Zorzal
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Country of Origin: Argentina
Location: Gualtallary, Tupungato
People: Juan Pablo Michelini, Winemaker | Noelia Juri, Oenologist
Viticulture: Practicing Organic
Items
Media Links
Grape Collective: Elevating Malbec: Gerardo Michelini of Zorzal
Quench Magazine: Argentina's Canadian Connection
Around the World in 80 Harvests: A New Style of Wine in Mendoza: Interview with Winemaker Matias Michelini
Amanda Barnes Blog: 10 Argentine Winemaker's to Watch (Matias & Juan Pablo both mentioned)
Dining Out: Zorzal Wines
De Vinos y Vides: Juan Pablo Michelini: Creando Vinos en Huevos de Cemento
Social Media Links
Instagram: @juampimiche, @noeliajuri
Zorzal is a young winery that began in 2007 by the Michelini brothers, Gerardo, Matias, and Juan Pablo (the winemaker) along with a group of Canadian investors, with it’s first vintage being 2008. The winery and vineyards are located in the subregion of the Uco Valley called Gualtallary, outside the town of Tupungato, at approximately 4,500 feet above sea level, which makes it the highest winery in Mendoza. The estate consists of 70 hectares on a unique blend of sand, stones, and limestone and is planted to multiple varietals including Malbec, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a few others.
The grapes are all harvested by hand, and the vision is to have minimal intervention (or a "light hand") in the winery so as to let the fruit and terroir shine. The winery practices organic methods in the vineyards and uses only indigenous yeast in the winemaking process. Zorzal tends to pick its grapes a little earlier (greener) than most in Mendoza to retain freshness and acidity in their wines instead of the overblown ripeness that is too often seen. They are already considered to be a rising star in Argentina with their focused wines and enticing expression of multiple varietals above and beyond their stunning Malbecs.