Contra Corriente

Without any prior experience, Rance Rathie and Travis Smith went against all odds (or against the tide in this case), pushing the limits of viticulture and embarked on planting a small vineyard in southern Patagonia where no one had previously thought of that wine could be made. They also managed to get an incredible team and together they are producing the best southern wines in Argentina.

Contra Corriente Limited Selection Chardonnay 2021 – TS

Province: Chubut
Region: Trevelin Valley
Subregion: Trevelin
Elevation: 380 masl
Varietal: Chardonnay
Tamaño del viñedo: 3 hectáreas
Edad del viñedo:  9 años
Number of plants per hectare: 5.000 plants
Yields: between 4.000 and 7.000 kg/ha
Irrigation: drip irrigation
Soil Composition: alluvial and glacial erosion
Training method: high and medium trellis
Harvest date: mid to end of April
Type of viticulture: ecological

Winemaking and ageing
Whole cluster: no
Yeast: selected
Fermentation container: 40% stainless steel tank & 60% in barrel
Maceration technique: : whole bunch pressed, cold budded.
Fermentation temperature: Max 18º
Length of fermentation: 2 weeks
Malolactic fermentation: yes
Aging container size/material: barrels and stainless steel tank
Age of container if wood: 1st and 2nd use
Type of barrel and cooperage: Mercurey + Dargaud Jaegle
Time of aging in container: 12 months
Time of aging in bottle: 12 months

Analytical data
Alcohol: 12% vol.
Ph: 3.24
Residual sugar: < 2 g/l
Acidity: 7,00 g/l
Sulfites: less than 60 ppm total, less than 20 ppm free

Winemaker: Sofía Elena

Contra Corriente Limited Selection Pinot Noir 2021 – TS

Province: Chubut
Region: Trevelin Valley
Subregion: Trevelin
Elevation: 380 masl
Varietales: Pinot Noir
Vineyard size: 1 ha.
Edad del viñedo: 4 años
Number of plants per hectare: 5.000 plants
Yields: between 4.000 and 7.000 kg/ha
Irrigation: drip irrigation
Soil Composition: alluvial and glacial erosion
Training method: high and medium trellis
Fecha de cosecha: mediados a fin de abril
Type of viticulture: ecological

Winemaking and ageing
Whole cluster: no
Levaduras: nativas y seleccionadas
Contenedor de fermentación: tanque inox
Técnica de maceración: maceración en frio 5 días
Temperatura de fermentación: pico a fin de fermentación de hasta 30ºC. Extracción razonada.
Length of fermentation: 2 weeks
Malolactic fermentation: yes
Aging container size/material: oak barrels
Edad del contenedor si es de madera: arricas usadas (2do, 3er 4to 5to uso) con 15% nuevas
Type of barrel and cooperage: Mercurey + Dargaud Jaegle
Time of aging in container: 12 months
Time of aging in bottle: 12 months

Alcohol: 12.5% vol.
Ph: 3.42
Residual sugar: < 2 g/l
Acidez 6,00 g/L
Sulfites: less than 60 ppm total, less than 20 ppm free

Winemaker: Sofía Elena