Proyecto Las Compuertas Criolla Gobelet
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2025
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
cured meats and charcuterie, grilled chicken, traditional beef empanadas
✨ Technical Specifications
Proyecto Las Compuertas is a dedicated initiative by the Durigutti brothers to preserve the historical viticultural heritage of Las Compuertas in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza. This expression is crafted from Criolla Chica, one of the oldest grape varieties in the Americas, originally brought by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century. Grown on traditional gobelet (bush) vines planted in sandy-loam soils at high elevation, the grapes are fermented with native yeasts in concrete vats to preserve the grape's natural, vibrant character. The wine represents a liquid history of Argentine winemaking, showcasing a lighter, fresher, and highly aromatic side of Mendoza that contrasts with the heavy, oak-aged styles of the late 20th century.
🍾 About the Producer
Durigutti Family Winemakers was established in 2002 by winemaking brothers Héctor and Pablo Durigutti, who sought to champion Argentina's heritage terroirs through precise, artisanal winemaking. Their viticultural base centers on Finca Victoria in Las Compuertas, a historic high-altitude appellation within Luján de Cuyo perched above 1,000 meters along the Mendoza River. Here, ancient alluvial soils rich in silt, gravel, and limestone combine with intense Andean sunshine and marked diurnal shifts, creating optimal conditions for certified organic viticulture. Rejecting heavy-handed intervention, the Durigutti brothers emphasize spontaneous native yeast fermentations, concrete vats, ceramic amphorae, and judicious oak aging to preserve varietal clarity and site transparency. Their portfolio reflects an extraordinary stylistic breadth, anchored by the benchmark Proyecto Las Compuertas Malbec and the icon cuvée Esencia, alongside heritage recovery projects such as Cara Sucia and terroir-driven expressions from regional outposts across Mendoza and San Juan.
🍇 Grapes
Criolla Chica
🍷 ABV
12-13%