Bodegas Salentein

Tucked away in the high desert foothills of the Andes, the remote Uco Valley is one of the most talked-about and exciting wine regions in the Americas — thanks in large part to the pioneering efforts of the Bodegas Salentein winery, founded by Dutch entrepreneur Mijndert Pon in the mid-1990s. Thanks to over 25 years of passionate work, love for the land, and respect for its people, the Pon family helped position the Uco Valley as a world-renowned appellation.

Today, Frederike and Ben Pon are leading this benchmark estate built by their father and they remain committed to mastering the art of high-altitude vineyard cultivation.

As anyone familiar with their wines can attest, they are succeeding beautifully.

With vineyards located between 1,050-1,700 meters / 3,445-5,577 feet above sea level, Salentein’s Uco Valley wines are incredibly fresh, terroir-driven expressions that are crafted with deep-rooted respect for the native land, people, and culture. Captivating to any fine wine lover or terroir fanatic, the Uco Valley’s dream-like terroir comprises staggering altitudes, a wide range of meso- and microclimates, and unique, heterogenous soils.

Salentein was the first to plant and cultivate vines in the region’s San Pablo territory in 1996 and were instrumental in the creation of its official Geographic Indication, which gained recognition in 2019 — a realization of Pon’s vision that this is a very special spot to grow wine.

Their San Pablo GI vineyard holdings include La Pampa, Los Nogales, Las Secuoyas, Los Jabalíes, and El Cerro. Across the rest of the Uco’s Tunuyán district, Salentein also holds prime single vineyards in the Gualtallary GI (Las Tunas) the Altamira GI (El Tomillo) and in Los Arboles (El Oasis).

Aside from being terroir groundbreakers in the Uco Valley, Salentein is also the region’s first enotourism destination — beyond its world-class winery and cellars, the property is home to a 49-hectare / 121-acre nature preserve, the showpiece Killka Center for Culture and the Arts (one of Argentina’s premier galleries), Posada Salentein (luxury guest accommodations), fine dining restaurants, and the landmark Chapel of Gratitude, a non-denominational chapel, built using ancient local stonework techniques.

From highly nuanced single-vineyard expressions (the product of tirelessly innovative research) to the easy-going, everyday releases, Bodegas Salentein is a byword for the celebration of Argentina’s fine wine culture that is not just fully established but continuing to grow.