Franc: 1.5 ha

Aspirant Bouchet: 2.5 ha

Ancellotta: 2 ha

Sauvignon Blanc: 4 ha

Viognier: 2.5 ha

Chardonnay: 2.5 ha

Wine Profile: Medium bodied, elegant, fresher fruit. Round tannin on gravels.

Terroir: Very heterogeneous – deep clay to sandy clay gravels; cool climate

Altamira I

Acreage: 15 ha, Malbec high density. Planted in 2010, not in production

Wine Profile: Full bodied, impressive tannic structure and roundness, spicy and complex.

Terroir: Sandy clay gravel, limestone; cooler climate

Altamira II

Acreage: 36 ha, 26 ha with vineyards

20 ha malbec, estate and ayni level

4 ha chardonnay, entry level and reserve

2 ha pinot noir (used for sparkling wine)

Wine Profile: Medium bodied, elegant, fresher fruit. Round tannin on gravels.

Terroir: Very heterogeneous – deep clay to sandy clay gravels; cool climate

Terrada

Acreage: 21 ha, all in vines

100% malbec, old vines, high density

Reserve – Estate Selection

Wine Profile: Complex, ripe fruit, medium bodied, elegant.

Terroir: Sandy clay gravels, 70cm. soil depth, Some limestone; warmer climate.

They also source wines from contract suppliers in Ugarteche and Medrano, for entry level wines, and in Vista Flores, for Estate Selection & Ayni levels.