Riccitelli Wine

Old Vines from Patagonia Semillon

Argentina, Patagonia

2024

Made by Argentine maverick Matías Riccitelli, this charming old-vine semillon hails from low-yielding, ungrafted vines planted on loamy soils in the 1960s in the Patagonian region of Río Negro. Fermented with wild yeasts in French oak foudres and concrete eggs, it sings with notes of orange peel, white peaches, beeswax and honey. Pair it with a comté tart.

Matías Riccitelli has become a leading voice in modern Argentine winemaking, celebrated for his work with high-altitude vineyards and rediscovery of old-vine semillon. The Old Vines from Patagonia Semillon comes from 60–80‑year‑old, low-yielding parcels in Río Negro, where a cool, desert climate and alluvial soils preserve natural acidity and purity.

Riccitelli's philosophy blends creativity with respect for heritage: hand harvesting, whole-bunch pressing, and fermentation in concrete eggs, foudres and neutral barrels. A period on fine lees adds texture without masking the grape's linear character. The 2024 vintage continues Riccitelli's mission to restore semillon as one of Argentina's great white varieties, producing a wine that is vibrant yet complex, with citrus, chamomile and subtle waxy notes. It reflects both the resilience of Patagonia's historic vineyards and Riccitelli's contemporary, terroir-driven approach.

Tasting
NOTES

Offering a great balance between texture, minerality and freshness, and a touch of well-integrated oak, this is semillon at its most crisp and refreshing. On the citrus-driven nose are notes of white flowers, orange peel, white peaches and mango alongside grapefruit and beeswax. The palate is tart, complex, and full of green apple and lemon zest flavours with herbal hints. It's a structured, elegant, high acid wine with honeyed notes and a lingering saline finish.

Food
PAIRINGS

A versatile wine, this old-vine semillon pairs with everything from Thai green curry and shellfish bisque, to a comté cheese tart with chanterelles, and even buttered popcorn.