In the Cuyo region, the 2025 harvest will be remembered as one of the most intense and difficult of recent years. Divided into two stages – one hot and hurried, the other cool and slow – it required discerning reading of the vines, precise decision-making and outstanding technical instincts.
Mendoza: a vintage that will make its mark
2025 was a demanding but also revelatory year. Laura Catena is confident, however: “Our high altitude regions showed that they are resilient to climate change.”
It all began with a dry but cool winter, ideal for the resting vines. Spring was benevolent with no major frosts and even budding.
However, alarm bells began to ring in January and February: persistent heat waves sped up the ripening of the sugars while polyphenols lagged behind. As Catena says, “The hot temperatures during the day accelerated ripening while the cool nights preserved the aromatic complexity and freshness. The grapes ultimately came out healthy with excellent color concentration and tannins.”
The thermal contrast led to uneven ripening. “In Altamira, for example, we harvested premium parcels 15 days earlier than usual,” says Cecilia Acosta at Bodega Argento. Luján de Cuyo also saw an unprecedentedly early harvest. “In Alto Agrelo we broke the harvest record: we were picking our leading parcel on February 17.”
At the end of February, a cold front accompanied by widespread rain changed the picture. Temperatures dropped, ripening slowed and the vineyards, especially those in lower areas and with deeper soils such as East Mendoza, ground to a halt. The harvest was thus split in two: those who harvested early will produce fresh, taut wines, those who waited will obtain riper, more structured profiles but with good energy and tension.
“We recorded 29 days with high temperatures above 33°C, compared to 22 last season and 35 on average in other years,” says Andrea Ferreyra at La Celia, a winery in the Uco Valley.
“The great lesson this year was to go back to walking through the vineyard with humility. There are no rules, only signs,” says Silvio Alberto, Chief Winemaker at Bodegas Bianchi. In his case, in Los Chacayes he harvested the Malbec before the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon before them both: “It’s unheard of, but that’s exactly what happened.”
Expressive whites and reds with character
The whites were the surprise this year as they were harvested at a time just before the heat wave when the indicators were at the perfect level. Areas such as Gualtallary, Los Árboles and San Rafael will produce vibrant wines with good varietal expression and natural acidity.
“I anticipate an excellent year for high altitude Chardonnays and the Semillóns with a freshness that will hold up very well to ageing,” says Marcelo Belmonte at Grupo Peñaflor.
The reds, in contrast, express the diversity of the year. “March brought rain and slowed the pace of the harvest. Later ripening varieties needed more patience: the grapes slowed down and forced us to wait. The second stage, which was more gradual, delivered reds with a ripe profile, polished tannins and a depth that reflects the balance between the extreme climate and technical management,” says Andrea Ferreyra.
Malbecs from Altamira and El Peral are offering precise red fruit and tension while Luján de Cuyo – Perdriel, Las Compuertas and Agrelo – produced wines of greater depth with silky tannins and excellent aromatic concentration. The Merlot from Gualtallary and Cabernet Franc from Vistaflores have impressed me”, reports Gustavo Rearte at Achával Ferrer.
Output and notable varieties
The harvest ended with a 5% increase in yield compared to 2024, at 1.98 million tons of grapes. This makes it about average for the past decade with good health and even yields seen in almost every region.
Among the whites, high altitude Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillón were the stars. For the reds Malbec has demonstrated its characteristic malleability while Cabernet Franc is being praised for its aromatic profile and polished tannins. Other notable varieties were the Petit Verdot, Merlot and Syrah, especially in cooler areas with calcareous soils.
San Juan: a generous, vibrant harvest
The 2025 harvest in San Juan was among the most generous and balanced in recent years. In contrast to previous cycles which endured several frosts and high winds, this year saw a cold winter and stable spring that allowed for even, undamaged budding.
In the higher valleys such as Calingasta, the harvest arrived with abundant grapes and exemplary healthiness. “It was a lovely year,” reports Andrés “Vasco” Biscaisaque at Finca Los Dragones, who is pleased with the acidity and balanced phenolic maturity of his crop.
In warmer areas such as the Tulum Valley, the accelerated cycle and early rains meant that producers had to pay close attention but the results were positive: expressive whites and profound reds. In Pedernal, ripening occurred smoothly and produced extremely high quality grapes. “It’s up there with some of our best harvests,” says Gustavo Matocq at Pyros Wines enthusiastically.
So which 2025 wines should you be trying? High altitude reds, especially Syrah, Malbec and Cabernet Franc, are standing out for their concentration and freshness. Among the whites, the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are wowing early tasters with their crisp acidity and varietal expression.
La Rioja: less grapes, more character
The harvest in La Rioja came with surprises. Although the winter was unusually cold — “We hadn’t had such harsh winters in years”, said viticulturist and winemaker Javier Collovati — and vineyard health was excellent, yields were below average.
“We had up to 30% less grapes in some varieties,” added the winemaker, pointing to the extreme heat in January and February as the main culprit. Even so, he highlighted that wine quality remained strong, with an early yet well-balanced harvest.
Among the standout varieties, he mentioned juicy, fresh Syrah, vibrant Bonarda, and white wines with great mouthfeel and impeccable health. A harvest short on volume, but rich in identity.
In Chañarmuyo, a high-altitude area of La Rioja, the story was different. “The extreme weather conditions were less felt at higher elevations,” explained agronomist Matías Prieto. Here, the harvest was long and even, with long-cycle reds — such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot — standing out for their structure, and whites like Chardonnay surprising with their balance and expression.
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