Bodegas Salentein

Bodegas Salentein was born in 1996 when Dutch entrepreneur Mijndert Pon arrived in Mendoza, purchased the estate in the Uco Valley, and began planting vineyards. In 1995 he had first visited the region and recognized its extraordinary potential for high-quality wine, particularly Malbec grown at altitude. This was a decade before Argentina's international Malbec boom, making Pon a true pioneer. He planted Uco Valley's first high-altitude Malbec at 1,300 meters in 1997, and the winery building was completed in time to produce its first vintage in 1999. The winery takes its name from the Pon family's historic 18th-century estate in Nijkerk, Holland, which became family property in 1980. Following Mijndert's death in 2014 at age 82, his children Frederike and Ben Pon took over and continue his legacy today.

• Mijndert Pon first visited Mendoza in 1995 and purchased the initial vineyards that year; the winery was formally established in 1996
• The name Salentein references the Pon family's historic mansion and estate in Nijkerk, Holland, built in the 18th century and acquired by the family in 1980
• Pon planted Uco Valley's first high-altitude Malbec at 1,300 meters above sea level in 1997, predating Argentina's international Malbec recognition by nearly a decade
• Following Mijndert Pon's death in July 2014 at age 82, the estate passed to his children Frederike and Ben Pon, who continue to lead the winery today

Salentein's significance in the Argentine wine world extends far beyond its own label. When Pon founded the estate in 1996, the upper Uco Valley was an unexplored high-altitude desert; very few investors were betting on what would become Argentina's most prestigious wine subregion. Salentein was the first winery to plant and cultivate vines in the San Pablo territory in 1996, and the estate was instrumental in championing the San Pablo Geographic Indication, which gained official recognition in 2019 after a four-year application process. The winery's cruciform building, designed by Bormida and Yanzon with consulting input from Michel Rolland, became an architectural landmark and helped establish the Uco Valley as a destination for wine tourism. In 2023, Bodegas Salentein ranked number 9 in the World's Best Vineyards and attracts approximately 35,000 visitors per year.

• First to plant vines in the San Pablo territory in 1996; instrumental in the creation of the San Pablo GI, which gained official recognition in 2019
• Ranked number 9 in the 2023 World's Best Vineyards, one of three Argentine estates in the top 10 alongside Catena Zapata and El Enemigo Wines
• The cruciform winery building, designed by architectural firm Bormida and Yanzon with input from consultant Michel Rolland, is considered one of Argentina's most striking wine structures
• Salentein helped establish the Uco Valley as one of South America's premier enotourism destinations, attracting approximately 35,000 visitors a year

Salentein farms 800 hectares of vineyards within a total property of 2,000 hectares, spread across three distinct estates in the Tunuyán department of Mendoza's Uco Valley. El Oasis, the lowest estate, sits between 1,050 and 1,200 meters and has the longest growing season. La Pampa, the intermediate estate at 1,200 to 1,300 meters, is defined by alluvial soils 30 to 40 centimeters deep. San Pablo, at up to 1,700 meters, is the highest estate and the most historically significant, with winemaking roots dating to a 17th-century Jesuit ranch. The diurnal temperature variation at these elevations can swing by more than 18 degrees Celsius in a single day, locking in aromatics and acidity while the intense Andean sun drives phenolic ripeness. Alluvial soils rich in calcium carbonate and stony deposits provide excellent drainage and impart a characteristic minerality to the wines.

