What if we talked about wine in a different way?
Zuccardi Uco Valley is today one of the most influential wineries in Argentina.
With Let’s Talk, the idea is simple: to create sincere, curious and sometimes unexpected conversations with the people shaping some of the world’s most remarkable wines. Far from overly technical discussions or complex analyses, these exchanges give a voice to the women and men who live and breathe wine every day.
Through their experiences, visions and anecdotes, Let’s Talk invites us to discover wine estates from a different perspective, through the people, the stories and the passion behind every bottle.
In this third episode, Esther Degorce-Dumas speaks with Sebastián Zuccardi, a key figure in Argentine winemaking and a representative of the third generation of the Zuccardi family.
Together, they explore the history of the estate Zuccardi Uco Valley, the unique identity of the Uco Valley, and how Zuccardi has become one of the most respected wine estates in the world.
Located at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, in the heart of Argentina’s Uco Valley, the family estate Zuccardi Uco Valley has established itself as an international benchmark. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, Zuccardi Valle de Uco was even named Best Vineyard in the World.
Between altitude, terroir and family vision, this conversation reveals another way of talking about wine more human, more spontaneous and deeply rooted in nature.
Zuccardi: A Leading Name in Argentine Wine
Esther Degorce-Dumas: “How would you describe Zuccardi today?”
Sebastián Zuccardi: “Above all, we are a family of winegrowers.”
Behind Zuccardi lies a family story deeply connected to the land and the vineyard. For several generations, the Zuccardi family has played a major role in the development and international recognition of Argentine wine.
Founded in the 1960s by Alberto Zuccardi, the estate Zuccardi Uco Valley gradually expanded to become one of the most influential wine properties in Argentina. Over time, each generation has contributed its vision and expertise while maintaining a strong connection to nature and the landscapes of the region.
Today, the estate Zuccardi Uco Valley is led by Sebastián Zuccardi, representing the third generation of the family. Under his direction, the focus has evolved toward an even deeper understanding of terroir: studying the soils, observing the landscape and revealing the unique identity of each vineyard plot in the Uco Valley.
For Sebastián Zuccardi, wine should not simply be the result of a technique or a predefined style. It should first and foremost be the expression of a place. Each bottle becomes a way of telling the story of a landscape, a climate and a specific terroir.
This philosophy guides every aspect of the Zuccardi Uco Valley’s work, from soil studies to winemaking. The wines are designed to reflect as closely as possible the identity of the valley and the singularity of its different terroirs.
This constant pursuit of authenticity explains why Zuccardi is now recognized worldwide. The Zuccardi Uco Valley’s wines stand out for their precision, freshness and ability to express the unique character of the Uco Valley terroirs.
The Uco Valley: A Unique High-Altitude Terroir
Esther Degorce-Dumas: “What makes the Uco Valley so special?”
Sebastián Zuccardi: “It’s a place where the mountains, the climate and the soils create a unique identity.”
Located at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, the Uco Valley is now considered one of the most fascinating wine regions in Argentina. Both wild and spectacular, this high-altitude territory offers ideal natural conditions for producing great wines.
Altitude is one of the key elements shaping the valley’s identity. In some vineyards, vines grow at more than 1,000 meters above sea level, which directly influences grape ripening. Sunny days help concentrate the fruit, while cool nights preserve natural acidity and aromatic freshness.
This strong thermal amplitude between day and night produces grapes that are both ripe and balanced, capable of creating expressive and precise wines.
The soils of the Uco Valley also play a crucial role in defining the wines. Composed of stones, limestone and alluvial deposits from the mountains, they bring complexity and a distinctive mineral character to the Zuccardi Uco Valley’s wines.
For Sebastián Zuccardi, understanding these soils and landscapes is essential. Each vineyard parcel has its own identity, shaped by altitude, soil composition and sun exposure.
This approach allows the estate to produce wines that faithfully reflect their origin: concentrated yet elegant wines marked by remarkable freshness a true signature of the high-altitude terroirs of the Uco Valley.
A Family Deeply Connected to the Land
Esther Degorce-Dumas: “Zuccardi is above all a family story…”
Sebastián Zuccardi: “Yes, everything starts with a passion for the land and the vineyard.”
