Bodega Alta Yarí’s Alta Yarí Gran Corte 2023 has been awarded the International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2025 Regional Trophy for the Gualtallary Cabernet Franc category, one of the most coveted distinctions in global wine competitions.

This latest accolade places Bodega Alta Yarí among Argentina’s most remarkable producers, affirming its mastery of high-altitude terroir and meticulous craftsmanship. The story of this award-winning wine is both a celebration and a revelation, unveiling a journey through the Andes, the vineyard, and the glass. In the heart of the Uco Valley, between 1,400 and 1,600 metres above sea level, lies Gualtallary, a subregion renowned for its limestone soils, fierce diurnal shifts, and ethereal light. Here, vines grow closer to the sky, their roots gripping pale, calcareous soils that give wines a mineral purity unmatched elsewhere in Mendoza.

Bodega Alta Yarí, founded by Bordeaux-born winemaker Hervé Fabre, stands as an emblem of this landscape. His vision bridges French precision and Argentine soul, which result in wines that translate the raw energy of the Andes into measured elegance, balancing richness with restraint. Bodega Alta Yarí has built a quiet but consistent legacy of excellence, collecting accolades from Decanter, Descorchados, and the International Wine Challenge (IWC) itself. The 2025 IWC Regional Trophy crowns years of steady ascent by this outstanding Argentine winery. Judges described the Gran Corte 2023 as “a fresh example of how the cool, high Andean valleys above Mendoza are super sites for red grapes. Cabernet Franc dominates this with rich, dark raspberry fruit backed up with Malbec flesh and a higher lift of springtime floral scent”.

Argentina captured 175 medals at IWC 2025 awards event, including 10 golds and 78 silvers. Among the golds, only two belonged to Cabernet Franc wines, one of them being Alta Yarí’s Gran Corte. The recognition signals a powerful shift in Argentine winemaking. While Malbec remains Argentina’s global ambassador, Cabernet Franc and blended reds from high-altitude vineyards now command their own prestige on the world stage. The Gran Corte 2023 blend embodies balance and finesse, comprising 60 per cent Cabernet Franc, 35 per cent Malbec and five per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, all hand harvested in small 20 kg trays before undergoing a double selection process to ensure only perfect berries reach fermentation.

After a five-day cold maceration at 10–12 °C, fermentation proceeds under precise temperature control with various processes employed to enhance wine extraction. The wine then matures for 16 months in French oak barrels, developing polish and aromatic depth. The resulting vintage is a symphony of fruit, structure, and altitude freshness, a testament to the house’s pursuit of purity. This approach reflects a broader movement in Mendoza, where winemakers are defining new expressions of terroir beyond traditional varietal dominance. Alta Yarí stands at the forefront of that transformation, shaping the next chapter of Argentina’s fine-wine identity.

To experience Bodega Alta Yarí, which was also selected as Descorchados 2025 Winery of the Year, is to step into the quiet majesty of Gualtallary. Walk the vineyard rows, feel the mountain wind, watch the light shift over the limestone in a journey expertly curated by Anetza Concierge. Inside the winery, barrels line the cellar like an orchestra of oak and promise. Each bottle carries a trace of this landscape’s soul and Thursday Food introduces you to a few of their other medallists at the 2025 International Wine Challenge:

Alta Yarí Gran Corte 2023 is brilliant on the eyes with a deep ruby radiance, framed by a delicate garnet rim. The aroma unfolds in layers: fresh raspberry, violet, graphite, and wild herbs, underpinned by subtle notes of black pepper and saline minerality. As it breathes, tones of morello cherry, cocoa, and dried tobacco emerge. The palate offers a tactile journey, where silky tannins glide across the tongue, balanced by the tension of bright acidity. Flavours of ripe plum, cassis, and crushed redcurrant intermingle with hints of clove and cedar.

Each sip carries altitude’s signature freshness, tapering into a mineral finish that lingers, pure and resonant. Its aging potential is promising. With structure drawn from Cabernet Franc, body from Malbec, and backbone from Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine will evolve gracefully over a decade or more. For collectors, this vintage which scored 96 points along with a gold medal, offers both immediate pleasure and long-term intrigue.

Silver medallists from this winery at the event included: Alta Yari Pinot Noir 2023 which scored 94 points, Alta Yari Gran Torrontes 2024 which scored 93-points and Alta Yari Gran Malbec, which also earned a 93 point score. Whether tasted in Mendoza, shared among collectors, or poured during an evening of reflection, these wines invite an encounter, asking you not to drink quickly but to savour the earth, the altitude and the craftsmanship that shaped it. Alta Yarí’s triumph at the International Wine Challenge 2025 is more than an award, it is a statement of intent directed at those who seek nuance, texture, and a sense of place. It invites discovery and rewards patience, offering a direct expression of what high-altitude Argentina can achieve at its best. The Andes have spoken, and their voice is clear, refined, and enduring.

Salud!

Mendoza’s high-altitude vineyards offer breathtaking views. (PHOTO BY BODEGA ALTA YARI)

Freshly harvested Torrontés in Gualtallary (PHOTO BY BODEGA ALTA YARI)

Bodega Alta Yari’s high-altitude vineyards in Gualtallary (PHOTO BY BODEGA ALTA YARI)

At the 2025 IWC Alta Yari Gran Malbec 2023 scored 93 points & earned a silver medal. (PHOTO BY BODEGA ALTA YARI)

Alta Yari’s Reserva Chardonnay is fresh and citrussy with notes of white pears. (PHOTO BY BODEGA ALTA YARI)

Alta Yari Pinot Noir 2023 scored 94 points and won a silver medal at the 2025 IWC. (PHOTO BY BODEGA ALTA YARI)

Alta Yari Gran Torrontes 2024 also scored 93 points and won a silver medal. (PHOTO BY BODEGA ALTA YARI)

Alta Yarí Gran Corte 2023 won the Gualtallary Cabernet Franc Trophy, scored 96 points and won a gold medal. (PHOTO BY BODEGA ALTA YARI)