• Three estates: El Oasis (1,050 to 1,200 m), La Pampa (1,200 to 1,300 m), and San Pablo (up to 1,700 m), each with distinct soils and microclimates
• San Pablo GI vineyard holdings include La Pampa, Los Nogales, Las Secuoyas, Los Jabalies, and El Cerro; single vineyard plots also in Gualtallary GI (Las Tunas) and Altamira GI (El Tomillo)
• Alluvial soils rich in calcium carbonate and pebble deposits provide excellent drainage, water retention, and the minerality that defines Salentein's style
• Vines are 80 percent red varieties and 20 percent white, with ages ranging from young plantings to over 35-year-old blocks

Salentein produces wines across several tiers. The Portillo range is the entry-level line, named after the historic Andean mountain passage. The Barrel Selection and Reserve lines represent mid-tier expressions of key varietals including Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc aged in French oak. Primus (stylized Pr1mus) represents the selection of the best blocks from the Los Arboles estate for the flagship Malbec, with its debut vintage in 2003. The Numina line focuses on small-lot expressions, with the Numina Gran Corte being a Malbec-led Bordeaux-style blend. At the pinnacle, the Gran Valle de Uco Blend is a limited-edition Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon blend produced only in exceptional harvests. Single Vineyard releases showcase individual named plots such as Finca El Tomillo (Altamira GI) and Finca La Pampa (San Pablo GI).

• Portillo is the entry-level range; Reserve wines are aged approximately 12 months in French oak; Primus and Single Vineyard represent the top tier
• Primus Malbec is a selection of the best blocks from the Los Arboles estate, with a style that has evolved from concentrated and oaky to fresher and more terroir-expressive since its 2003 debut vintage
• Numina Gran Corte is a Malbec-dominant Bordeaux-style blend from Salentein's oldest estate vineyards, incorporating Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot
• Gran Valle de Uco Blend is a limited-edition Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon blend produced only in harvests where exceptional quality is achieved

The cruciform winery building uses a gravity-fed winemaking system, eliminating the need for pumps between key winemaking steps and preserving the delicacy of the fruit. Each of the four wings contains stainless steel tanks and French oak vats on the ground level, with underground cellars for barrel aging below. The four wings converge in a circular central chamber with a floor inlaid with local stone, which also serves as an amphitheater. Chief winemaker José Galante's philosophy centers on preserving the full aromatic spectrum of the fruit through gentle fermentation, with oak used to complement rather than dominate varietal character. On sustainability, Salentein eschews pesticide and herbicide use, plants native flora as cover crops, returns all organic matter to the soil as natural fertilizer, uses precision drip irrigation, and is actively working toward organic certification.

• The gravity-fed, cruciform winery designed by Bormida and Yanzon minimizes pump use, preserving wine freshness from crush through to barrel
• José Galante's winemaking philosophy prioritizes 'preserving entirely the spectrum of aromas and flavors of the fruit through a soft and gentle fermentation process'
• Salentein uses cover crops, avoids pesticides and herbicides, returns organic matter to the soil, and is working toward organic certification at both vineyard and winery level
• The property maintains a 49-hectare nature preserve planted with native grasses and bushes; the team also researches renewable energy sources including solar and hydroelectric power

Beyond wine production, Salentein has established itself as the Uco Valley's first and most comprehensive enotourism destination. The property is home to the Killka Center for Culture and the Arts, which houses an impressive collection of Argentine works from the second half of the 20th century as well as a permanent exhibition of 19th and 20th-century Dutch works. Posada Salentein is a 16-room boutique hotel set among the vines, offering a five-star experience with pool and gourmet restaurant. The Chapel of Gratitude, built using traditional local stonework techniques, is a non-denominational chapel considered a work of art in itself. Together these attractions draw approximately 35,000 visitors per year and earned the estate its ranking as number 9 in the World's Best Vineyards 2023.

• Killka Center for Culture and the Arts is one of Argentina's premier galleries, housing Argentine art from the second half of the 20th century and a permanent collection of 19th and 20th-century Dutch works
• Posada Salentein is a 16-room boutique hotel with pool, restaurant, and panoramic views of Merlot and Pinot Noir vineyards and the Andes
• The Chapel of Gratitude is a non-denominational chapel built using ancient local stonework techniques and considered an architectural landmark of the estate
• Ranked number 9 in the World's Best Vineyards 2023, Salentein attracts approximately 35,000 tourists per year to the Uco Valley