Susana Balbo Winery, Luján de Cuyo
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Viticulture
Terroir: Rolled pebbles, clay and limestone subsoil from the Miocene and Ice Age (-6 to -18 million years). Soil with high complexity. This region enjoys the most hours of sunshine in France, which promotes photosynthesis. The north wind "Le Mistral," which has a very positive effect on the health of the vines, blows here on an average of 100 days a year.
Viticulture: The vines are planted with a density of 4,000 vines per hectare. The number of treatments is limited according to weather conditions. Fertilization is based on soil and leaf analysis, thus ensuring a better balance between soil and vines. Control of vigor, leaf removal, pruning, and yield limitation to ensure better ripening and quality of the grapes.
Vinification: The grapes are harvested at night to avoid oxidation. In the cellar: crushing and destemming. Cold maceration before fermentation, followed by a three-week vatting period, accompanied by pumping over, racking, and oxygenation until optimal and balanced extraction is achieved. -
Winery
The long-established estate "Clos des Lumières" is a shining example of a family-run winery in the south of France, lovingly passed down from generation to generation, from father to son. As times change and market conditions evolve, the business adapts accordingly. Grandfather André Serrano laid the foundation with a modest one-hectare plot. His son, Daniel, brought the grapes to the local cooperative. But when Gérald, the grandson, took the reins in 1997, the winery experienced a renaissance: both the wine cellar and the exterior facilities were modernized. The decisive step of leaving the cooperative in 2003 marked a turning point. Their hard work and dedication have been rewarded in recent years with numerous awards in the Guide Hachette and at national wine tastings
