Behind the revolution of Argentinian white wines lies a visionary woman and four decades of tirelessly cultivated intuition. Susana Balbo, inducted into Decanter's Hall of Fame in 2024, has turned the high Andean altitudes into a rare terrain of expression, where the light and the coolness of the nights shape wines that are taut, precise, and built to age.
Susana Balbo, the boldness that reinvented Argentina's great white wines
The white that launched the revolution: Signature White Blend
Signature White Blend redefines the great Argentinian white, creating a wine capable of rivalling the world's finest cuvées. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Torrontés play out a score of remarkable precision, blending finely chiselled citrus, fleshy white fruits and vibrant minerality. Awarded up to 95 points by Decanter, it embodies the tension and breadth so characteristic of the Uco Valley. A silky texture and a finish of rare purity: a great white wine that paved the way.
Torrontés elevated by oak: Signature Barrel Fermented Torrontés
Signature Barrel Fermented Torrontés celebrates Argentina's flagship grape variety, sublimated by fermentation and ageing in oak. Jasmine, orange blossom and white peach mingle with soft vanilla and fresh almond, carried by a full-bodied palate that extends into a generous finish. A fresh interpretation of Torrontés, worthy of her reputation as the "Queen" of this grape variety.
The strength of Malbec: BenMarco Malbec
Red wine finds its rightful place here alongside the whites. BenMarco Malbec combines the depth of black fruit, the freshness of altitude and a beautifully upright tannic framework. Ripe fruits, violet and spices unfold on a full-bodied, energetic palate, a faithful reflection of the Uco Valley's terroirs. A Malbec of true character, proving that Susana Balbo's precision shines through in red wines as well.
An exceptional estate in the heart of Argentina
A pioneer who became a legend
The first female oenologist to graduate in Argentina, Susana Balbo founded her estate in 1999 in Mendoza. It was in Cafayate, in the highlands of Salta, that she first tamed Torrontés and earned her nickname of "Queen of Torrontés". Her induction into Decanter's Hall of Fame crowns a unique journey that has redefined the place of women in wine. A story of conviction, now carried forward alongside her son José Lovaglio.
The Uco Valley, a terroir of light and limestone
Everything unfolds at high altitude, where the Andes stand watch. The vineyards of the Uco Valley, in Paraje Altamira, lie on soils rich in limestone that give the wines their signature mineral tension. By day, the intense light ripens the grapes; by night, the cool air preserves their aromas and acidity. A singular balance that gives Susana Balbo's white wines their finesse and their still little-known ageing potential.
The art of blending, from vine to cellar
The greatness of a wine lies in the details, and Susana Balbo masters every step. In the vineyard, altitude and the precision of the soils yield grapes of remarkable aromatic purity. In the cellar, pre-fermentation maceration, fermentation in oak and ageing on the lees shape the texture that defines the character of her cuvées. This expertise, devoted equally to blends and to single-varietal wines, produces wines that stand as proud ambassadors of contemporary Argentina.
