The Son's Hand & the Andean Altitude
Matías Riccitelli is the next-generation winemaker in the highest reaches of Las Compuertas, Luján de Cuyo — born in Cafayate, Salta, raised in the shadow of his father Jorge Riccitelli (the first Latin American winemaker to be named Wine Enthusiast's Winemaker of the Year in 2012), and forged by harvests in Bordeaux, South Africa and Mendoza's most prestigious estates. In 2009, he founded Riccitelli Wines in Las Compuertas at 1,100 metres above sea level, building a portfolio that spans 20 hectares of old ungrafted vines in Luján de Cuyo — including a Malbec vineyard planted in 1927 — 20 hectares in Gualtallary at 1,400 metres, 8 hectares in Los Chacayes IG, 10 hectares in San Pablo IG, and since 2015, Riccitelli Patagonia along the banks of the Río Negro, where 17 hectares of 1950s-planted vines produce cool-climate expressions of Semillón, Bastardo (Trousseau), Pinot Noir and Chenin Blanc. All fruit is hand-picked, fermented with exclusively indigenous yeasts, and handled with gravity flow in the cellar to preserve the delicate integrity of high-altitude fruit. The result is a portfolio that is simultaneously playful and profound, modern and deeply rooted — wines with quirky, fun labels that belie the serious terroir work inside the bottle.
Cafayate, Bordeaux & the Father's Hand
The story of Matías Riccitelli begins in Cafayate, Salta — a charming village in the far north of Argentina where the Calchaquí Valley produces some of the world's highest-altitude wines and where wine is not merely an industry but a way of life. Born into a family where wine flowed through the veins, Matías grew up in the orbit of his father, Jorge Riccitelli — the legendary chief winemaker at one of Mendoza's oldest and most prestigious wineries, and the first Latin American to be named Wine Enthusiast's Winemaker of the Year in 2012. But rather than rest on his father's laurels, Matías chose to earn his own.
After formal training in Argentina, Matías embarked on a tireless journey of global harvests — working vintages in Bordeaux and South Africa, gaining experience, anecdotes, and a perspective that would prove essential to his own voice. He returned to Mendoza and spent years overseeing operations at one of the region's highly regarded French family-owned estates, absorbing the technical precision of Old World winemaking while remaining deeply connected to the raw energy of New World fruit. By 2009, the synthesis was complete: he established Riccitelli Wines in Las Compuertas, the highest area of traditional Luján de Cuyo, with a simple but ambitious goal — to blend everything he learned abroad with the teachings of his mentor and father, and to create wines that express both personality and place.
The relationship between father and son is not merely biographical; it is bottled. The Riccitelli & Father range — a collaboration between Matías and Jorge — symbolises the union of two generations and two philosophies: the father's classical structure and the son's restless innovation. And the Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree line — perhaps the most playfully named wine in Argentina — is a Malbec sourced from equal parts Gualtallary in the Uco Valley and Perdriel in Luján de Cuyo, a literal and metaphorical bridge between the father's world and the son's. The labels are modern, quirky and fun — a visual declaration that serious wine need not take itself too seriously.
"A tireless traveler and dreamer, Matías trained as a winemaker in one of Argentina's most prestigious wineries. After traveling the world through multiple harvests, gaining experience and anecdotes, he decided to blend everything he learned throughout his career with the teachings of his mentor and father, Jorge Riccitelli."
— Riccitelli Wines
Las Compuertas, Gualtallary & the Patagonian Hand
The Riccitelli estate is not a single vineyard but a mosaic of extreme terroirs stretching from the historic foothills of Luján de Cuyo to the windswept plains of Patagonia. The Las Compuertas winery sits at 1,100 metres above sea level in the highest area of traditional Luján de Cuyo, approximately 25 kilometres south of Mendoza city. Here, 20 hectares of old, ungrafted vines — including a Malbec vineyard planted in 1927 — thrive on the district's characteristic alluvial soils of loam, sand and gravel, irrigated by pure snowmelt from the Andes. The altitude, the mountain breeze, and the thermal amplitude create conditions of natural acidity and aromatic complexity that distinguish Las Compuertas from the warmer, lower-elevation zones of Mendoza.
