Rising among the ancient vines of Perdriel in southern Luján de Cuyo, Bodega Renacer stands out as one of Mendoza’s most visually striking and technically innovative estates. Founded in 2003 by Chilean entrepreneur Patricio Reich, the property marries medieval Tuscan-inspired stone architecture with modern sustainable engineering. Beyond its tranquil willow-fringed reflecting lake and panoramic terrace facing the snow-dusted Cordón del Plata, Renacer achieved international renown as the first winery in Argentina to master the traditional Italian appassimento (Amarone-style) winemaking method, creating voluptuous, layered red blends alongside award-winning expressions of high-altitude Malbec.
| Key Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Location & Altitude | Brandsen 1863, Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo | 980 meters (3,215 ft) ASL |
| Architectural Style | Medieval Tuscan stone tower, reflection lagoon, wooden overwater walkways |
| Winemaking Specialization | High-altitude Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Italian appassimento (grape-drying) method |
| Signature Labels | Milamore (Appassimento Red Blend), Punto Final Reserva, Renacer Icon Malbec |
| Environmental Standards | Carbon neutral certified, 100% vegan certified, organic vineyard management |
| Winery Entity Profile | View Official Bodega Renacer Entity |
1. Tuscan Architecture in the Heart of Perdriel
Approaching Bodega Renacer along Calle Brandsen, visitors are immediately transported to central Italy. The estate’s central tower and cellars were erected using local golden quarry stone, featuring robust arches, heavy timber doors, and clean medieval lines that contrast dramatically against the desert sky. A serene artificial lagoon anchors the grounds, populated by koi fish, native water plants, and weeping willows whose branches graze the water’s surface.
The facility was designed not just for aesthetic impact, but for thermal stability and eco-conscious winemaking:
- Natural Thermal Inertia: Massive stone walls and subterranean cellar placement insulate barrels from scorching midsummer heatwaves, eliminating excessive air conditioning demands.
- Water Conservation & Solar Power: The reflecting lake doubles as an emergency agricultural reservoir, complemented by a closed-circuit water recycling plant and rooftop photovoltaic solar arrays that power estate operations.
- Carbon Neutral Certification: Renacer was one of the early Mendoza adopters of certified carbon-neutral footprints, calculating emissions across farming, bottling, lightweight glass bottles, and international freight.
The Perdriel sub-appellation occupies a privileged position along the southern bank of the Mendoza River. Here, ancient river terracing creates stratified soils composed of clay, sand, and smooth gravelly rocks known locally as canto rodado. The proximity of the river provides a natural cooling channel, moderating temperatures during the peak summer afternoons and enabling extended hang-times for Cabernet Franc and Malbec without losing varietal precision or accumulating overripe, jammy characteristics.
2. The Appassimento Technique: The Creation of Milamore
While Mendoza is celebrated worldwide for fresh, fruit-forward Malbec, Renacer earned cult status by introducing the historic Venetian appassimento technique to South America. Best expressed in their flagship label, Milamore, this method transforms traditional viticulture:
- The Drying Process (Fruttaio): Late-harvest clusters of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, and Cabernet Franc are hand-picked into shallow perforated plastic crates and laid out in specially ventilated drying tunnels.
- Dehydration by Andean Breezes: Over three to four weeks, dry mountain winds naturally evaporate water from the grapes, reducing fruit weight by approximately one-third while concentrating natural sugars, aromatic precursors, and anthocyanins.
- Complex Fermentation: Fermenting the concentrated must requires specialized indigenous yeasts capable of handling dense must weights. The resulting wine is aged in French oak barriques, yielding a rich, full-bodied nectar redolent of dried figs, black cherries, bitter cocoa, sweet pipe tobacco, and clove, with remarkable structural freshness.
3. The Wine Portfolio: From Punto Final to Icon Renacer
Tasting flights at the cellar door guide guests through the estate’s stylistic range:
- Punto Final Varietal Line: Fermented in stainless steel tanks, this approachable line emphasizes purity of fruit, vibrant red berries, and floral violet aromatics in its Malbec and crisp citrus notes in its unoaked Chardonnay.
- Punto Final Reserva: Sourced from selected 50-year-old vines in Perdriel and high-elevation plots in the Uco Valley. Aged for 10 to 12 months in French oak, these wines exhibit structured blackberry fruit, subtle cedar, and refined, supple tannins.
- Renacer (Icon Malbec): The estate’s pinnacle expression, crafted exclusively from minuscule yields of ancient Perdriel vines. Matured for up to 24 months in new French oak barriques, it displays tremendous aromatic depth—graphite, crème de cassis, crushed minerals, and espresso—with a velvety, seamless finish designed for decades of bottle aging.
4. Visitor Experience, Lagoon Dining & Cooking Classes
Renacer offers a versatile hospitality program tailored to travelers seeking interactive, leisurely wine experiences:
- Lagoon Deck Tastings: Enjoy guided flights seated along the wooden promenade over the water, taking in unobstructed views of the Cordón del Plata mountain range.
- Estate Restaurant: The on-site restaurant serves multi-course seasonal lunches pairing regional grilled meats, handmade pastas, and garden vegetables with Punto Final and Milamore vintages. Learn more about regional dining traditions in our Mendoza food and drink hub.
- Interactive Winemaker Workshops: Guests can participate in hands-on blending sessions, experimenting with varietal components from barrel samples to bottle their own personalized custom blend with a custom label.
5. Practical Visitor Information & Planning Advice
Planning your visit to Bodega Renacer is convenient given its central location in Luján de Cuyo:
- Location & Access: Situated on Calle Brandsen in Perdriel, Renacer is approximately 30 kilometers south of Mendoza City (about 30 to 35 minutes via Ruta 40). It sits within easy striking distance of neighboring Perdriel and Agrelo estates.
- Booking Protocols: Advance reservations are essential for cellar tours, lagoon deck tastings, and restaurant lunches, especially during the harvest months of February through April.
- Combine Your Itinerary: A morning tour and tasting at Renacer pairs seamlessly with an afternoon exploration of Vistalba or a scenic mountain excursion. Consult our comprehensive Mendoza travel planning guide to map out your wine route.
Explore More Mendoza Wineries
Discover additional boutique cellars, historic estates, and architectural masterworks across Luján de Cuyo, Maipú, and the Uco Valley in our complete Mendoza wineries guide.