Mendoza, Argentina
Guided by his own compass, successful Dutch businessman Myndert Pon arrived in Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina in 1996. He had a clear vision in his mind: to make the best premium wines and to transform the region into a world-class winemaking arena. And that, he did. Working with the local people while embracing their culture, sharing his passion for wines and injecting new technology into the process, Myndert formed Bodega Salentein, now the heart and soul of Uco Valley. A state-of-the-art, uniquely ‘X’ shaped winery with two levels, Salentein keeps to tradition with its gravity-led transfer method, allowing wine to flow from tanks on ground floor to barrels in underground level for ageing. Twenty years later, not only is the team consistently awarded for its remarkable and expressive wines, it has successfully put Uco Valley on the world wine map!