Locals in Mendoza affectionately refer to the time between harvests as the “low season.” The days are short and quiet, the temperature is cool, the pace is slow and the vineyards are bare… except for a couple telling signs of last year’s life.

However, the reality is, winemakers, agronomists and viticulturists would hardly call this season “down time” – as they anxiously shuffle from tank to barrel watching, fixing, stressing over the tiny details. In the vineyards, the exhausted workers  prune & prep, preparing the dormant vines for a long sleep.

The winter season also gives us the opportunity to do a little extra terroir hunting and exploration of our own backyard. Something we often take for granted. You never know what you’ll find…

And if you are really ambitious (or crazy?), and not a siesta type of person, you might even decide to take on a HUGE project during this so-called “down time” …

Call us crazy. We are planting a new Malbec Vineyard! Armed with a team of dedicated professionals, ambition, and the biodynamic counsel of Alan York, we began the initial stages immediately.

One of our first tasks was to analyze the conductivity, drainage and overall state of our soil (one of many, many tasks…) This allows Mauricio to create a custom drip irrigation system, specific to each individual vine. A luxury we didn’t always have at Altos Las Hormigas.

This new plantation is our first Estate vineyard planted and managed 100% according to the idea of TERROIR.  We invite you to follow us this season: in the new vineyard as well as alongside us during the rush of Harvest 2013. It all starts here.