In the Uco Valley, Matías has assembled a remarkable collection of high-altitude parcels. 20 hectares in Gualtallary — in the Monasterio area at 1,400 metres — reveal the extraordinary potential of Argentina's most prestigious Geographical Indication through mountain viticulture on unique soils and exposures. 8 hectares in Los Chacayes IG and 10 hectares in San Pablo IG push even higher, with the Viñas Extremas line drawn from vineyards above 1,500 metres. These extreme sites — characterised by stony, calcareous, alluvial and colluvial soils with rounded river stones and calcium-carbonate-rich silt — produce wines of vibrant colour, lifted florals, and fine chalk-textured tannins. The cool, wind-exposed edges of these GIs restrict vigour, concentrate berries, and lend a saline, mineral precision that is unmistakably high-altitude Mendoza.
Then there is Patagonia. In 2015, Matías and his team brought Riccitelli Patagonia to life along the banks of the Río Negro — a radical expansion into one of Argentina's most distinctive cool-climate regions. Here, 17 hectares planted in the 1950s are farmed organically and naturally, benefiting from a unique ecosystem of semi-desert conditions, sandy-loam soils, and constant wind. The focus is on forgotten and short-cycle varieties: Semillón, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Bastardo (Trousseau), Riesling, Torrontés, Merlot and Malbec. Matías was one of the first winemakers in Mendoza to work extensively with Bastardo — a variety almost extinct in South America — and his Patagonian expression has helped revive global interest in the grape. The result is a portfolio that captures the full geographic and climatic diversity of Argentina — from the warm alluvial gravels of Las Compuertas to the extreme calcareous terraces of Los Chacayes to the windswept deserts of Río Negro.
The spiritual heart of Riccitelli Wines is the Las Compuertas estate in Luján de Cuyo — 20 hectares of old, ungrafted vines at 1,100 metres, including a Malbec vineyard planted in 1927. The soils are alluvial loam, sand and gravel, with excellent drainage and mineral complexity. The altitude and mountain breeze create sharp diurnal temperature swings that preserve natural acidity and aromatic freshness. These are not high-yielding, trellised vines but low-yielding, head-trained survivors that produce small berries of extraordinary concentration. The Las Compuertas fruit provides the backbone for the Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree range and the Riccitelli & Father collaboration — wines that bridge the traditional warmth of Luján de Cuyo with the freshness of high-altitude viticulture.
The Uco Valley parcels represent Matías's ambition to push Malbec and other varieties to their altitude limits. Twenty hectares in Gualtallary at 1,400 metres, 8 hectares in Los Chacayes, and 10 hectares in San Pablo — all situated above 1,500 metres for the Viñas Extremas line. The soils are stony and calcareous, dominated by alluvial and colluvial deposits with rounded river stones and calcium-carbonate-rich silt. The intense UV light, cool nights, and constant Andean winds keep disease pressure low and preserve acidity. These extreme conditions produce wines of vibrant colour, lifted violet and lavender aromatics, and fine chalk-textured tannins. The Viñas Extremas Malbec from Los Chacayes is fermented with native yeasts in concrete vessels with approximately 30% whole clusters, then aged 16 months in French oak — a wine of purity, precision, and extraordinary ageing potential.
Riccitelli Patagonia, established in 2015 along the banks of the Río Negro, is Matías's cool-climate laboratory and heritage rescue mission. Seventeen hectares planted in the 1950s are farmed organically and naturally in semi-desert conditions with sandy-loam soils and constant wind. The project focuses on forgotten varieties and short-cycle grapes: Semillón, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Bastardo (Trousseau), Riesling, Torrontés, Merlot and Malbec. Matías was one of the first winemakers in Argentina to champion Bastardo — a variety almost extinct in South America — and his Patagonian version has helped revive global interest. The wines from Río Negro are characterised by low alcohol, natural elegance, and a freshness that is impossible to replicate in warmer regions. This is not merely an expansion; it is a statement that Argentina's wine future lies partly in its forgotten southern vineyards.
