Altos Las Hormigas Blanco 2024

This vibrant, heritage-focused white wine originates from Argentina, specifically the high-altitude Uco Valley in Mendoza. Altos Las Hormigas—founded in 1995 by renowned Tuscan winemaker Alberto Antonini and entrepreneur Antonio Morescalchi—is globally famous as a premier terroir specialist for red Malbec.

However, this bottling represents a highly innovative and exciting white program for the estate. Instead of turning to typical international grapes like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, they chose to champion three historic, traditional white varieties of Mendoza, sourcing the fruit from incredibly old, 80-year-old pergola-trained (parral) vines.

Wine Description

The Altos Las Hormigas Blanco is an incredibly fresh, texturally intriguing, and mineral-lined white wine crafted "without makeup" to let its native soil shine.

• Appearance: A bright, greenish-yellow hue with clean, steel-colored reflections.

• Nose: Highly complex, expressive, and unique. It opens with an eclectic mix of kumquat, white peach, and pineapple, layered with sophisticated undertones of white pepper, wild desert shrubs (jarilla), fresh jalapeño, and a gentle touch of honey and wet wool.

• Palate: Highly juicy and beautifully structured. The mouthfeel is surprisingly tactile and weighted, yet driven aggressively by a sharp, linear natural acidity. Flavors of citrus and orchard fruits give way to a genuinely distinctive, thirst-quenching saline and floral finish.

• Technical Details: A traditional blend of 80% Chenin Blanc, 15% Pedro Giménez, and 5% Semillón. The fruit was harvested early from 80-year-old vines in deep, silty-limestone soils across San Carlos and Paraje Altamira. To build texture without adding oak weight, winemaker Federico Gambetta fermented the grapes separately using native yeasts in concrete vats—a portion was treated traditionally, a section was fermented with skin contact, and another part included up to 40% grape stems (escobajo). The wine was aged for 6 months entirely in concrete. It sits at a low, highly drinkable 12.0% ABV and is bone-dry (1.80 g/L residual sugar).

Food Pairing

Because of its distinct salinity, herbal top notes, and cutting acidity, this blend is an absolute powerhouse at the dining table. It acts as an ideal starter wine or aperitif alongside fresh seafood salads, raw oysters, and ceviche. It also pairs effortlessly with lighter white meats, chicken salad sandwiches, baked river fish in a light herb butter sauce, or soft-ripened cheeses like Brie and fresh goat cheese.