Despite the million tiny details that run through the mind of agronomist Mauricio Gonzalez and his team during harvest, there is one in particular that rules the rest for Harvest 2013: respect the terroir.

This year marks a distinct shift in vineyard management based on a series of micro-terroir maps. We have a terroir map of every vineyard we work with. The result? A 2013 harvest calendar that zig-zags through the various blocks and vineyards reminiscent of a mad scientist, but with one clear unifying factor:  earlier harvest dates across the board.

So we had to be ready early, and with a renewed sense of thoughtfulness. The reality is, if the physical act of harvesting does not respect all the hard work and consideration put into the  vineyards over the past year, we’ve been wasting our time.

It is time! On March 11th, 2013 we harvested our first Malbec from Uco Valley, in the Chacayes region of Vista Flores.

This is the first year using the new 15 kilo bins. The small capacity bins not only assure very little MOG (material other than grapes) but most importantly, promise the most gentle environment for transport.

Grapes are hand picked and carefully stacked in the bins, where very little breakage occurs. Which means the Malbec arrives intact, in perfect form, full of all the characteristics that could have only come from that specific block, at that specific moment. That is terroir.

Now all we can do is hope that the winemaking team doesn’t screw it up…