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About Bodegas CARO

Blending is not just about the wine. We are the perfect expression of the blending of two cultures; a fusion of characteristics giving birth to something greater. When the old world merges with the new. When youth matures with experience. When exuberance grows more delicate. When Bordeaux meets the Andes. Bodegas CARO is all that.

“From a tension between two opposites can come great energy. The greater the contrast, the greater the potential.”

The idea of forming a partnership between DBR Lafite and the Catena family was born in 1999.

In Mendoza, the Catena family (CA) relies on their knowledge of the region’s high-altitude terroirs and their passion for Malbec. 

Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite (RO) brings its centuries-old know-how in growing, vinifying, and ageing great Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as its expertise in blending.

The Vineyard

Since the beginning of the project, special care has been taken in the selection of vineyards, with the aim of magnifying the blend between Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, the grapes come from the most representative vineyards of the great terroirs of Mendoza. Known for the quality of their Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, these terroirs are located:

• In Luján de Cuyo, especially in the area of Las Compuertas and Agrelo.

Luján is part of the “First Zone”, where the first Malbecs of Mendoza were planted near the alluvial bed of the Rio Mendoza. These ancient vineyards are located between 850 and 950 metres above sea level, with average temperatures ranging from 8 to 23°C.

• In the Uco Valley, in Tupungato and San Carlos, especially in the areas of Altamira, San Pablo, Gualtallary and San Jose.

This high potential oasis, an hour and a half south of Mendoza, is characterised by breathtaking landscapes, where the glaciers and eternal snows of the Cordillera Frontal overlook the vineyards located between 1000 and 1600 metres above sea level, with average temperatures varying between 7 and 22°C.

Vineyards planted in such high deserts benefit from low temperatures at night and good ventilation during the day, which slows down the ripening process and preserves the acidity of the grapes. The intensity of the sun’s rays causes the grapes to develop a thicker and darker skin. These unique conditions allow us to produce wines that are concentrated, fine and harmonious.

Our Commitment

In the heart of Mendoza and the foothills of the Andes 

The sustainable commitment illustrated by the renovation of a historic winery in Mendoza, which has been revitalised over the last few years, is now being extended to investment in vineyards at high altitudes, particularly on the San Pablo, with a management approach that respects the natural environment.

The promotion of culture translates into on-site hospitality and events throughout the year.

This Domaine joined the B Corp community in December 2023. To learn more, click here.

Read more about Bodegas Caro in our CSR report

The Team

Bodegas CARO is managed by Philippe Rolet, director, with the technical support of Olivier Trégoat, technical director of Château L’Évangile, Château Rieussec, Château Paradis Casseuil, and Domaine de Long Dai.

History

The exchanges and selection work began in 1999 to produce a first vintage of CARO in 2000. The success of the first vintages led to the creation of another wine in 2003, Amancaya, which, like its predecessor, is a harmonious balance of Argentinian identity and Bordeaux style. Then, Bodegas CARO chose to celebrate the emblematic grape variety of the Argentinian vineyard with Aruma, 100% Malbec, from the 2010 vintage.

The Winery and Cellar

Since 2003, the wines of Bodegas CARO have been vinified in a heritage building made of exposed brick and aged under the century-old vaults of its underground cellars in the heart of Mendoza. The enhancement of this old cellar from 1884, whose lines recall the Renaissance temples of northern Italy with its oculi, high ceilings and semicircular arches, was the cornerstone of the Bodegas CARO project.

The Wines

CARO is made in our image. It reflects its Argentinian terroir, vinified in the spirit of a Bordeaux Grand Cru. CARO is a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, produced from a selection of our high-altitude vineyards planted at the foot of the Andes. It is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels from the Tonnellerie des Domaines cooperage in Pauillac.

Elegant like its big brother, Petit CARO is also a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 12 months in barrels. The grapes come from selected plots of old vines in the historic region of Luján de Cuyo and from new high-altitude terroirs in the Uco valley, about 100 km south of Mendoza.

Amancaya is named after an endemic Andean flower. It is a delicate blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from vineyards planted on different types of alluvial soils located in the province of Mendoza, between 800 and 1500 meters above sea level in Luján de Cuyo and in the Uco valley. In order to preserve its balance, the wine is aged partly in French oak barrels and partly in cement vats.

Aruma, “the power of the night” in Quechua, is a 100% Malbec from the Uco valley. This region, characterised by its strong day-night temperature difference, allows the grapes to reach a beautiful maturity while preserving their freshness. Aruma is aged in vats to enhance its fruit-driven style and allow the full character of the grape variety to be expressed.