Across all properties, Riccitelli employs sustainable, low-intervention viticulture. All fruit is hand-picked in small crates to protect berry integrity. Green harvests in December concentrate flavours and maintain quality. Irrigation is managed judiciously using Andean meltwater. In Patagonia, farming is organic and natural, with no synthetic chemicals. In the cellar, the commitment to minimal intervention continues: exclusively indigenous yeasts, gravity flow to treat the fruit with a delicate touch, no clarification or filtration for the natural wines, and sensible sulfur management. The result is a portfolio that tastes of place rather than recipe — wines that carry the microbial fingerprint of their specific vineyard and the climatic signature of their specific altitude.
Gravity Flow, Whole Cluster & the Indigenous Hand
The cellar philosophy of Matías Riccitelli is built on a delicate touch and a refusal to force. The winery in Las Compuertas operates on gravity flow — grapes are moved by gravity rather than pumps, preserving the integrity of the berries and avoiding the aggressive extraction that mechanical handling can produce. This is not merely a technical choice but a philosophical one: Matías believes that the best wine is made by listening to the fruit rather than imposing upon it. All wines are fermented with exclusively indigenous yeasts — the wild, ambient microorganisms that live on the grape skins and in the cellar air — ensuring that every wine carries the microbial fingerprint of its specific vineyard.
For the Viñas Extremas range — the estate's most terroir-driven, most critically acclaimed expressions — the approach is precision within minimalism. The Los Chacayes Malbec is fermented in small concrete vessels with approximately 30% whole clusters included to enhance aromatic lift, tension and tannin finesse. Temperature control remains moderate to safeguard fruit purity. Post-fermentation, the wine matures for 16 months in French oak barrels of varied use — adding gentle frame and oxygenation rather than overt flavour. Rackings are minimal to retain texture and detail. The result is a wine that Robert Parker awarded 95 points — a compelling snapshot of extreme-altitude Malbec that balances dark berries and violet perfume with chalk-tinged structure.
For the Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree range — the playful, accessible heart of the portfolio — the approach is varietal typicity with minimal intervention. The Malbec is a blend of Gualtallary and Perdriel fruit, aged for 12 months in French oak to produce a wine that is bold and polished, intense and mouthfilling, with aromas of black plum, cedar and spicy fruit cake. The Hey Malbec! — the youngest, most joyful expression — is crafted for early enjoyment and pure fruit expression, vibrant and stylish with freshness and flair. And for the Old Vines from Patagonia range, the approach is rescue and revelation: old Semillón, Bastardo and Pinot Noir handled with the same patience and respect as the premium Mendoza wines, proving that heritage varieties on heritage vines deserve a place at the table.
Indigenous Yeasts, Gravity Flow & the Delicate Touch
The guiding principle of Matías Riccitelli is that the winemaker's job is to protect the fruit, not to transform it. The sustainable farming provides healthy, balanced grapes from old vines and extreme altitudes. The hand harvest in small crates ensures berry integrity from vine to fermenter. The gravity flow eliminates the bruising and extraction of pumps. The indigenous yeast fermentation captures the microbial soul of each vineyard. The whole-cluster inclusion in Viñas Extremas adds aromatic lift and structural tension. The concrete-vessel fermentation foregrounds place over recipe. And the restrained oak ageing frames the fruit without masking it. The cellar is not a factory but a workshop of patience — where a next-generation winemaker proves that the best bottle from Argentina is the one that needs no makeup, only a glass, a meal, and the patience to let a 1927 vine or a 1950s Patagonian field speak its truth.
