Santa Julia 2023 "La Vaquita" Clarete Natural, Mendoza, Argentina

La Vaquita Clarete Natural is a blend of 80% Malbec, giving bright tart red fruit and 20% Torrontes which provides its beautiful floral character. A minimal intervention wine, “natural” if you need the buzz word, just means that this wine is a pure expression of the two grape varieties in the bottle.  The natural winemaking process ensures no external agents are added. The red and white grapes are co-fermented for 10 days and give off fresh and fruit aromas reminiscent of fresh strawberries, raspberries, cherries, and soft white flowers.  The natural acidity in this wine is screaming for a bit of a chill on the bottle, making this juicy, fruity red wine perfect for our warmer months here in Southern California.  Close your eyes and you might mistake it for a delightfully fresh-tasting white wine!

Santa Julia comes from the world of Zuccardi wines.  Alberto Zuccardi, affectionally known as “Tito”, planted this vineyard in 1963 to showcase the new irrigation system he invented to counter the high-altitude desert conditions of Mendoza.  The vines are planted between 2,950 and 5,580 feet above sea level, resulting in cooler temperatures.  Because the climate is so arid, the only place the family can grow grapes is near rivers, in this case, the Tunuya River flowing from the Andes.  

In 1999 Julia, José Zuccardi’s daughter, took charge of the family’s second label Santa Julia, the same year Zuccardi’s first vineyard was certified organic.  In 2020, the family introduced their line of natural wines which reflects the core values they have had since Tito planted their first vineyards in 1963.

The little cow, “La Vaquita”, on the label is named Olivia, a gift to Julia’s niece Helena on her birthday. The calf lives on the farm of small animals on their estate in Maipu.