Altos Las Hormigas

Founded in 1995 by two young Italians, winemaker Alberto Antonini of Antinori and entrepreneur Antonio Morescalchi, Altos Las Hormigas was one of the pioneering producers of Malbec in Mendoza and has strived to innovate ever since. To their team, Malbec is more than just a grape variety, it represents the risk they were willing to take three decades ago when the region was better known for Cabernet Sauvignon.

In 2012, Altos Las Hormigas took another significant step in their progression from boutique value winery to the terroir-driven, serious player in the world of Malbec that they are today by following the advice of terroir consultant Pedro Parra. They decided to stop using new oak or small barriques entirely, instead opting for older, untoasted barrels and concrete tank.

Simultaneously, the winery began to invest in the potential of Mendoza’s cooler, high-elevation Uco Valley and launched their Terroir Project, with the shared ambition alongside other top producers to ultimately create an appellation system in Mendoza which would highlight both the Malbec grape’s nuances and the geographical diversity of their region.

Today, the winery is led by Mendoza-born winemaker Federico Gambetta. After studying agronomy at the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, he worked harvests in Argentina, the Rhône, Napa Valley, and Tuscany before joining the Altos Las Hormigas team in 2020. Under his direction, the winery has continued to strengthen its focus on organic and regenerative farming, as well as low-intervention winemaking. In vineyards such as Jardín de Hormigas in Paraje Altamira, about 40% of the land is preserved with native plants and microfauna to support biodiversity, promote natural soil fertility, and ensure sustainable vineyard health. Certified Organic.