Valle de Uco is the famous vine-growing region of Mendoza, Argentina. It is home to the production of some of Mendoza's most famous wines. Here you find the grapevariety that made Argentina wines so famous, the Malbec, producing terroir-driven red wines with a distinctive floral aroma. Not only is the vine-growing area quite distinct; the region is also home to several of Argentina's top producers. Attracted by the excellent climate and soil quality, famous oenologist Michel Rolland chose Valley de Uco already in 1994 for his project Clos de los Siete, producing one of the finest Argentina wines. Newcomers with historic Bordeaux-based names such as Lurton, Dassault or Rothschild also have given Valley de Uco a firm place on the international wine map.One of the valleys benefits is its higher-altitude location at the foot of the Andes mountains sitting at altitudes of 2800 ft and 3600 ft. Located at a latitude of 33°S, the area's elevated vineyard sites benefit from high daytime temperatures which dropto cool at night. This is a key factor for the grapes to produce balanced sugars and acidity while achieving phenolic ripeness. The relatively cool climate allows the requisite slower ripening period and therefore not only reds but also some of the finest Argentina white wines come from here.
The Uco valley is roughly 45 miles long with an average width of 15 miles. The continental climate provides little rain, which makes irrigation important. Due to the Tunuyan river flowing from its source high up in the Andean mountains through the valley, there is plenty of water to do so.Clay and rock base with a stony, sandy surface building the soils through out the Valle de Uco. Those types of soils are excellent for producing quality grapes as they lead to decreased vigor and lower yields, resulting in higher concentration of flavor.Ojos de Toro wines (with the exception of Torrontes) are all made of grapes from this exceptional vine-growing region.