{"id":2427,"date":"2024-11-14T13:32:04","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T13:32:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/?p=2427"},"modified":"2024-11-14T19:05:35","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T19:05:35","slug":"winemaker-interview-series-zuccardi-with-martin-distefano-september-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/?p=2427","title":{"rendered":"Winemaker Interview Series \u2013 Zuccardi with Martin DiStefano &#8211; September 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Zuccardi-Martin-DiStefano-Lead-Viticulturist-Home.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-2428\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Zuccardi-Martin-DiStefano-Lead-Viticulturist-Home-239x300.gif\" alt=\"Martin DiStefano - Zuccardi\" width=\"239\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, we interviewed <a href=\"https:\/\/zuccardiwines.com\/en\/bodega\/#equipo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Martin DiStefano<\/strong><\/a>. Martin is the viticulturist and terroir rock star for <a href=\"https:\/\/zuccardiwines.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi winery<\/strong><\/a>. We covered nine wines: two white wines and seven reds. Check out what we learned about Martin, Zuccardi and the <a href=\"https:\/\/zuccardiwines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Zuccardi-Guide-Uco-Valley-Terroir-ENG.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>terroir of the Uco Valley<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits Martin shared.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The winery was founded 1963.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/zuccardiwines.com\/en\/bodega\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zuccardi&#8217;s winery was built<\/a><\/strong> over 3 years from 2013-2016.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mart\u00edn is responsible for the development of the Zuccardi vineyards in the Uco Valley. He started working at Zuccardi in 2010, in the Research and Development department. In June 2010, he joined their vineyard management team full time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zuccardiwines.com\/en\/bodega\/#equipo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Sebasti\u00e1n Zuccardi<\/strong><\/a> is the Winemaking Director.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zuccardiwines.com\/en\/bodega\/#equipo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Laura Principiano<\/strong><\/a> is the Head Winemaker.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Zuccardi wants to be known as a place driven producer, reflecting the different terroirs of the Uco Valley.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They use concrete vats and eggs, not stainless steel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you properly clean a concrete tank, it will last 50 to 60 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Zuccardi makes 1 million liters of wine per year. Their sister winery, <a href=\"https:\/\/santajulia.com.ar\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Santa Julia<\/strong><\/a> makes 20 million liters of wine per year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They do not use a lot of oak. Semillon is their only white variety in oak.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Top wines are not in oak, they are in concrete. Concrete controls the temperature better.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Andes Mountains influence all wines in Argentina.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Water from the melting snows helps with irrigation as the sunlight in Argentina is very strong.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are many different microclimates in the Uco Valley. There are also several different soil types.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Argentina&#8217;s recent vintages.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Warm vintages: 2020, 2023, &amp; 2024<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Cool\/Cold Vintages: 2019 (Coldest ever), 2021, 2022. (Both of these produced fresh wines)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you are a collector, buy a lot of wine from the 2021 vintage.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Jose Zuccardi wine is made to honor Sebasti\u00e1n&#8217;s father. It was previously called Zeta.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2008 was the first year wines where produced from the Zuccardi project. From 2014 and beyond, they have used their new standards and style of winemaking.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Concreto wine changed their life. It was first produced in 2014. The soils for this wine stand out for the presence of a large conglomerate of stones and granite gravel covered with calcareous material.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are three notable areas of the Uco Valley \u2013 San Carlos, Tunuyan, &amp; Tupungato.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Paraje Altamira and La Consulta are in San Carlos. The winery is also in Paraje Altamira.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">San Pablo is in Tunuyan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Gualtallary is in Tupungato.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Finca Piedra Infinita is a single vineyard wine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Aluvional wines are &#8220;Paraje&#8221; wines. These wines are recognized sites inside a village (Geographical Indication) that stands out because of its distinct climate and soil characteristics.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Poligonos wines are village wines.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Q wines are regional wines. The simple letter &#8216;Q&#8217; stands for Quality. It indicates vineyards and parcels that have been carefully selected.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Serie A wines are also regional wines. Serie A comes from &#8220;Argentina Series&#8221; and expresses the most representative varieties from selected vineyards along the Andes Mountains.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Zuccardi-Valle-de-Uco-logo-black-negro.