Bodega Noemía
Overview
Estate
Bodega Noemía Patagonia is located in Valle Azul/Mainqué, in the Alto Valle del Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina. The project was born around an exceptional old-vine Malbec vineyard and was formally established in 2001 by Italian wine producer Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano and Danish winemaker Hans Vinding-Diers. The original vineyard had been neglected, and the partners restored it rather than replacing the old vines. The first tiny production quickly attracted international attention.
Climate
The Alto Valle del Río Negro is a continental desert environment at roughly 39° south latitude, characterized by intense sunshine, very low rainfall, strong winds, and marked day-to-night temperature variation. Warm, sunny days and cool nights allow slow ripening while preserving natural acidity and aromatic freshness. The arid conditions also mean very low disease pressure, with little frost and hail reported in the vineyard. Patagonia's isolation and extreme dryness are central to Noemía's distinctive style.
Soil
The vineyards lie on predominantly alluvial soils created by the Río Negro river system, with combinations of gravel, sand, silt, and clay over limestone and ancient river deposits. The Noemía parcel contains a somewhat heavier, clay-rich component, while J. Alberto is generally leaner and more gravelly. The soils drain efficiently while retaining enough water to support the vines, contributing to the wines' freshness, saline/mineral character, and fine tannins.
Vineyards
The estate's historic core comprises two remarkable own-rooted vineyards: the 1.5-hectare Noemía vineyard, planted in 1932 with 100% Malbec, and the approximately 4-hectare J. Alberto vineyard, planted in 1955 with 95% Malbec and 5% Merlot. Both are mass selections rather than clonal plantings and are ungrafted, with each vine genetically distinct. Noemía is divided into four separately managed plots. A Lisa is sourced from long-term partner growers around Mainqué, whose vineyards average about 40 years old and are managed year-round by Noemía's agricultural team.
Cultivation
Viticulture is based on organic and biodynamic principles, with an emphasis on minimal intervention and the preservation of old-vine heritage. The J. Alberto vineyard is certified organic and receives no chemical sprays or sulfur treatments. Grapes are harvested by hand. Irrigation follows the traditional flood system of the Río Negro Valley, using pure river water delivered through historic canals engineered in the early 20th century. The system can be used up to four times a year and is an important part of the region's agricultural identity.
Winery
Noemía began with extremely modest facilities: the first wines were made in a rented shed/garage, with only around 1,300 bottles produced from the first vintage. The current philosophy remains deliberately traditional and terroir-driven. Grapes are hand-picked, destemmed when appropriate, and sometimes fermented with whole bunches; extraction is achieved through gentle punch-downs and, when desired, foot treading. Single-vineyard wines rely on spontaneous yeasts, while A Lisa uses selected yeasts supplied by a Danish laboratory. Fermentation takes place in open French oak fermenters, concrete vessels, and stainless-steel tanks. Aging uses 600-liter oak vats and mostly seasoned barriques, with a small annual proportion of new barrels.
Family
The project was founded by Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano, a member of the historic Marone Cinzano wine family, and Hans Vinding-Diers. Their partnership lasted 18 years. Today, Bodega Noemía is owned by Hans Vinding-Diers, his wife Belén, and their two sons, who are part of the family-run estate. Noemi Marone Cinzano remains closely associated with the project's origins while pursuing her own wine projects in Europe.
Winemaker
Hans Vinding-Diers is the owner and winemaker of Bodega Noemía. Born in Stellenbosch to a Danish-English family with wine connections in Sicily, he grew up between major European and New World wine influences, attended school in Saint-Estèphe, and gained cellar experience in Australia's Hunter Valley. He arrived in Patagonia in 1998 and became convinced of the potential of Río Negro's old vineyards. His approach combines a Bordelais technical foundation with a strong Burgundian focus on individual parcels, old vines, vintage expression, and minimal intervention.
Focus Point
• Preservation of historic Patagonian vineyards rather than replanting.
• Malbec as the signature variety of Río Negro.
• Organic and biodynamic farming.
• Traditional flood irrigation with Río Negro water.
• Alluvial soils and strong diurnal temperature variation.
• Very small, terroir-focused production.
• Hand harvesting and low-intervention winemaking.
• Separate vinification of individual plots.
Marketing materials
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Bodega Noemía logo
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