From El Trapiche to the largest winery in Argentina
The history of Trapiche begins in 1883, when Tiburcio Benegas bought a small winery in the Godoy Cruz district near Mendoza and named it El Trapiche. Benegas was not a local phenomenon: He is considered one of the three defining pioneers of the American wine industry of the 19th century, alongside Silvestre Ochagavía in Chile and Agoston Haraszthy in California. His legacy grew over generations: After his death in 1908, his son Pedro Benegas took over the cellar management and developed legendary brands such as Fond de Cave and Broquel. In 1971, the company went to the Pulenta family and was renamed Peñaflor S.A. — today the parent company operates as Grupo Peñaflor, one of the largest wine groups in the world.
Trapiche was the first Argentine winery to ship wines to Buenos Aires and received an international award in Paris as early as 1889. Today, the house is one of Argentina's largest wine exporters and supplies over 80 markets worldwide. In 2019, Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Trapiche "New World Winery of the Year".
Terroir exploration and biodynamics
Trapiche manages over 1,200 hectares of vineyards in Mendoza, spread over several sites, and also works with more than 300 independent winemakers. The starting point is the Primera Zona around Maipú — clay-loamy, gravelly soils at an altitude of around 850 meters, traditionally the heart of Malbec and Cabernet cultivation. Since the 2000s, Trapiche has also been developing the cooler high altitudes of the Uco Valley, where lower temperatures allow for slower ripening and finer aromatic complexity.
In the cellar, the house combines historical substance with modern technology: The winery's original cement fermentation tanks are still in operation, supplemented by a contemporary barrel cellar. For vinification, Trapiche has been relying on French oak barrels since the 1980s — a pioneering achievement in Argentina at the time. Measures in viticulture include biodynamic and organic cultivation trials as well as a biodynamic vineyard directly on the company premises.
Malbec centerpiece and the Oak Cask program: what awaits you in the range
Trapiche made Malbec big in Argentina — and never stopped there. The centerpiece of the range that you will find with us is the Varietals line with Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, as well as the Oak Cask program, which shows the same grape varieties — supplemented by Syrah — after aging in oak barrels. The vineyard work in the Primera Zona provides concentrated red fruit with a firm tannin structure for the Malbecs; the oak barrel line adds layers of vanilla, tobacco, and spicy depth without masking the varietal fruit aromas. The Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza shows classic cassis aromas with a herbal touch, the Syrah from the Oak Cask series dark berry and subtle smoky notes. All wines are vinified at an alcohol level between 14 and 15% vol. — according to the house, the point at which phenolic ripeness, aromatics, and structure are in balance.