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2429\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Zuccardi-Valle-de-Uco-logo-black-negro.gif\" alt=\"Zuccardi Logo\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Zuccardi-2022-Poligonos-Tupungato-Semillon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zuccardi 2022 Semillon &#8220;Pol\u00edgonos Tupungato&#8221;<\/a><\/strong> (Uco Valley) $23 (<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">KWGTP 92.5<\/span><\/strong>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Zuccardi-2021-Poligonos-San-Pablo-Malbec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi 2021 Malbec &#8220;Pol\u00edgonos San Pablo&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Uco Valley) $30 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 91<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Zuccardi-2022-Poligonos-Paraje-Altamira-Malbec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi 2022 Malbec &#8220;Pol\u00edgonos Altamira&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Uco Valley) $30 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 93<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Zuccardi-2021-Concreto-Malbec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi 2021 Malbec &#8220;Concreto&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Uco Valley) $40 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 94.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Zuccardi-2019-Jose-Zuccardi-Malbec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi 2019 Malbec &#8220;Jose Zuccardi&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Uco Valley) $50 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 95<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Zuccardi-2022-Fosil-Chardonnay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi 2022 Chardonnay &#8220;F\u00f3sil&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Uco Valley) $90 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 94<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Zuccardi-2018-Aluvional-Paraje-Altamira-Malbec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi 2018 Malbec &#8220;Aluvional Paraje Altamira&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Uco Valley) $90 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 94<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Zuccardi-2019-Aluvional-Gualtallary-Malbec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi 2019 Malbec &#8220;Aluvional Gualtallary&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Uco Valley) $90 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 97<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Zuccardi-2019-Finca-Piedra-Infinita-Malbec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi 2019 Malbec &#8220;Finca Piedra Infinita&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Uco Valley) $195 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 94.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Other Zucccardi Wines Covered In Tastings, Post Interview:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"10\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Zuccardi-2020-Tito\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi 2020 Malbec &#8220;Tito&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Uco Valley) $37 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 93<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Zuccardi-2022-Q-Malbec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi 2022 Malbec &#8220;Q&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Uco Valley) $22 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 91<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can find reviews of past and future Zuccardi wines that we cover on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine.php?winery=1018\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Zuccardi KWG winery page<\/strong><\/a> on our website. We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! Ken<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, we interviewed Martin DiStefano. Martin is the viticulturist and terroir rock star for Zuccardi winery. We covered nine wines: two white wines and seven reds. Check out what we learned about Martin, Zuccardi and the terroir of the Uco Valley. Before we get to the wines, I thought I would [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2428,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[96,22,18,13,88,11,95,2656,1201,1187,2657,1256,126,8,6,240,1288,611],"tags":[2681,2669,1059,2688,501,625,491,2666,2667,2665,2672,2680,2689,2679,2670,2677,2664,495,2658,2682,2676,2683,2685,2686,2687,2661,2673,2678,2668,2663,1752,1057,2660,2690,2674,2675,1058,2684,2659,2671,494,2662],"class_list":["post-2427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-argentina","category-cabernet-franc","category-cabernet-sauvignon","category-chardonnay","category-high-end-wines","category-kens-wine-guide-tasting-panel","category-malbec","category-martin-distefano","category-red-blend","category-red-wine","category-uco-valley","category-virtual-wine-tasting","category-wine-ratings","category-wine-recommendations","category-wine-reviews","category-wine-tasting","category-zoom-wine-tasting","category-zuccardi","tag-aluvional","tag-andes-mountains","tag-argentina","tag-argentina-series","tag-cabernet-franc","tag-cabernet-sauvignon","tag-chardonnay","tag-concrete-eggs","tag-concrete-tank","tag-concrete-vats","tag-concreto","tag-finca-piedra-infinita","tag-fosil","tag-gualtallary","tag-jose-zuccardi","tag-la-consulta","tag-laura-principiano","tag-malbec","tag-martin-distefano","tag-paraje","tag-paraje-altamira","tag-poligonos","tag-q","tag-q-wines","tag-regional-wines","tag-rock-star","tag-san-carlos","tag-san-pablo","tag-santa-julia","tag-sebastian-zuccardi","tag-semillon","tag-serie-a","tag-terroir","tag-tito","tag-tunuyan","tag-tupungato","tag-uco-valley","tag-village-wine","tag-viticulturist","tag-zeta","tag-zuccardi","tag-zuccardi-winery"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2427"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2435,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427\/revisions\/2435"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}