With its capital Buenos Aires a bustling metropolis (think: Paris meets New York), Argentina’s wine business hub Mendoza is a stark contrast and located nearly 750 miles to the west. Dominated in spectacular fashion by the Andes mountains, this thriving provincial city owes its very existence to the mountains as without snowmelt for irrigation water, there would be no wine industry. In fact, in the near desert-like conditions of the region, there would be no agriculture. Within this now largely agricultural landscape, buffered by a historic and extensive mountain range, is an industry that boasts some of the world’s best wines from its finest bodegas. Today, we explore Bodega Gimenez Riili, whose history in Mendoza dates as far back as 1890 and whose legacy endures thanks to a family tradition created by the descendants of two great families in wine, Gimenez and Riili.

The winery, one of the first family wineries in the region, is located in the Tunuyán area of the Uco Valley and has a production capacity of 126,000 litres. The strong commitment to family tradition forms part of the Gimenez Riili experience and is demonstrated in the names given to each of the three flagship lines they carry. By using premium grapes from low-yielding but high-quality vineyards, they produce the vivacity and freshness of the Buenos Hermanos (Good Brothers) line, the wisdom and maturity of the Padres Dedicados (Dedicated Parents) line, and the unique complexity of each Gran Familia (Great Family) bottle of wine. The winery is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, temperature regulation systems, stainless steel tanks and a selection of French oak barrels, all of which provide the means to follow traditional winemaking practices in a controlled environment.

The Gran Familia line features the traditional Malbec along with a Syrah, both elegant and complex in texture as well as finish, having spent 24 months maturing in French oak barrels. Buenos Hermanos is a premium category that features a Merlot and Malbec, both of which spend eight months in a French oak barrel, in addition to a Torrontes. After 18 months of aging in French oak barrels, the wines in the Padres Dedicados line are bottled and ready to enjoy. This category includes a Malbec —Merlot blend, a Cabernet Franc and a signature Malbec all representing the wisdom and dedication to the parents of the bodega owners. The winery also produces other limited-edition collections that feature grapes like the Petit Verdot, Pedro Gimenez and Riesling.

Gimenez Riili also boasts a restaurant with a view of the Andes mountains and a capacity of 50 people. Its offerings include an “experience menu” which pairs their best wines in a specially curated, seven-course gastronomic delight. The accommodations aspect of the property was created in 2015 and is located within a charming estate called The Vines at Gimenez Riili. It features seven cosy rooms with sumptuous views of the surrounding valley, each with unique names that reflect different generations within the family. Bodega Gimenez Riili is a story about the strength, dedication and commitment of family, the diversity of opinions and the shared vision of moving forward with passion, brotherhood and work.