Few would have imagined that one of Argentina’s most exciting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers would emerge from the remote Río Negro region of Patagonia. Yet this unique landscape — with its cool climate, desert conditions and pristine viticultural environment — has proven ideal for crafting wines of purity, freshness and precision.

The vision began with Piero Incisa della Rochetta, grandson of Marchese Mario Incisa della Rochetta, the founder of the legendary Sassicaia. During a tasting in New York, Piero encountered a Pinot Noir from Río Negro that sparked his curiosity. Soon after, he travelled to Patagonia and acquired an abandoned winery in Mainqué, along with historic vineyards planted as early as 1932.

The region’s dry climate and constant winds create natural protection against vine diseases, allowing vineyards to be farmed sustainably and many vines to remain ungrafted — a rarity in the modern wine world. Recognising the extraordinary potential of the terroir, Piero founded Bodega Chacra in 2004.

To further refine the wines, Piero partnered with his close friend Jean-Marc Roulot, the renowned Meursault producer, who helped establish Chardonnay plantings and guided the estate’s early white wine production.

Today, Bodega Chacra is widely regarded as one of Argentina’s leading producers of Burgundy-inspired wines, known for their elegance, transparency and balance.

The Pinot Noirs are vibrant and expressive. Barda, sourced from younger vines, is light, fragrant and beautifully approachable — an ideal red to enjoy slightly chilled. Treinta y Dos, from vines planted in 1932, offers greater depth with layers of cherry, spice and silky tannins. Experimental wines such as Sin Azufre and Río Negro Trousseau highlight the estate’s commitment to exploration and minimal intervention.

The Chardonnays combine richness with remarkable freshness. Mainqué Chardonnay undergoes only partial malolactic fermentation, preserving its lively salinity and precision, while the flagship Chacra Chardonnay offers greater texture and complexity, with notes of citrus, vanilla and butter leading to a long, refined finish.

In just two decades, Bodega Chacra has achieved global acclaim — a testament to Piero Incisa della Rochetta’s vision and Patagonia’s extraordinary potential.