Our Name

We are often questioned about the name 'Altos las Hormigas', which translates as 'Ants Heights'. It is a name which incites curiosity both in the English and Spanish speaking world, for different reasons.

When our first vineyard was planted in 1996, our workers faced a stiff altercation with the local ant colonies. Our estate is surrounded mostly by open fields with countless nests, and the ants loved to feed on the tender sprouts of our newly-planted young vines. As we refused to poison the ants, and looked for natural ways to deflect their attention, our workers commented that the ants were the ‘real’ owners of the place, free to roam around effortlessly. We liked this novel idea of the ants owning the place, and decided to name our venture after this early situation. As the vines grew taller, the ants moved to other foods.

Today the hard-working, team-playing 'hormiga' is emblematic of our history: a symbol and a good luck charm.

Furthermore, 'A job for Ants' is the Argentine saying for a humble, patient, and extended work, a saying which we have used since that day.