These wines offer sunshine in the bottle, perhaps more so than famed Australia. Not intent to maintain the status quo, son José Alberto Zuccardi has started many experimental plantings and is venifying each, separately, to study the individual results. This is a winery to watch.

The biggest fear in the region is hail. "Grapes that are bruised by hail are totally worthless," proclaims Zuccardi. "We have decided to make the substantial investment to protect our crop and have intalled hail nets over more than 103 acres of vines. These nets are used in northern Italy and solve the problem 100%."

Santa Julia Chardonnay, Mendoza 2002
Price $7.99
Rating 88
No oak involvement on this refreshing wine. There are aromas of peach and pear, then flavors of crisp white fruit.
The province of Mendoza, in western Argentina, produces well more than two-thirds of the nations wine. They average 350 days od sunshine and irrigate from the melting snow above in the Andes mountains.
Proprietor José Alberto Zuccardi firmly believes that the quality starts in the vineyard. He uses the parral method of trellising, seeking a balance between full expression of the fruit versus the possible vegetal alternative.

Santa Julia Viognier, Mendoza 2002
Price $9
Rating 87
"We were the first in Argentina to plant viognier, back in 1993," says proprietor José Alberto Zuccardi. Delicate aromas hinting at peach blossom, then flavors of white fruit, faint dried fruit and a touch of earthiness.

Santa Julia Torrontes, Mendoza 2002
Price $7.99
Rating 87
Delicate aromas of citrus, then soft flavors of lychee, melon and limestone. "A good match with Asian cuisine," says Zuccardi.

Santa Julia Q Malbec, Mendoza 2000
Price $19.99
Rating 90
Big, beautiful aromas of dark fruit like blackberry, then flavors of soft, earthy red fruit with plum, toasty elements from one year in new French oak, and crispness through the long finish.

Santa Julia Q Tempranillo, Mendoza 2000
Price $19.99
Rating 91
"From 26-year-old vines, the wine is aged for one year in new American barrels," says proprietor José Alberto Zuccardi. "We were the first in Argentina to do high quality tempranillo, rather than blend it into bulk."
There are ponderous aromas of black fruit and refined leather, then earthy, complex flavors of luscious dark fruit with complex leather and tobacco/spice within the long length.
For more information, visit www.winesellersltd.com or www.familiazuccardi.com.

Says Zuccardi, "Our philosophy is simple. The word 'family' is central to the way in which we run our business." This includes the families of the 450 strong workforce.