Santa Julia - The Pioneer of a Purpose Driven Wine
Where water was turned into wine
Jan de Weerd, Spoken Wines
This will hide itself!
Santa Julia - The Pioneer of a Purpose Driven Wine
Where water was turned into wine
The day after arriving in Mendoza, Argentina, we spend the whole day at Bodegas Santa Julia. We met with Julia Zuccardi after who the winery is named, the agronomist Bernardo, the winemaker Ruben Ruffo and our wonderful host Nico Cuervo. We witnessed a tremendous story that we will share on our YouTube channel in April. But here is a sneak peek!
It started back in the early 1960's
The pioneering spirit goes back to Julia's grandfather, Alberto Zuccardi, who developed an innovative irrigation system in Mendoza in the early 1960's, which ended up revolutionizing the Mendoza's wine industry. He planted a vineyard in Maipú, just east of the city Mendoza, to demonstrate the system. Soon, however, his passion shifted to the grapes he was growing and Bodega Santa Julia was born, named after his granddaughter Julia.
The stunning backdrop of the majestic Andes at Santa Julia vineyards
Pioneering is in their blood
Santa Julia was one of the first wineries to introduce restaurant hospitality at the winery. They were also the first to switch to organic wine production at large scale back in the late 1990's and now evolving into natural wine production. To support this move, Santa Julia is building a new winemaking facility that is 100% dedicated to the production of natural wines.
Nearly 400 hectares, 1000 acres, of organic grape production and a natural wine making facilty under construction
Nurturing the land and caring for the peoplle
"My grandparents were very focused on caring for the land and the people", Julia explained to us. That spirit carries through to how the land is nurtured for and how the people working for Santa Julia are supported. Santa Julia provides community centers with daycare, opportunities for continuiing education, and entrepreneurial businesses opportunities in crafts, sewing projects and gardening for the spouses of the workers.
We witnessed a family legacy blooming into a global example, where what is taken from the land is returned with love, and what is shared with people is returned with opportunity.
Oh, and the wine….I probably had the absolute best wine I have ever had in my life for less than $10; the Santa Julia Malbec Reserve, readily available around the world. Their purpose of care carries all the way to the customer serving them with innovation, quality and an incredible value offering.
