In 1556 fr Juan Cedrón established the first Argentinian vineyards in Mendoza using cuttings from the Chilean Central Valley. Argentina is now the worlds fifth largest wine producer. The many different grapes reflect the country's immigrant groups: the French brought Malbec, the Italians brought Bonarda and Torrontés is typically Argentinian found in the provinces of La Rioja, San Juan, and Salta.

Friulano is a conflicted grape variety. An offspring of Sauvignon Blanc its official name is Sauvignonasse. It was also known as Tocai Friulano - until the Hungarian's demanded that the association with the unrelated Tokaji was removed when they joined the EU.

Friulano produces full bodied, elegant white wines with a characteristic nose of almonds.

François Lurton was the first person to plant vines in the foothills of the Andes, at high altitude, in semi-desert conditions in poor, gravelly, alluvial soil. The area now known as IG Los Chacayes. 

Drawing on expertise acquired all over the world, he introduced environmentally friendly growing methods, and his 99 hectares of vines are managed organically and biodynamically.