San Juan
Argentina's warm second region
- Soil
- Warm, sunny, arid valleys (Tulum, Pedernal, Zonda) irrigated by Andean rivers.
- Style
- Ripe, generous Syrah and juicy Bonarda; higher Pedernal makes fresher, finer wines.
- Top sites
- The cooler, higher Pedernal Valley is the quality frontier.
- Vintages
- 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Producers
- CalliaGraffignaXumek (Pedernal)
Tip · Argentina's second-biggest wine province, just north of Mendoza, is warm Syrah-and-Bonarda country — with the high Pedernal Valley emerging as its fine-wine hope.
Value pick
Callia 'Magna' Syrah · ~$15
Ripe, smooth, peppery San Juan Syrah — a generous, sunny crowd-pleaser at a bargain price.
Collector pick
Xumek 'Zonda Valley' Syrah (Pedernal) · ~$60 · 2018
From the cooler, high Pedernal Valley — a structured, age-worthy Syrah showing San Juan's serious, collectible potential.