Which is the vineyard that puts Junín on the Argentine wine map

For years, wine lovers who wanted to visit a vineyard had to travel to Mendoza. However, since 2020, this experience is possible near Capital Federal, thanks to Finca Las Antipodaslocated in Junín, just over 260 kilometers from the City of Buenos Aires. The name “The Antipodes” is no coincidence: Its geographical location is located, almost exactly, at the antipodes of Mendoza.the traditional Argentine wine hub.

The name “Las Antípodas” refers to its location diametrically opposite to Mendoza, located more than 700 km in a straight line to the East, at the same latitude as San Rafael. This game of words, added to the challenge of develop a vineyard in a non-traditional regionmarks the pioneering spirit of the project.

Finca Las Antípodas is positioned as a close and accessible alternative for those seeking to explore the world of wine without straying too far from Buenos Aires, as well as demonstrating that the passion and effort can lead to the creation of exceptional wines, even in unimaginable places.

“It is true that one is used to drinking wines from Cuyo, Salta or La Patagonia, but also hThere are more and more regions that have their own personality and it is fun to try wines from different places that are not all the same,” describes Mariano Tessone, one of its creators, and adds: “It is a 100% Juninense project of the Humid Pampa and we are proud of that, we want to show the possibilities that this place has.”

A project with local roots

The story of Finca Las Antípodas begins with Mariano Tessone (50) and Juan Pablo Richelmini (50)two friends from Junin, passionate about wine, who decided to establish a vineyard.

The question was: where to carry it out? It turned out that Mariano’s father had some land in an area of ​​farms in Junín, and when they suggested planting the vineyard there, he responded: “If you assure me that I will receive wine, go ahead and use it.” Later, they were able to expand to another five hectares, forming the six in total they have today.

Mariano, lawyer and former rugby player, and Juan Pablo, known as “El Polle” in the poultry sector where he continues to work, had a clear objective: “We want Junín to have its own wine.”

“We had a lot of work at Junín Golf Club, and having just turned forty years old, the idea of launch your own projecttogether with our passion and curiosity for wine,” says lawyer Mariano Tessone about the beginning of Las Antípodas.

The challenge was great, since in the region there was no winemaking tradition nor the specialized know-how necessary to develop a project of this magnitude. But with determination and help from experts, they managed to move forward. With the initial advice of Gabriela Celestedirector of the leading consulting firm Eno-Rollandan experimental project was outlined that began with the implementation of the first plants of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in November 2013. Thus was born the dream of a vineyard in the Pampa Húmeda, with very different climatic and soil conditions to those of the traditional wine-growing provinces.

“The Finca Las Antípodas project represents a real challenge that demonstrates that, with dedication, scientific knowledge and passion, teverything is possible. Here, the tireless efforts of the owners and their close team were key, along with the application of science to achieve the production of healthy grapes in a region where it was previously unthinkable to grow them. But, without a doubt, what drives each advance is the passion that is invested daily to make this venture a reality,” says Celeste, a renowned professional in the industry with extensive experience.

At the moment, Gerardo Pereyra He is the winemaker and main advisor, also from Junin and a student of the world of wine. “The added value of Las Antípodas, as well as for any other producer in this area of ​​the Province of Buenos Aires, is the adventure of harvesting healthy fruit and making wine,” says Pereyra and adds: “The climatic trends in this area are more dissimilar every year. year after year than in other areas of the Andes Mountains, but the idea is that let’s respect what happens on the fieldwhat the plant tells us and delivers and from there, produce the best possible product each year.”

The road to the first harvest

Establishing a vineyard in Buenos Aires was not without obstacles. The constant rains and the presence of insects typical of the region caused the loss of the first harvest in 2017. Based on this experience, action plans were implemented to adapt the management of the farm to the particularities of the local climate. In addition, anti-hail meshes were placed to protect the plants from birds, although this method also brought challenges such as humidity condensation, something not very convenient given the climatic characteristics of the area.

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In 2018, finally, Finca Las Antípodas presented its first wine: The Antipodes Field Blend 2018a blend of 75% Petit Verdot and 25% Malbec, with a production of just 600 bottles. This wine was the beginning of a series of labels that today also include Ancellota and Marselan.

“Our wines are freshwith little alcohol, with some herbaceous notes and with little intervention of wood because What we want is for the terroir of the area to be expressed. It varies from year to year and each wine is different from another in general. We already have four harvests (2021 – 2022 – 2023 – 2024) and we are learning day by day,” says Tessone about production.

A space for wine tourism

Finca Las Antípodas is one of the nine vineyards that make up the “Wine Route of the province of Buenos Aires”. The estate not only offers a unique wine experience, but also a perfect environment to relax. It has three container-style guest houses with capacity for four people each, with views of the estate, surrounded by vineyards and with a comfortable pool to add freshness to the enjoyment of the landscape. The accommodation package, which requires prior reservation, includes breakfast and wine tasting as an optional activity.

Tastings and other events that include local cuisine are also part of the farm’s regular calendar, both for those who stay there and for those who visit for the day. (For more information about available packages and scheduled events, consult Instagram, @lasantipodasok).

Growth led them to add partners, always maintaining the essence of being a friends project: this is how they joined Matias Noberasco “El Fiche” in 2018, and Juan Sarracín“The Bear”.