A delightful choice akin to a Pinot Noir, it offers a light and refreshing experience for wine enthusiasts. Also known as Grenache, this Argentinian rendition, crafted by the skilled hands of Mariana Onofri, entices with red fruits and delicate floral notes. With its feather-light mouthfeel and vibrant acidity, this wine finishes crisply, making it perfect for warm days or sipping without accompaniments. The vineyard, perched 560 meters above sea level, embraces eco-friendly practices, ensuring the organic management of their vines. Produced using the carbonic maceration technique, this Garnacha showcases the dedication of Mariana, a certified sommelier and winemaker, delivering a wine that embodies the essence of its name, Alma Gemela, or 'soulmate'. With only 375 cases produced, this wine is a rare gem for discerning palates.
Alma Gemela translates to 'soul mate' and that perfectly describes the relationship of Mariana Onofri and Adan Giangiulio. We have been so blessed to have Mariana as one of our main guides through new vineyard ownership and our winemaking adventure. From the first day, she has offered her advice and been instrumental in the blending of all our wines. We knew she had a way with wine, but what we didn't know is that she was making over 20 of her own wines! After sharing Adan's amazing asado, and tasting almost all these outstanding wines, we reluctantly narrowed it down to our top four- a few that will be imported into the US for first time ever.
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Provides red fruits with delicate floral notes. The mouthfeel is light and fresh,
finishing with bright, crisp acidity.
James Suckling- Fresh and nervy aromas of racy raspberries, freshly crushed strawberries, pomegranate and a hint of crushed stones. Quite juicy and elegant on the palate with an attractive mineral verve that gives it tension and cohesion. Very drinkable. Enjoy now.
Ratings
92- James Suckling, 91- Tim Atkin
Vineyard Notes
The vineyard is geographically located in the northern oasis of Mendoza, 65 kilometers from the capital
of Mendoza, in the Gustavo André district, Lavalle Department.
Lavalle has a very low population density and little rainfall, which is the reason why these lands are
known as the “Mendoza desert”, a place of refuge for the Huarpes.
It is a vineyard where environmental conditions and ecology is respected, prioritizing organic soil
management. We farm land for the future, understanding it is a complex and living resource that must
be protected and maintained to ensure its long-term stability.
We only fertilize with organic fertilizers and natural materials that do not harm the balance of the
environment. Weeds are specially treated and controlled manually, never with herbicides. We also have
sheep to control herbs and weeds, and also to make our own compost. We manage diseases through
biological control and prevention.
ALTITUDE: This vineyard is located 560 meters above sea level (1837 feet), almost at the end of the Mendoza River basin. SOIL: Alluvial origin - very deep sandy loam soil resulting from the deposit of fine sediments such as
mainly sand, some silt and clay. The characteristics of the soil create conditions that flavor the wide
temperature range, since it has the same effect of the sand temperature in the desert.
TRAINING SYSTEM: 30-year-old Parral planted on French rootstock with traditional irrigation by flood.
Re-grafted with Garnacha in 2018.
SUSTAINABILITY: All wines made from this estate are organically managed and we only use supplies with
low environmental impact, Eco - light bottles and recyclable stoppers made from sugar cane with zero
carbon footprint. All bottles are hand-labelled. All labor is from local citizens.
Production Notes
This wine is made using the carbonic maceration technique. The initial fermentation is
not caused by yeast, but instead occurs intracellularly, or from the inside out. This method involves
filling a sealed vessel with carbon dioxide and then adding whole, intact bunches of grapes. This
technique favors light- to medium-bodied red wines with a bright primary fruit expression and soft tannins. Alcoholic fermentation occurs at low temperature with native yeasts. Non-malolactic
fermentation.
Winemaker Notes
Winemaker: Maríana Onofri, owner and winemaker of this small scale project, was one of the first certified sommeliers in Argentina. Mariana began her influential wine career as Sommelier at the famed La Bourgogne restaurant in Mendoza and Uruguay. She also did winemaking internships in Napa and France, including at Château La Violette in Pomerol, Bordeaux.
Mariana started with The Vines of Mendoza in 2007 as Tasting Room Manager and soon became Wine Director. Today, as Wine Director, she leads a team that guides private vineyard owners through their winemaking adventure, including customizing style and varietals, blending sessions and wine education.
Her brand Onofri Wines has grown to acclaim in Argentina and around the world.
The name of this Alma Gemela line, which means soulmate in English, was romantically selected to honor her life partner and husband, Adan. Together, they passionately believe in "the revival of the grape will lead to the revival of the region". They actively work to save little know varietals of the region and currently produce around 20 different wines each year.
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