Founded in 1910 in Barrancas, Maipú, Finca Flichman is one of the oldest wineries in Mendoza: their wines are considered part of Argentina’s viticultural heritage and have won popularity across the world.
Under the guidance of Head Oenologist Rogelio Rabino, this century-old winery (which has been a part of the Portuguese Sogrape group since 1998) is currently undergoing a process of modernization that respects the classical qualities that made its reputation, with a keen focus on the origins of the wines.
“All our lines are terroir-focused, with a special emphasis on the sustainability of the vineyard,” says the winemaker.
Today, Finca Flichman is the leading winery in Barrancas, where they have their own vineyards in addition to others in Tupungato, Uco Valley.
Rabino took charge of the oenological the team recently and since then, the winery has returned to its role as a leader among Barrancas producers, working to promote the region’s value as one of the province’s historic terroirs.
Finca Flichman, a Barrancas leader
“Today, we’re working with other wineries on in-depth studies of the soil and the wines of Barrancas in order to share our knowledge of what we believe is one of the most important terroirs in Mendoza.
“The region is 2300 feet above sea level, which ensures a sizeable thermal range between day and night. The soils are poor and stony, but most important are the varieties with long growth cycles such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and others, which greatly enjoy the conditions found in the area. It also boasts numerous old vineyards, whose ancestral genes ensure the production of very complex, high quality wines.”
Pioneers in sustainability
A key aspect of Finca Flichman’s production methods is their commitment to the environment: “We were always pioneers in implementing sustainable methods and we were one of the first wineries to receive certification. We are also part of Sogrape’s global program, meaning that we’re working together with wineries in Spain, Portugal, Chile and New Zealand with fixed objectives for 2030 and 2050.
“These objectives are very important and involve many different aspects, from having a neutral impact on the environment and preserving biodiversity to supporting local economic and social development, making an active contribution to the empowerment of women and promoting sustainable practices at the winery and beyond, among several other initiatives,” says Rogelio Rabino
In January 2020, the winery was certified in Bodegas de Argentina’s Sustainability Protocols, which requires them to meet certain standards related to vineyard practices, quality, the environment, human resources and community relations.
Low pollution, efficient use of resources and sustainable energy are the three pillars of the historic winery’s commitment to sustainability.
“We are closely focused on working on sustainability and our impact on the community. We’ve managed to reduce the amount of water needed to irrigate the vines and are working toward self-sufficiency in energy through solar panels. Today, we’ve achieved between 5% and 9% of the energy we need.”
In addition, Finca Flichman has achieved global certification from BRC Food Certificated, which guarantees that the winery works according to practices that produce safe, quality foodstuffs.
“It’s one of the most demanding certifications in the field of safety and traceability, allowing us access to markets with very high standards.”
Major Honors for Finca Flichman
In 2022, Finca Flichman won significant acclaim from prestigious international critics. James Suckling, in his regular Annual Report Argentina 2022; and Tim Atkin, in the annual publication Best Of Argentina 2022 Report, gave high scores to about a dozen labels made by Rabino.
The winery also won a Master medal and one for their DEDICADO Microterroir Sand & Silt 2019 and DEDICADO Gran Corte 2019 at The Global Malbec Masters 2022, a competition organized by the British journal The Drinks Business.
“This acclaim shows us that we’re on the right path to achieving an international style for our wines and offer excellent value for money as we have a presence in 60 countries.”
“The United States, Britain and Brazil are the three main markets and we’ve managed to consolidate our position in each with different wines. For example, our Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are popular in the United Kingdom, while Malbec is our strongest suit in the USA followed by Chardonnay. However, the elegance and complexity of our wines opens doors everywhere.”
As part of their process of evolution and consolidation of the portfolio, Finca Flichman launched 12 new labels over the past year and a half, especially in the mid-level and high-end range.
“In terms of varieties, Malbec is our flagship varietal but we’ve also relaunched a Syrah from an old vineyard in Barrancas; we’re working on our Cabernet Franc and we’re planning to adapt several Portuguese varieties to Argentine conditions,” Rabino continues, reaffirming Flichman’s quest to find wines that combine tradition and modernity with a strong commitment to sustainability.
