Cuyo means “desert country" in the Huarpe Millcayac language of the native peoples that inhabited this area, prior to the arrival of the colonisers. An arid and fertile region located in the center west of the country, at the foot of the Andes mountain range, which includes the provinces of La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza.

With 464,638 acres of vineyards, Cuyo boasts 95% of the total area planted in the country which, added to its wine heritage and the high degree of development achieved by the industry, make it the most prolific region in South America and one of the most important worldwide. It is in Cuyo where the diverse character of Argentine viticulture becomes most evident.

The region has a semi-arid climate with scarce vegetation, cold in winter and hot in summer, enhanced by the influence of the Andes, which shows off its highest altitudes here and provides the main source of irrigation. The pure snowmelt water feeds the main rivers of the region, which are used by a system of reservoirs and channels for the irrigation of crops.

Predominant varieties

Bonarda | Cabernet | Sauvignon | Malbec | Syrah | Torrontés