We almost always know Malbec as a red wine, but Alpasión turns that expectation completely on its head here: this famous dark-skinned grape is used to create a rare white wine from high-altitude Los Chacayes. Floral notes, peach, and apricot are combined with a silky texture and lively mountain freshness, making La Huella feel simultaneously surprising, refined, and wonderfully pure.
The grapes come from Los Chacayes in the Uco Valley, at the foot of the Andes mountains in Mendoza.
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Location / Origin: Los Chacayes is situated in the higher Tunuyán zone of the Uco Valley. Alpasión owns an 85-hectare estate here, in the middle of an area known for its high altitude and pronounced temperature fluctuations.
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Altitude: The vineyards are located at over 1,200 meters above sea level. At this altitude, intense daytime sun and significant cooling at night ensure ripe fruit while maintaining natural acidity.
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Soil: The alluvial soil is sandy, stony, and well-draining. This relatively poor substrate inhibits the vigor of the vines and helps to develop concentrated, aromatic fruit.
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Climate & Influences: The dry continental climate combines plenty of sun with cool nights and meltwater from the Andes. The large diurnal shifts are crucial for the fresh tension that this white interpretation of Malbec requires.
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Vineyard Management: Alpasión's vineyards have been organically certified since 2022. Soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable water use are central to their management practices.
The uniqueness lies primarily in how a dark-skinned grape is transformed into a strikingly delicate white wine.
How does dark Malbec become a white wine? The virtually colorless juice is quickly separated from the dark grape skins, ensuring that almost no pigments are extracted.
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Fermentation: The must is fermented for 20 days in stainless steel tanks with selected yeasts at 13 °C. The low temperature and lack of skin contact keep the profile bright and emphasize flowers, stone fruit, and fresh citrus.
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Maturation: The wine remains entirely in stainless steel. This gives the pure fruit full scope and keeps the style light, fresh, and distinctly grape-focused.
This special white cuvée is made entirely from the grape that usually defines the face of red wine from Argentina.
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100% Malbec – Los Chacayes: Without prolonged skin contact, Malbec reveals a completely different side, featuring delicate floral aromas, peach, and apricot instead of the dark fruit and tannin structure associated with the red version.
Argentina
