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Matias Riccitelli

Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

Ethos: Blending tradition and modernity, preserving our winemaking heritage while innovating creatively for the future.

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree
Matías Riccitelli was born in Cafayate, Salta, a small town in northern Argentina where wine is a way of life. A tireless traveller and dreamer, he developed his skills as a winemaker in Mendoza, working at one of Argentina’s most prestigious wineries. After countless harvests around the world, gathering both small and grand anecdotes, he decided to blend all he had learned with the teachings of his mentor and father, Jorge Riccitelli, to create Riccitelli Wines in 2009.
The winery is in Las Compuertas, 1,100 meters above sea level, the highest area of traditional Luján de Cuyo. Here they manage 20 hectares of old ungrafted vineyards. Additionally, they collaborate with small growers situated in the best terroirs at the foot of the Andes Mountains, including Gualtallary, Chacayes, San Pablo, and La Carrera.

Your visit

Visiting this winery is a unique experience where the disruptive meets the respectful. Discover the charm of a winery that redefines the boundaries of the wine world, preserving winemaking heritage while embracing the future with creativity. Their interactive tours offer a unique approach to exploring the wine world, blending education with entertainment. These visits are designed to be engaging and enjoyable, allowing guests to experience the vibrant and fun side of winemaking. Each visit is a memorable journey into the heart of Riccitelli Wines. Be sure to stay for lunch at Riccitelli Bistró. Six or seven courses are available and the Bistró is rightly proud of its Michelin Green Star for commitment to sustainable and environmentally respectful gastronomy - local, organic ingredients and eco-friendly practices that honour both land and local traditions.

The wines

Malbec, the emblematic variety of Argentina, which Riccitelli relishes, seeking to capture the freshness and purity of this vibrant grape variety. The amusingly labelled, ‘This is Not Another Lovely Malbec’ is smooth and silky with clarity of fruit and juicy notes of wild raspberry and ripe plum layered with delicate floral notes.
From gnarly old Semillon vines sourced from Patagonia comes a seriously elegant and impressive white wine; deep and complex with lanolin, wild honey, lime peel, honed and focused with a wonderful tangy acidity and a touch of salinity. These Old Vine wines are worth seeking out.

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