High Altitude Wines: How Elevation Shapes Great Wine

High Altitude Wines

There’s something magical about wines that come from the mountains. As vineyards climb higher, everything changes — the sunlight is more intense, nights are cooler, and grapes ripen more slowly, building layers of flavour and elegance. Altitude, as it turns out, can be a winemaker’s secret weapon.

Wines from Mendoza

Nowhere is this clearer than in Mendoza, Argentina, where vines cling to the foothills of the Andes. Here, at 900–1,500 metres above sea level, Malbec thrives under piercing blue skies. The combination of long sunny days and crisp nights produces wines of deep colour, ripe fruit, and remarkable freshness — proof that extreme conditions can yield balance and beauty.

Greece

The story continues in Greece, where altitude gives Mediterranean warmth a welcome lift. From Santorini’s windswept terraces to the mountainous vineyards of Naoussa, cooler temperatures preserve the grapes’ natural acidity. The results are wines that sing with energy — crisp Assyrtiko, spicy Xinomavro — a reminder that Greece’s rugged landscape is as important as its ancient heritage. We don’t have any on our shelves yet but we’re close to finding some for you!

I Fabbri

Closer to home, we’ve been proudly importing wines from I Fabbri, a small, family-run estate in the hills of Lamole, at the highest reaches of Chianti Classico. At around 600 metres, these steep vineyards produce Sangiovese of rare finesse: fragrant, pure, and mineral-driven. Altitude here isn’t a challenge — it’s a defining element. The cool climate slows ripening, giving I Fabbri’s wines an elegance that sets them apart.

Andes to Tuscany

From the Andes to Tuscany’s hilltops, altitude shapes more than just the view. It’s what gives these wines their soul — freshness, structure, and the kind of depth that only comes from living a little closer to the sky.

Dropyn – Gwin Dylanwad Wine Chat Podcast

You can hear more about I Fabbri and the fascinating role of altitude in winemaking in our first podcast episode, where we explore how vineyards at the edge of the sky produce wines full of life, energy, and story. Just click on Dropyn – Gwin Dylanwad Wine Chat.