The Passionate Wines “Vía Revolucionaria” Criolla Grande from Mendoza is 100% Criolla Grande, a traditional Argentinian variety that is genetically part of the same extended family as País (Chile) and Mission (California), all ultimately tracing back to Listán Prieto from the Canary Islands. The fruit is sourced from a single vineyard within the Uco Valley, one of the cooler, high-altitude subregions of Mendoza, and the wine is produced by Passionate Wines, the personal project of winemaker and agronomist Matías Michelini, whose philosophy centers on low-intervention, experimental wines that highlight terroir; his “Vía Revolucionaria” line specifically focuses on unconventional, small-production, single-vineyard bottlings fermented with native yeasts and typically made without oak. The wine is made from hand-harvested fruit grown at around 3,400 feet in alluvial, rocky soils, fermented and aged in concrete vessels rather than barrel, reinforcing its minimalist approach . More broadly, the Mendoza region—Argentina’s largest and most important wine area, responsible for the majority of the country’s production—is known for its dry, continental climate at the foothills of the Andes and is historically associated with Malbec, though projects like this reflect a growing interest in revitalizing heritage grapes such as Criolla Grande and exploring fresher, nontraditional styles