Finca SOPHENIA is a family winery that pioneered the cultivation of high-quality grapes in one of the most important terroirs in Argentina: Gualtallary.
Born out of a friendship and a passion for high quality wine, Finca Sophenia was founded in 2003 to produce world class wines that now share the character of its vineyards in the Andean foothills with 25 markets across the world.
Finca Sophenia: A terroir is born
Finca Sophenia’s story began in 1997, when Roberto Luka, who was then running another major winery in Mendoza, decided to start a separate winemaking project in partnership with his best friend.
Their first decision was to try something different and in this spirit their instincts led them to Gualtallary, a region in Tupungato in the Uco Valley that very few knew about at the time and most who did thought that planting a vineyard there was an act of insanity.
However, their enthusiasm prevailed over conventional wisdom and after buying a 130-hectare estate spread across land at an altitude of between 3000 and 4000 feet above sea level, they planted Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Cabernet Franc vines that would become productive several years later.
Now their enterprise just needed a name and it came with the birth of their daughters: Sofía and Eugenia. Over the past eighteen years, Finca Sophenia has risen to become one of Argentina’s leading producers of high-end wines.
“We’re privileged to have been pioneers in working these lands and to have given birth to a terroir that people are talking about all across the world,” says Roberto Luka, who now runs the winery along with his daughter Eugenia.
The winery is equipped with the latest technology for the production of high-end wines and was built in a strategic location at the center of the vineyard to ensure that grapes could be processed immediately after harvest.
Guided by a profound commitment to the environment, the second generation of the family, represented by Eugenia Luka, has implemented a program of certified sustainable practices that minimize the winery’s impact on the habitat of Gualtallary and support the development of the local community. “Every glass of our wine is the fruit of work by our people, a deep love of the earth and the joy with which we embark upon our everyday routine at the vineyard. In addition to offering quality in our wines, we want to convey the passion with which we tend to our grapes,” says Eugenia.
Wines that take the world by surprise
“For us, it all begins at the vineyard,” says Julia Halupczok, Winemaker at Finca Sophenia. “Gualtallary is the perfect combination of soil, climate, and altitude with which to make balanced wines that deliver excellent fruitiness, freshness and character. We do honor to these natural qualities with our sustainable practices at the vineyard and winery, working hard to make wines that improve with every season.”
The commitment of Halupczok and her team has been rewarded by major awards and high scores for all the different labels in their portfolio, with over 150 of their wines having received scores of 90 points and above in the past five years.
Altosur, their entry level wine, offers fresh, young wines that joyfully express the characteristics of their varietal. Varieties featured include Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Bonarda, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Torróntes along with a Red Blend, a Malbec Rosé a naturally sweet wine. The recipient of several international awards, Altosur features on prestigious lists of “good value wines”. For example, Altosur Malbec 2020 received a score of 91 from the critic James Suckling.
Finca Sophenia Estate Reserva is the winery’s most famous line and includes reds and whites in which the balanced ageing process brings out the mountain character of each variety. Recently, Finca Sophenia Estate Reserva Malbec 2019 won a gold medal (95 points) at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021.
Meanwhile, Sophenia Synthesis is the winery’s high-end line, featuring wines produced following a careful selection of grapes from different parcels. The line features a Malbec, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauvignon Blanc in addition to Sophenia Synthesis The Blend (Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) whose 2018 vintage won a Platinum medal (97 points) at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021.
Finally, the winery’s iconic wine is Roberto Luka Blend, which pays homage to one of the founders of Finca Sophenia. A limited edition wine made only in the best years, it is a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
“We are very proud that our quest for excellence and consistency is being recognized by top experts from across the world,” says an exultant Roberto Luka.
