The Lurton brothers have been active in Argentina since 1992, and after a long search, decided to establish their own winery in 1996. They settled in the Uco Valley. The terrain they chose in the high Uco Valley was desert. No one had yet planted a vine in that part of Mendoza. Francois Lurton now has 250 hectares of land, of which approximately 200 hectares are planted. The vineyard is located south of Mendoza, at an altitude of 1,100 meters, on soil composed of gravel, volcanic sand, and pebbles. The Alta Colección range consists of four grape varieties. Piedra Negra has chosen to plant Pinot Gris as an alternative to Chardonnay. They now have the largest Pinot Gris vineyard in all of Argentina.
The grapes are harvested by hand at night or in the cool morning. They are then taken directly to the winery, where, after rigorous selection, they are carefully destemmed and pressed. The resulting must is kept cold for 24 hours to allow sediment particles to settle and fermented through the addition of select yeasts. After fermentation is complete, this wine remains on the fine lees for three to six months before final bottling.
The result is a white wine that appears a brilliant straw yellow in the glass. It has fresh aromas of white peach and pear. Wonderfully fruity. The fresh, juicy palate brings plenty of fruit and a lively acidity. Despite everything, this Argentinian white wine is soft, full-bodied, and wonderfully balanced, making it a stylish and charming seductive wine. The beautiful aroma lingers on the finish. This dry white wine from Argentina pairs perfectly with pasta with fish and seafood, monkfish with Provençal herbs and spices, or roast pork.
Argentina
