Manos Negras, Malbec, Uco Valley, Argentina

Manos Negras key focus is developing a sustainable latitude winemaking, by planting old Malbec vines in the cherished Altamira appellation in the Uco Valley, and region such stretches of Cadayate in Salta and Neuquen in Patagonia.

The effect of the Andes play a significant importance in the Uco Valley wine making in the region. The snowmelt from the Andes is used for irrigation water, to sustain the agriculture and wine industry, in these region with  near desert conditions.

Uco Valley has been a wine scene since the 1920s. However Uco Valley was deemed not viable, because it was far away from Mendoza were the production facilities is located and consumers. Hence Uco Valley grapes rarely featured on labels, as it was only used as partner grapes in the wine making to add colour and acidity.

It was in the 1970s When the Argentine government offered an incentive to plant vines in hotter East Mendoza, Uco Valley. High-yielding, poor quality grapes such Criolla vines were planted in large quantity. However by the mid-1990s, the vineyards area decreased from 18,000ha at its peak point to 6,000ha, vineyards were replaced by tomatoes farming.

In the last twenty years Uco Valley has flourished and is becoming one of the most vibrant wine region in Argentina, producing high quality wines.

Uco Valley rigion is now producing Argentina’s best Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs and it has certainly enhanced the profile of  Argentinean Malbec.

The region’s soils, sun exposure intensity, and cold nights, allow the vines to produce  grapes with  intense fruit aromas  and the vines develop well balanced natural acidity and lower pHs. Giving the wines the right conditions to age. The Malbec wines from the region high altitude, at their best, display intense colour and aromas, fresh acidity, red fruits and velvet tannins and fantastic structure.

Fermented at temperatures below 24º C for 12 days, with a 28 day maceration, before aging in French oak.

Manos Negras Malbec, Uco Valley, Argentina has intense colour and aromas, fresh acidity, red fruits and velvet tannins and fantastic structure violet aromas and a soft, supple texture.