Imagine picking the full, sweet grapes from your vines while dipping your feet into the cool, crisp water of the Andes canal. Argentina boasts of some of the finest wines in the world. The malbec has just
begun to tantalize the pallet of international wine drinkers. The high
elevation, cool nights, dry climate and few pests make this area of Argentina
particularly suited for a perfect bottle of this rich, supple wine.
begun to tantalize the pallet of international wine drinkers. The high
elevation, cool nights, dry climate and few pests make this area of Argentina
particularly suited for a perfect bottle of this rich, supple wine.
The Property:
- 28.5 acres (11.5 hectares) total
- 7 acres of bernard, muscatel and chenin (in order of greatest to least amount)
- 2 irrigation canals; 11 hours per week has been allotted. Typical rule of thumb is 1 hour per hectare is necessary for proper irrigation. This water right would transfer to the new owner.
- A caretakers house and a large, brick barn
- 21.5 acres fallow land
- vineyard posts - The fallow area, in previous years, was a vineyard. Many of the old posts remain on the property. This is quite valuable because of the quality of the wood used at this time; it is particularly hard and is valued for it's longevity. The wood used to make the new posts, these days, typically will rot and need to be replaced in a few years.
The barn and attached caretaker's house
Images of the canals
The vines in parrel style netting
The Surrounding Area:
This farm is located 8 miles from the center (0,0) of the town of San Rafael.
San Rafael is a very quant, European-esque city. All of the streets are lined with sycamore trees, have canals that run throughout the city, and is very pedestrian friendly with street cafes and plazas. Throughout the summer evenings, the center square becomes a stage for performance and games for adults and children; where the restaurant seating spills over into the street.
Very nearby is the famous Bianchi champania. Here is where they produce their champagne, cultivate varietal grapes, and host numerous cultural events throughout the year.
Potential Harvest:
*Disclaimer: These estimates are just that. I have no way to know for sure the actual harvest due to the fact that my husband and I bought the farm only a year ago, but due to unforeseen personal health circumstances, we are having to sell at this time. We have not yet seen the first harvest, which will be this March, therefore, these are my estimates from my research and discussion with engineers and local farmers. Also, at the time of having purchased the property, some of the vines needed to be replaced.Maximum yield with no hail or frost damage:
20,000 kilos per hectare - 'common' grapes - bernard, muscatel, and chenin
Last years harvest brought in .35 centavos per kilo. for common grapes
There are approximately 2.8 hectares of grapes.
Estimating between the high and low end:
High - 40,000 kilos total- 14,000 pesos (~$4, 666)
Low - 20,000 kilos total - 7,000 pesos (~$2,666)
Either way, presently, the value is in the land's potential - thus the price.
It was our belief that in addition to the typical harvests of grapes, olives, and plums there are numerous other potential cultivars to be explored to export -- pomegranate, figs, artichokes, jerusalem artichoke. The potential is quite limitless considering the cheap cost of land, water and labor.
There is no formal caretaker at this time. We have had the caretaker of a friend's farm, on the same street, helping to maintain it.
Legality of owning property in Argentina:
We had a very reputable, 2nd generation, escribano, Pablo Bressan, handling the title search and closing of the property. He is very commonly used among expats buying in the area. He speaks fluent English and is very good at explaining the process thoroughly. As far as we know, there are no leans, whatsoever, on the property.
Buying property in Argentina is not very difficult if you have a good escribano. The most difficult thing is understanding what is a good farm for your intention. One does not have to be from AR and can gain legal residency if you invest 100,000 pesos into a 'production' endenvor. All, from a bureaucratic stand point, we had to do prior was to receive a CDI number from the local municipality. It was very easy and inexpensive - I think around 20 pesos. We were able to get both our numbers in one afternoon. But, in fact, I would always recommend working with a reputable real estate agent and escribano.
