Mendoza has multiple stories of families producing wine generation after generation, many of them have created brands that have been recognized and awarded globally. New wine makers may bring cutting-edge techniques and technologies, but always supported by the in-depth knowledge of the industry of their ancestors.
Today, we will walk the path traced by the Zuccardi family, a paradigmatic case of generational evolution, which never loses the unique spirit of the Mendoza terroir.
The initial seed
Emma and Alberto Zuccardi, the founders.
The story begins in the 60s, when Alberto “Tito” Zuccardi, an engineer by profession, decided to experiment with irrigation systems in the Mendoza desert. Over time, what was born as an agricultural project became one of the most influential wineries in the country.
Years later, his son José Alberto took over and professionalized the business. Under his leadership, the winery expanded, diversified its production lines and gained international prestige. José Alberto incorporated technology, promoted wine tourism and opened markets. But more importantly, he planted in his children a love for wine as a way of life.
Sebastián and José Alberto, son and father united by the love to the Mendoza Terroir and its wines.
Sebastian, the fruit that felt near the tree
The third generation has three members: Miguel, Julia and Sebastian. Miguel is in charge of the olive oil production; Julia is responsible for the wine tourism operations and Sebastian is the current director of oenology and ideologue of the most ambitious project in the family: Zuccardi Valle de Uco, Piedra Infinita Winery. Sebastian did not just want to continue the legacy, he sought to rethink it. He traveled, studied, trained and returned with a clear idea: great wines are born in the vineyard, not in the winery.
Sebastian Zuccardi
His approach is radical: minimal interventionism, absolute respect for the origin and an obsession with soils. Under his leadership, Zuccardi has prioritized scientific research on the different plots of the Uco Valley, interpreting each microterroir as its own universe. “We don’t seek to make the best wine in the world, but the best possible wine, from each place,” Sebastian often says.
In 1999, Sebastián – son of José Alberto and grandson of Tito – started his own project with some friends, to make sparkling wines, in the Uco Valley. A few years later, he joined the family winery, leading Zuccardi’s development in that same region and beginning the upward path they have been on in the last fifteen years.
Piedra Infinita Winery in Uco Valley
Sebastian is not alone. A new breed of young winemakers and winegrowers is emerging under Zuccardi’s wing, many trained abroad, but with firm feet in Mendoza. This new generation, which grew up between vineyards and barrels, brings a different sensibility: greater environmental awareness, more horizontal links with the teams and an almost philosophical approach to wine.
Generational change is not rupture, it is evolution. At Zuccardi, generations do not just overlap, they empower each other. From Alberto’s technical wit, to José’s business vision and Sebastián’s search for the best terroirs, the common thread has always been the same: to make wines that speak of the place and that resonate in the world.
Text and Photo Credits: EMETUR (Tourism Board of Mendoza)