‘Young Winemaker of the Year’ Juan Pablo Murgia presents the ‘Artesano White Malbec’ and Matriz Viva program, both projects dedicated to serving the environment and its communities
New York, NY, June 5, 2023 – Bodega Argento, Argentina’s leader in the production of organic and sustainable wines, is thrilled to introduce the first White Malbec made with organic grapes to the US market, which reinforces the core focus of ‘Matriz Viva’, the winery’s interdisciplinary research platform.
Bodega Argento’s ‘Artesano Organic White Malbec’ is the first wine of its kind in the US market, using single vineyard, 100% organic and fairtrade Malbec grapes. It is a fresh take on an Argentine classic and has already received high scores (90 pts James Suckling) and positive critiques.
“After three years of research and development with Malbec from Alto Agrelo, we finally discovered the way to produce a fresh and aromatic white wine from the highest colored red grape we produce,” says Juan Pablo Murgia.
Made in the ‘Blanc de Noir’ technique for a racy, bright end result, the Malbec grapes are sourced from Argento’s organic vineyard located in Alto Agrelo, Mendoza and harvested early for higher acidity (5.9 g/L). The grapes are then pressed immediately with no skin contact and fermented in stainless steel, resulting in a wine with powerful aromas of green apple, citrus and white flowers, a delicate, yet structured and fresh, palate, and, underlying minerality that provides a sense of place
“I think this is a great innovation for wine in general, but specifically for the US audience,” Juan Pablo adds, “and, my hope is that consumers will be eager to discover this one-of-a-kind white wine made from our iconic Malbec grapes.” The wine is made with 100% organic grapes and is certified sustainable and fairtrade.
For more than 10 years, Bodega Argento has made it its mission to ensure its viticultural practices work in harmony with the ecosystem, validated by organic certifications across all vineyards. Though the Organic White Malbec wine is a perfect example of this mission, Juan Pablo Murgia has taken it a step further with the ‘Matriz Viva’ research and development program.
Juan Pablo–in collaboration with Cecilia Acosta (head of research and development) and Andres Valero (head of sustainability)–has developed Matriz Viva: a strategy that not only focuses on organic production but is also sustainably driven and considers everything from the use of products and materials at the winery to the working conditions and lifestyle provided to employees and surrounding communities.
Matriz Viva is Bodega Argento’s comprehensive program carried out by the winery in collaboration with public research organizations to remove people from the matrix-like state of being, expand consumers’ knowledge of organic production and encourage winemakers around the world to respect living organisms, water, soil and all that coexist in the wine ecosystem. Matriz Viva aims to achieve a more harmonious and sustainable future by implementing a new, more thoughtful “matrix-like” environment.
“Bodega Argento was born with the belief that organic farming practices and environmental protection are essential to produce wines with fruit purity and a sense of place. From this winemaking philosophy, we started developing our sustainable business model, where the harmony of ecosystems also fosters the development of rural communities,” comments Andres Valero. “For me, Matriz Viva is our contribution to the generation of public knowledge and the promotion of agronomic practices with a positive impact on the viticultural ecosystems of Argentina.”
Matriz Viva was officially presented in September 2022 and established in conjunction with prestigious public research organizations like INTA and the National University of Cuyo. The program and research focuses on five main areas:
- Water: Soil studies are carried out with the aim of optimizing irrigation systems according to the particular needs of each variety, in each different type of soil. All water used by the company in its processes is treated and reused as irrigation water, reducing the winery’s water footprint year after year.
- Living Organisms: The growth of flowers between the rows of vines can be positive for the crop and the ecosystem in which it is inserted, and Bodega Argento pays special attention to this. Research studies carried out show that certain species help to protect the vineyards from pests (such as nematodes, which damage the roots and are difficult to eliminate without the use of agrochemicals prohibited in organic production), others help to control weeds, and others help to attract beneficial insects.
- Soil: Studies carried out at the Agrelo Estate evaluated the different biodiversity indices of native soil, compared to bare soil and soil cultivated with various species. Far from the idea of eradication proposed by conventional agriculture, agroecological agriculture takes a positive view of ants, as these insects disperse seeds, pollinate certain plants, are a source of food for other predators, favor soil aeration and the degradation of organic matter.
- Grapevines: All vineyards at Bodega Argento are made up of untreated and organic vine plants.
- Environment: In response to climate change, the winery’s R&D team is conducting studies that favor a better adaptation to climate change in new plantations with the consequent projection of new wine-growing areas in Mendoza. The studies include climate change impact indicators, risk analysis models for the increase of extreme climate events, prediction models and more.
“In addition to being certified organic, all of our vineyards and wineries are Fairtrade International certified,” Andres Valero adds. “Fairtrade International is one of the most recognized sustainability certifications worldwide. In addition to requesting the implementation of requirements regarding health and safety, working conditions, and the usage of natural resources, it generates a fair trade premium that our workers define how to invest in social, economic, and environmental improvements in their communities.”
Argento wines are imported by Pacific Highway Wines–Wine Enthusiast’s 2022 ‘Importer of the Year’–who reports strong growth for Argento. “The brand is up 34% in both shipments and depletions fiscal year to date, with 2023 ending June 30th,” says President Mark Giordano. “Trade are responding favorably to Argento’s collection of organic wines and we are seeing a particular interest amongst accounts for Argento’s new innovation and fair trade offerings. This is an exciting time for the brand and for Winemaker Juan Pablo Murgia.”
About Bodega Argento
Bodega Argento is an Argentine winery, focused on organic and sustainable wines, located in Cruz de Piedra, Maipu, Mendoza, at the foothills of the Andes mountain range. It was founded in 2012 with the premise of leading the production of organic and sustainable wines to preserve in each bottle the best of this region. The vineyards are located in the traditional region of Mendoza and the Uco Valley. Each place is unique and has a story to tell, that’s why they work considering climate and soil to preserve everything that gives identity to their wines.
