01. Our Winery // The Winery
THE WINERY, A UNIQUE PLACE FULL OF HISTORY
The winery is in Luján de Cuyo, Province of Mendoza, 20 minutes from the city of Mendoza. The building is an historical landmark of Mendoza, built in 1901 by Agustin ÁLvarez, former Governor of Mendoza. Federico Benegas Lynch bought it in 1999, and made a 5 years restoration, keeping its original design, including the adobe walls and concrete pools, and adding state -of-the-art technology.
HISTORY, NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY LOOKING FOR THE EXCELENCY IN WINEMAKING
The concrete tanks were epoxy painted – an inert material; the doors, and pipes were changed for stainless steel, and a hot-cold system was added.
In the production area there are 80 concrete tanks of between 2,000 and 20,000 liters. The total capacity is 800,000 liters, although currently only part of this is being used with the aim of reaching full capacity in the future.
Bodega Benegas produces 50,000 cases of wines per year of which 80% is exported.
Even when concrete tanks are the best for preserving the temperature of musts and wines, in the last few years we intrduced 3.000 liters concrete eggs, looking for the clear identity of small parts of our vineyards.
The cellar, originally made of stone is 10 meters deep, 10 meters wide and 80 meters long, which maintains a naturally, cool low temperature, just 3 degrees apart between winter and summer, with no need to ionize with air conditioners. Since 2000, the old underground tanks were refurbished to store the bottles of wines.
The storage capacity of 225-liter barrels is 1,200 units. Currently there are 350 barrels and every year more are incorporated, always of French oak. The old underground concrete tanks were remodeled and today provide the space for stowing 120,000 bottles, allowing for the proper evolution of the wine prior to being sent to market.
The winery is decorated with ponchos, collected by Federico Benegas Lynch through his trips around the country, woven by artisans who spun and used handlooms. The 40-meter-long southern nave showcases a 10-meter table, made of single planks and a 7-meter grill evoking Mendoza’s Criolla tradition.
PASSION
The winery embodies Mendoza’s passion for history and tradition.
CONCRETE, AN ALLY IN THE SEARCH OF HIGH QUALITY WINES
Today, when concrete and stainless steel tanks cost the same, premium wine producers are returning to concrete for its valuable characteristics as the University of Davis demonstrated that stainless steel takes static electricity from the air that is harmful to wines.
THE CELLAR
The cellar, originally made of stone is 10 meters deep, 10 meters wide and 80 meters long, which maintains a naturally, cool low temperature, just 3 degrees apart between winter and summer, with no need to ionize with air conditioners.
HISTORY IN THE WALLS
The winery is made of adobe with iron columns lined with bricks in an English style. The adobe was cooked under the sun but as Mendoza is as desert, the wood to cook the bricks were imported from the bordering province of San Luis. The winery’s renovation took 4 years and the bricks were ordered to be made to the same size as those of the 19th century.
A WINERY WITH TRADITION
The winery is decorated with ponchos, collected by Federico Benegas Lynch through his trips around the country, woven by artisans who spun and used handlooms. The 40-meter-long southern nave showcases a 10-meter table, made of single planks and a 7-meter grill evoking Mendoza’s Criolla tradition.
