Meet Your Maker: Juanfa Suarez

The fourth generation of his family to work vineyards, there’s history inside every bottle that Juanfa Suarez – a musician (trumpet) who happens to make wine – at Finca Suarez. With two vineyards to the bodega’s name, Finca Altamira’s Malbec, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are produced biodynamically.

What was the last wine you made?

Last week I finished the Finca Suarez Chardonnay 2015 and Traslapiedra, which is a new project I am working on with my friends. It’s a red blend based on Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from Paraje Altamira, like every wine I produce. It’s fermented and kept in concrete eggs for 12 months.

What did you drink last night?

Gerardo Michelini’s Ji Ji Ji Chenin Blanc.

Tell me about your favourite harvest.

2013 was a cold and nice year in Altamira. We were able to produce a very pure and mineral Malbec with natural acidity.

What’s new for the 2016 harvest? 

The new thing coming up is a Semillón and this is kind of a heritage label because my great-grandfather and my grandfather loved this grape: they insisted that this was “the” Argentine white.

Where in the world would you like to make wine?

I think it would be Northern Rhône as I love those wines, the landscape and the food from that region.

If you were a wine, you’d be…

I guess I’d be a Malbec from Altamira, because that’s my place, my history and I have very good percentage of that juice running through my veins every day!