A few years before 1950, Alberto Zuccardi reached Mendoza from his homeland in Tucuman. In 1963, Alberto planted a vineyard in the region of Maipu not knowing that it would begin the great passion of his life, the wine industry. In 1990, his son, Jose Alberto Zuccardi, assumed the responsibilities as General Director of the company. In 2005, Sebastian Zuccardi, third generation of the family, began leading the development of the new stage of the winery expansion into the Uco Valley. In 2008, Sebastian began the area of Research and Development dedicated to the study of the terroir and the different variables that affect wine production. Construction of the Zuccardi winery Uco Valley began in 2013 and opened in March 2016 with the premise of producing wines with identity, through the continuous exploration of the different terroirs of the Uco Valley.Familia Zuccardi is a family-run winery based out of the Bodega Santa Julia in the Mendoza region of Argentina. The company boasts numerous brands, each with a wide range of wines, covering classic Argentinian varieties (the wines are often varietally labeled) as well as numerous styles including sweet and sparkling wines. Zuccardi produced the country's first premium Tempranillo and also runs olive oil brand Zuelo. Founder Alberto Zuccardi moved to Mendoza in the 1940s from Tucumán, over 900km (560 miles) north, where his grandparents had settled after emigrating from Avelino, Italy. Due to the scarcity of water in the Mendoza region, Alberto experimented with a new irrigation system and, wanting to prove its worth to his neighbors, he planted a vineyard in Maipu. The experiment led to Zuccardi becoming one of the most prominent and prosperous wineries in Argentina. The Familia Zuccardi winery was built in 1968 and, when son José Alberto joined the team in 1976, he made several innovations that made the winery what it is today. After readjusting the vineyards to produced optimal quality, the resulting wine from the vineyard was dubbed Santa Julia, for José's only daughter. José also introduced a new portfolio of wines called Zuccardi Q – standing for "quality" – with fruit sourced from the best and oldest parcels. The first Zuccardi Q wine released was the 1997 vintage of Tempranillo, the first premium Tempranillo produced in Argentina. Familia Zuccardi has continued to develop its brand over the years, expanding its holdings beyond their Maipu estate to four other plots around Mendoza: Vista Flores, Altamira, La Consulta, and Santa Rosa. It now makes an array of (mainly varietal) wines under both the Santa Julia and Zuccardi Q portfolios, including Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Torrontés. Additionally, Zuccardi is known for experimentation in the cellar, making wines with little-known varieties such as Aglianico, Bonarda, and Ekigaina. It also produces fortified wines under the Malamado brand.
