Situated in Vista Flores at the foot of the Andes mountains, Bodega DiamAndes represents one of the most sophisticated marriages of French Bordeaux winemaking pedigree and high-altitude Argentine terroir. Established in 2005 as an integral member of the renowned Clos de los Siete collective in the Uco Valley, the estate is owned by the Bonnie family, proprietors of the historic Grand Cru Classé Château Malartic-Lagravière in Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux.
The name DiamAndes—a poetic fusion of “diamante” (diamond) and “Andes”—reflects both the estate’s dramatic alpine backdrop and its striking modern architectural centerpiece: a monumental linear facility designed by architects Bórmida & Yanzón featuring a suspended, translucent diamond sculpture suspended directly above its circular subterranean barrel cellar.
| Estate Feature | Specification | Traveler Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Vista Flores, Tunuyán, Valle de Uco | Situated within the Clos de los Siete estate, roughly 90 minutes south of Mendoza City |
| Elevation | 1,100 meters above sea level | High solar radiation and cool night winds foster phenolic maturity and vibrant acidity |
| Architecture | Designed by Bórmida & Yanzón | Minimalist, gravity-fed design featuring the iconic central suspended diamond structure |
| Vineyard Surface | 130 contiguous cultivated hectares | Single-estate terroir cultivated sustainably with organic practices |
| Gastronomy | DIAM’S Restaurant | Fine dining pairing lunches with panoramic glass walls framing the Andes |
| Signature Bottlings | Grande Courbe, Gran Reserva, Viognier | Bordeaux-inspired blends and mineral high-altitude varietal expressions |
Bordeaux Pedigree in the Uco Valley
When the Bonnie family arrived in Mendoza in the early 2000s, they sought to apply centuries of family winemaking discipline from Bordeaux to the high-desert climate of Vista Flores. Rather than purchasing fragmented parcels, they planted a single, contiguous 130-hectare vineyard at 1,100 meters elevation on alluvial soils laden with granite cobbles, sand, and clay subsoils washed down from the Cordón del Plata.
Under the guidance of the family and renowned consulting enologist Michel Rolland, DiamAndes crafts wines that merge the ripe, opulent fruit of the Uco Valley with the balance, structure, and aging potential characteristic of classical French winemaking.
Architectural Marvel and Gravity-Flow Engineering
Designed by celebrated Mendoza architectural studio Bórmida & Yanzón, the bodega is widely considered one of South America’s foremost examples of industrial agro-architecture harmonized with natural landscape.
The exterior features strong horizontal lines clad in local precordillera stone, minimizing visual disruption against the mountain panorama. Internally, the facility operates entirely on a 100% gravity-flow design across multiple subterranean tiers:
- Upper Harvest Deck: Hand-harvested clusters are brought to the highest elevation level, where double sorting tables remove any imperfect berries before gentle destemming.
- Fermentation Hall: Must drops directly by gravity into small-capacity, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and French oak vats without mechanical pumping, preserving delicate grape skins and aromatic freshness.
- The Subterranean Barrel Crypt: At the heart of the circular cellar rests “El Diamante”—a monumental stylized diamond sculpture suspended in mid-air that filters daylight from above into the dark aging vaults, where hundreds of French oak barrels rest under natural thermal stability.
The Wine Portfolio: Elegance and Terroir
DiamAndes stands out in the Uco Valley for the exceptional quality of both its reds and its white wines, which benefit from the cool night breezes of Vista Flores:
- DiamAndes de Uco Grande Courbe: The estate’s flagship icon, crafted from the finest micro-plots of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for up to 20 months in French oak barrels, it yields complex aromas of cassis, dark cocoa, violets, and graphite, supported by firm, fine-grained mineral tannins.
- DiamAndes de Uco Gran Reserva: A refined Malbec-led blend showcasing balanced red and black berry fruit, spicy cedar notes, and harmonious acidity.
- DiamAndes de Uco Viognier & Chardonnay: White wines of rare distinction in Mendoza. The barrel-fermented Chardonnay exhibits crisp citrus and white peach notes with subtle brioche richness, while the Viognier offers delicate white flower aromas with bright mountain freshness.
- Perlita: An approachable, vibrant Malbec-Syrah blend that highlights pure, unmasked fruit expression for casual drinking.
Gastronomy at DIAM’S Restaurant
Integrated seamlessly into the winery’s ground floor, DIAM’S Restaurant offers one of the most refined dining experiences in the Uco Valley. The dining room features floor-to-ceiling glass windows that open toward estate vine rows and the snow-draped peaks of the Andes.
The culinary team crafts multi-course seasonal pairing menus drawing heavily on regional Cuyo produce—including fresh Andean trout, wood-roasted meats, local goat cheeses, and orchard fruits—executed with French culinary technique. Each course is paired with a corresponding estate vintage, providing an educational narrative on how altitude and oak aging interact with food.
Visitor Tips and Planning Your Visit
- Booking Requirements: Due to intimate seating capacity, advance reservations for both winery tours and lunches at DIAM’S Restaurant are essential, particularly during the autumn harvest (February through April) and spring months.
- Location & Circuit Synergy: Located within the Clos de los Siete property along Ruta Provincial 94, Bodega DiamAndes pairs logically with visits to neighboring Vista Flores and Tunuyán wineries such as Bodega Monteviejo or Cuvelier Los Andes.
- Transportation: Situated approximately 90 minutes (95 kilometers) south of downtown Mendoza, booking a private driver (remís) or guided wine tour is strongly recommended to navigate rural Uco Valley routes comfortably.
- Dress and Timing: Plan for a leisurely 3-hour visit if booking the full cellar tour and pairing lunch. Casual chic attire is appropriate; bring sunglasses and a light jacket for breezy foothill afternoons.