Contumaz
Contumaz is the personal project of Fernando Ugrin, a young winemaker who divides his time between Friuli and his native Argentina. The name chosen for this venture reveals the producer's character: 'contumaz' means stubborn. And it is precisely this stubbornness that drives Fernando in this solitary adventure among the vineyards of San Martín, an agricultural centre at the foot of the Andes. Fernando personally oversees every stage of production and is known for his work with Bonarda, a variety that has found an alternative habitat here to that of Oltrepò Pavese. Fernando's brilliant intuition lies in going against the grain: while in Argentina Bonarda is traditionally vinified in a soft and concentrated way, often with residual sugar, he goes in the opposite direction, as depicted on his labels where a single man climbs a staircase while everyone else descends.
The Contumaz winery follows an approach that remains faithful to its original principles: spontaneous fermentation in containers made of different materials, allowing the grapes to express themselves fully. Almost all the wines are aged in barriques or tonneaux, including the whites, a choice that aims to give structure and complexity without weighing them down. The production philosophy involves variable ageing times depending on the wine. This patience pays off thanks to wines that are predisposed to long ageing, capable of maintaining surprising freshness even years later.
Contumaz wines break the mould of traditional Argentine production, offering elegant and refined interpretations of the varieties grown. Fernando's Bonarda is full-bodied, rich and austere: rich in colour but never heavy, with rare longevity and complexity. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah complete the range of reds, each with a distinctive personality that favours finesse and balance. Fernando Ugrin's stubbornness translates into bottles of extraordinary personality.
Contumaz is the personal project of Fernando Ugrin, a young winemaker who divides his time between Friuli and his native Argentina. The name chosen for this venture reveals the producer's character: 'contumaz' means stubborn. And it is precisely this stubbornness that drives Fernando in this solitary adventure among the vineyards of San Martín, an agricultural centre at the foot of the Andes. Fernando personally oversees every stage of production and is known for his work with Bonarda, a variety that has found an alternative habitat here to that of Oltrepò Pavese. Fernando's brilliant intuition lies in going against the grain: while in Argentina Bonarda is traditionally vinified in a soft and concentrated way, often with residual sugar, he goes in the opposite direction, as depicted on his labels where a single man climbs a staircase while everyone else descends.
The Contumaz winery follows an approach that remains faithful to its original principles: spontaneous fermentation in containers made of different materials, allowing the grapes to express themselves fully. Almost all the wines are aged in barriques or tonneaux, including the whites, a choice that aims to give structure and complexity without weighing them down. The production philosophy involves variable ageing times depending on the wine. This patience pays off thanks to wines that are predisposed to long ageing, capable of maintaining surprising freshness even years later.
Contumaz wines break the mould of traditional Argentine production, offering elegant and refined interpretations of the varieties grown. Fernando's Bonarda is full-bodied, rich and austere: rich in colour but never heavy, with rare longevity and complexity. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah complete the range of reds, each with a distinctive personality that favours finesse and balance. Fernando Ugrin's stubbornness translates into bottles of extraordinary personality.
