The Estate

The land came first. Everything else follows it.

Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo: at the foot of the mountains, where the Andes decide the weather and the water.

Some vineyards are planted. Ours was inherited: we are preserving a century-old piece of Argentine heritage. Living in tune with the cycle of the Andes, working alongside nature.

The Land

Perdriel, at the foot of the Andes

Calle Cobos in Perdriel sits at 995 metres, as one of the prime avenues of Malbec, where cold mountain nights follow hot desert days. That diurnal swing is why the fruit keeps its acidity while it ripens, and bestows both weight and lift to the wines. The soil is alluvial: stones the river left behind, creating excellent ground for growing quality wines.

Old Vines

Ungrafted, and over a hundred years old

These vines sit on their own roots: never grafted onto American rootstock, because the sandy soils here kept phylloxera out. A century of growth means deep roots, tiny yields, and small, thick-skinned berries. You cannot plant your way to this; you can only inherit it.

Farming

Flood irrigation and old ways

The irrigation systems developed by the indigenous Huarpe people before the arrival of Europeans were key to successful agriculture in the region, and they are still in use today. For centuries, channels and aqueducts have carried water down from the Andes to the lower lands, bringing fresh drinking water to the cities.

Jonas, Jens and Jannik Reichenbach on the estate

The Family

Father and sons working together.

Jonas, Jens and Jannik Reichenbach

Ciclo Andino was founded by the German Reichenbach family, who realised in Mendoza their vision of a modern wine tourism project that pairs world-class wines with exclusive hospitality. The story begins with the historic winery around Villa Maria-Luisa, built in the 1920s and, after a long and thorough restoration, shining again in its former glory.

When the family took over, the property was in a desolate state, but the potential was clear. It was that vision which moved them to take on the winery and the villa and make the dream real. Ciclo Andino preserves Argentina's heritage so it can be shared with the generations to come.

The Team

The team of Ciclo Andino.

Giuseppe Franceschini

Winemaker

Italian, and responsible for how the wines are grown and made: an organic, partly biodynamic philosophy in the vineyard. In the cellar a modern approach making elegant wines which show their terroir.

Marcela Bartolini

Hospitality Manager

Responsible for your experience at Ciclo Andino, makes your stay unique and memorable. No matter if you stay the night or join a wine tasting.

Portrait of Joachim Hofsähs — Joachim Hofsähs

Portrait of Jörg Neermann — Jörg Neermann

Partners

Joachim and Jörg haven been long-standing friends of the family. They provide support and counsel wherever possible. Joachim’s grandfather was a winemaker, so he helped with the grape harvest even as a child. He was therefore immediately enthusiastic about the project. Jörg is venture capital fund advisor specializing in food and biotechnology. Currently working on a company that extracts exosomes from fruits, including grapes

A cluster of ripe Malbec grapes on a hundred-year-old ungrafted vine at Ciclo Andino

Taste how a hundred years elevate a vine.

See the Wines Visit the Estate

Jonas writes at more length about the vines, the site and the farming in Notes from Perdriel.

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