Viñas Extremas, Apple & the Patagonian Hand
Matías Riccitelli produces a remarkably diverse, multi-range portfolio that reflects his refusal to be confined to a single style, region or generation. The Viñas Extremas range is the terroir-driven summit of the estate — extreme-altitude Malbec and other varieties from Los Chacayes, Gualtallary and San Pablo, fermented in concrete with whole clusters and aged in French oak. The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree range — Malbec, Bonarda and Torrontés — is the playful, accessible heart: bold, polished wines with quirky labels that honour the father-son connection. The Riccitelli & Father range is the intergenerational collaboration — a Malbec-Cabernet Franc blend that unites Jorge's classical structure with Matías's innovative energy. The República del Malbec is a tribute to heritage — sourced from pre-phylloxera vines planted in 1908. The Hey Malbec! is the youthful, joyful expression — vibrant, juicy and designed for immediate pleasure. The Old Vines from Patagonia range is the heritage rescue mission — Semillón, Bastardo and Pinot Noir from 1950s vines in Río Negro. And the Vineyard Selection / Viñedo de Montaña line explores single-varietal expressions of Cabernet Franc and Malbec from high-altitude Mendoza. All are united by indigenous yeasts, hand harvesting, gravity flow, and Matías's conviction that wine must be both serious and fun.
The Next Generation & the Jorge Hand
Matías Riccitelli is not merely a winemaker; he is a proof that a son can honour his father's legacy while carving a path that is entirely his own. In an era when Argentine wine is dominated by inherited estates and corporate consolidation, Matías has demonstrated that next-generation passion is a viable viticultural philosophy — that the same Las Compuertas soil that produced Jorge's classical masterpieces can yield Matías's concrete-fermented, whole-cluster extreme-altitude expressions; that the same Río Negro valley that was forgotten by the industry can produce Semillón and Bastardo of global significance; and that a single winemaker can speak the language of playful, quirky labels and serious, 95-point terroir work without contradiction.
The legacy of Riccitelli Wines is the legacy of the restless, respectful hand in viticulture. The 1927 vines in Las Compuertas are not a nostalgic monument but a living classroom — a reminder that the best way to honour history is to farm sustainably for the future. The Viñas Extremas range is not an altitude gimmick but a manifesto of place — a refusal to homogenise the distinct voices of Los Chacayes, Gualtallary and San Pablo into a single, anonymous blend. The Old Vines from Patagonia range is not a side project but a rescue mission — a refusal to let Bastardo, Semillón and the 1950s vineyards of Río Negro disappear into the monoculture of international varieties. And the Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree range is not a marketing joke but a philosophical statement — a declaration that wine is a family affair, and that the best way to honour a father is to stand beside him as an equal.
The future of the estate is tied to the future of the 1927 Las Compuertas vines as they accumulate another year of wisdom, to the extreme-altitude parcels of the Uco Valley as they continue to redefine what Malbec can achieve above 1,500 metres, and to the heritage vineyards of Patagonia as they prove that Argentina's wine future lies partly in its forgotten south. As Viñas Extremas continues to earn 95-point scores from the world's most demanding critics, as the Apple range finds its audience from Buenos Aires to London, and as Bastardo emerges from near-extinction to become a globally sought-after variety, Riccitelli Wines remains what Matías has always intended it to be: a next-generation estate where a son blends everything he learned abroad with the teachings of his father — structured, innovative, and deeply tied to the alluvial soils of Las Compuertas, the calcareous terraces of Los Chacayes, and the windswept deserts of Patagonia. The story of Matías Riccitelli is the story of a young man who looked at the old vines of Mendoza and the forgotten fields of Río Negro and saw not a legacy to inherit but a future to build — and who proved that the best bottle from Argentina is the one that needs no pretension, only a glass, a meal, and the patience to let a 1927 vine or a 1950s Patagonian field speak its truth.
"After traveling the world through multiple harvests, gaining experience and anecdotes, he decided to blend everything he learned throughout his career with the teachings of his mentor and father, Jorge Riccitelli."
— Riccitelli Wines