FRANC

Argentina · Mendoza · High Altitude

Argentine Cabernet Franc:
Andean Elegance

Altitude, freshness, and the sophisticated soul
of Argentina's terroir — where the Andes meet the glass.

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Origin & Evolution

From France to the Andes:
The Rise of Argentine Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest grape varieties in the world — a quiet ancestor that gave birth to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, yet for centuries lived in their shadow. In Bordeaux and the Loire Valley, it played a supporting role. In Argentina, it found its spotlight.

When Cabernet Franc arrived in Mendoza, something unexpected happened. The high-altitude terroirs — particularly the limestone and alluvial soils of the Valle de Uco — stripped away the grape's characteristic green, herbaceous edge and replaced it with something far more refined: red fruit, violet florals, silky tannins, and a mineral tension that no other region in the world replicates quite the same way.

Today, Argentine Cabernet Franc is no longer a footnote. It is a statement. Winemakers across Luján de Cuyo and Gualtallary are crafting single-varietal expressions that compete with the finest bottles from Saint-Émilion — at altitude, with soul.

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Primary

Violet, red plum, fresh raspberry, pomegranate, rose petal

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Herbal & Spice

Roasted red pepper, graphite, eucalyptus, dried thyme

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Terroir

Chalk, wet stone, iron, mountain freshness

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Oak & Evolution

Dark chocolate, cedar, tobacco, vanilla, leather

Tannins

6.5

Acidity

7.2

Body

6.8

Fruit

7.8

Finish

8.2

Minerality

8.5

Color

Deep ruby with violet edges — intense and transparent, reflecting the altitude-driven freshness of Andean terroir.

Nose

Violet florals lead, followed by ripe red plum and raspberry. A whisper of roasted pepper and graphite gives complexity without heaviness.

Palate

Silky, elegant tannins frame a core of red fruit and mineral tension. The finish is long, precise, and unmistakably Andean.

Signature

No green edge. No herbaceous aggression. Only altitude, freshness, and the sophisticated soul of Argentine terroir.

Altitude

900–1,500m

Valle de Uco / Gualtallary

Alcohol

13–14.5%

Balanced by high acidity

Harvest

March–April

Late summer in Southern Hemisphere

Oak Aging

12–18 mo

French oak, 30–50% new

Cellaring

8–15 yrs

Premium expressions up to 20

Serving Temp

16–18°C

Decant 45 min before serving

Argentine asado — beef short ribs and lamb chops

Game meats — venison, wild boar, duck confit

Wild mushroom risotto with truffle oil

Aged cheeses — Gruyère, Manchego, Pecorino

Herb-crusted rack of lamb with rosemary jus

Dark chocolate and espresso desserts

Live the Terroir · Mendoza, Argentina

Walk the Vineyards
Where It All Begins

Private tours, sunset tastings, and harvest experiences in the heart of Cabernet Franc country.

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Wine Tastings

Guided tastings at top Mendoza wineries with expert sommeliers

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Sunset Tours

Valle de Uco at golden hour — vines, Andes, and a glass of Cab Franc

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Private Transfers

Comfortable door-to-door service from Mendoza city to the vineyards

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Harvest Experience

Pick grapes, blend your own wine, and take a bottle home

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Valle de Uco

The Crown of Argentine Cabernet Franc

A vast valley nestled at the foot of the Andes, Valle de Uco is where Argentine Cabernet Franc reaches its most refined expression. Extreme altitude, limestone soils, and dramatic day-to-night temperature swings produce wines of extraordinary tension and elegance.

Limestone Alluvial High Altitude Cool Nights

Altitude

900–1,500m

Highest wine-producing valley in Mendoza

Temperature Range

20°C daily

Extreme diurnal variation preserves acidity

Soil

Limestone & Clay

Gives mineral tension and vertical structure

Key Subzones

Gualtallary · Altamira

Most sought-after terroirs in Argentina

Luján de Cuyo

Tradition, Sun & Structure

The historic heartland of Mendoza wine, Luján de Cuyo brings warmth, body, and concentration to Cabernet Franc. Here the grape shows a riper, more structured character — dark fruit, firm tannins, and the kind of depth that rewards long cellaring.

Sandy Loam Gravel Old Vines Full Body

Altitude

700–1,100m

Lower than Uco, warmer microclimate

Style

Rich & Structured

Dark fruit, firm tannins, long finish

Soil

Sandy Loam

Deep alluvial deposits from Andean rivers

Cellaring

10–20 yrs

Best expressions age exceptionally well

Gualtallary

The Search for Verticality & Chalk

Argentina's most extreme terroir. At over 1,400m, Gualtallary's white limestone soils and brutal diurnal shifts produce Cabernet Franc of almost electric tension. These are wines of precision, purity, and a mineral depth unlike anything else in the New World.

White Limestone 1,400m+ Electric Tension Extreme Diurnal

Altitude

1,200–1,500m

Argentina's highest quality wine zone

Signature

Chalk & Violet

Unmistakable mineral-floral fingerprint

Soil

White Limestone

Unique in South America

Style

Vertical & Pure

Less fruit, more tension and minerality

Paraje Altamira

Rocky Soils, Silky Wines

Paraje Altamira sits at the southern tip of Valle de Uco, where rocky alluvial soils and high altitude create Cabernet Franc of remarkable finesse. The wines here balance the floral elegance of Gualtallary with a rounder, more approachable texture.

Rocky Alluvial Silky Tannins Southern Uco Finesse

Altitude

900–1,200m

Southern Valle de Uco

Style

Elegant & Round

Floral with approachable structure

Soil

Rocky Alluvial

Poor soils — concentrated, expressive fruit

Best For

Earlier Drinking