The story of Zuccardi is first and foremost that of a family deeply connected to the land and the landscapes of the Uco Valley. Since the creation of the estate Zuccardi Uco Valley, each generation has contributed to the development of the vineyard while maintaining a strong relationship with nature and the region’s terroirs.
It all began with Alberto Zuccardi, who founded the estate in the 1960s with a vision rooted in agriculture and innovation. Over the years, the family gradually expanded the vineyards and explored new terroirs within the valley.
Today, Sebastián Zuccardi continues this family adventure with a clear philosophy: to understand more deeply the soils, landscapes and climates of the region in order to reveal the unique identity of each terroir.
For him, producing wine is not just about crafting a high-quality beverage. It is about interpreting a landscape and translating the richness of a place through each vintage.
This approach relies on careful observation of nature. The Zuccardi Uco Valley’s teams study the soils, monitor climate variations and observe vine behavior throughout the seasons in order to better understand the vineyard’s natural balance.
Each vintage thus becomes a new interpretation of the landscape of the Uco Valley. The wine becomes the reflection of a place, a year and the work of the people who cultivate these lands.
If Zuccardi Were a Personality
Esther Degorce-Dumas: “If Zuccardi were a celebrity?”
Sebastián Zuccardi: “Perhaps someone deeply connected to nature.”
Comparing a wine estate to a personality may seem unusual, but it often helps capture the identity and philosophy of a vineyard.
In the case of Zuccardi, that personality would likely be someone deeply connected to nature, guided by a strong vision and rooted in their origins.
This comparison perfectly reflects the spirit of the estate. For generations, the Zuccardi family has placed nature and terroir at the center of its approach.
The Zuccardi Uco Valley’s wines express this philosophy. They stand out for their authenticity, precision and ability to faithfully reflect the terroirs of the Uco Valley.
Like a strong personality, Zuccardi asserts its style with simplicity and coherence. The estate does not follow trends but remains faithful to its vision: producing wines that tell the story of their terroir and the nature surrounding them.
Harvest in the Uco Valley
Esther Degorce-Dumas: “What is your favourite moment of the year?”
Sebastián Zuccardi: “Harvest, of course.”
Like in all great wine estates, harvest season represents one of the most important and intense moments of the year in the Uco Valley.
After months of work in the vineyard, this period marks the culmination of an entire growing season. From winter pruning to the ripening of grapes at the end of summer, every stage of vineyard work prepares for this decisive moment.
The Zuccardi Uco Valley’s teams carefully monitor grape development to determine the ideal time for harvest.
In the Uco Valley, altitude and climatic conditions play a key role in shaping each vintage. The strong temperature variations between warm days and cool nights help preserve the freshness and aromatic complexity of the grapes.
During harvest, the rhythm of the estate intensifies. Teams work in the vineyards and the winery to pick the grapes at the precise moment when they achieve the best balance between ripeness, freshness and concentration.
Beyond the technical aspects, harvest is also a deeply human moment. It brings together everyone involved in the life of the estate around a common goal: harvesting the fruit of a year’s work and giving birth to a new vintage.
At Zuccardi, harvest symbolizes the essence of the winemaker’s craft transforming the fruit of the vine into a wine capable of telling the story of a place, a landscape and a particular year.
Conclusion: Zuccardi, a Major Signature of Argentine Wine
Through this episode of Let’s Talk, Zuccardi appears as much more than a simple Argentine wine estate.
The estate Zuccardi Uco Valley embodies a vision of wine deeply connected to nature, terroir and family heritage.
Throughout the conversation between Esther Degorce-Dumas and Sebastián Zuccardi, one idea becomes clear: wine is above all a way of expressing a landscape.
In the Uco Valley, the Andes Mountains, mineral soils and high-altitude climate shape wines that carry the imprint of their origin.
Thanks to this approach combined with the vision and passion of the Zuccardi family the estate has become one of the leading references of South American wine.
With Let’s Talk, the goal remains the same: telling these stories differently by giving a voice to the people behind the world’s great wines.
And Zuccardi is a remarkable illustration of this vision a place where family tradition, deep understanding of terroir and a modern vision of wine come together to create wines that tell the story of a place.
Discover the conversation between Esther Degorce-Dumas and Sebastián Zuccardi.
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