Zuccardi Q Chardonnay 2022 comes from the high-altitude vineyards of the Uco Valley, where Chardonnay behaves very differently than it does in warmer wine regions. Sitting at the foot of the Andes, the Uco Valley’s elevation brings intense sunlight during the day but dramatically cooler nights, allowing Chardonnay to develop ripe fruit while holding onto sharp natural acidity.
The 2022 growing season in Mendoza was notably warm and dry, creating ideal conditions for healthy fruit development throughout much of the region. Lower rainfall meant disease pressure stayed low, and vineyards saw very little disruption during the growing season. In some sites, smaller berry size and reduced yields led to greater concentration in the fruit, particularly for white varieties like Chardonnay.
In the Uco Valley, altitude played a crucial role in balancing the vintage. Vineyards sit between 1,000 and 1,500 metres above sea level, where intense mountain sunlight during the day is followed by dramatically cooler nights. That large diurnal swing slows down ripening and helps grapes retain acidity and aromatic definition, even in warmer years.
For Chardonnay, those conditions developed generous orchard fruit and citrus character without becoming heavy or overly tropical. The cooler nights preserved the wine’s freshness and linear structure, while the dry season contributed to clean flavours and strong concentration. The result is a vintage that feels both ripe and precise, combining texture with bright mineral tension.
The region’s alluvial soils, filled with limestone, sand, and stones washed down from the Andes over thousands of years, play a major role in shaping the wine’s tension and stony texture. Rather than feeling broad or tropical, the wine leans energetic and structured.
The 2022 Chardonnay Zuccardi Q from El Peral and Gualtallary, Uco Valley was 50% aged in concrete and used barrels for 10 months.
Tasting Note
On the nose, apple, pear and nutty aromas leap out of the glass with lemon zest and hints of linden blossom trailing behind. On the palate, a stony mineral acidity is threaded through layers of citrus and stonefruit with a long satisfying finish.
Food Pairing
The subtle nutty aromas in Zuccardi’s 2022 Q Chardonnay will bring out that same character in grains while the wine’s apple, pear, and stonefruit notes will match with lightly sweet flavours in a dish. That being said, we recommend a grain salad with plenty of herbs and roasted or grilled stone fruit — the kind of salad that travels well, a summer necessity.