Contumaz
Contumaz is the personal project of Fernando Ugrin, a young winemaker who divides his life between Friuli and his native Argentina. The name chosen for this venture reveals the character of the producer: "contumaz" indeed means stubborn. And it is precisely this stubbornness that guides Fernando in this solitary adventure among the vineyards of San Martìn, an agricultural center at the foot of the Andes. Fernando personally oversees every phase of production and is known for his work with Bonarda, a variety that has found an alternative habitat here compared to that of Oltrepò Pavese. Fernando's brilliant intuition lies in a countercurrent approach: while in Argentina Bonarda is traditionally vinified in a soft and concentrated manner, often with residual sugars, he travels in the opposite direction, as depicted on his labels where a single man ascends a staircase while everyone else descends.
The Contumaz winery follows an approach faithful to its initial principles: spontaneous fermentations in containers made of different materials, allowing the grapes to fully express themselves. Almost all wines mature in barriques or tonneaux, including the whites, a choice aimed at providing structure and complexity without weighing down. The production philosophy provides for variable aging times depending on the wine. This patience pays off thanks to wines predisposed to long aging, capable of maintaining surprising freshness even years later.
The Contumaz wines break the mold of traditional Argentine production, offering elegant and refined interpretations of the cultivated varieties. Fernando's Bonarda is full, rich, and austere: rich in color but never heavy, with rare longevity and complexity. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah complete the range of reds, each with a distinctive personality that favors 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 life between Friuli and his native Argentina. The name chosen for this venture reveals the character of the producer: "contumaz" indeed means stubborn. And it is precisely this stubbornness that guides Fernando in this solitary adventure among the vineyards of San Martìn, an agricultural center at the foot of the Andes. Fernando personally oversees every phase of production and is known for his work with Bonarda, a variety that has found an alternative habitat here compared to that of Oltrepò Pavese. Fernando's brilliant intuition lies in a countercurrent approach: while in Argentina Bonarda is traditionally vinified in a soft and concentrated manner, often with residual sugars, he travels in the opposite direction, as depicted on his labels where a single man ascends a staircase while everyone else descends.
The Contumaz winery follows an approach faithful to its initial principles: spontaneous fermentations in containers made of different materials, allowing the grapes to fully express themselves. Almost all wines mature in barriques or tonneaux, including the whites, a choice aimed at providing structure and complexity without weighing down. The production philosophy provides for variable aging times depending on the wine. This patience pays off thanks to wines predisposed to long aging, capable of maintaining surprising freshness even years later.
The Contumaz wines break the mold of traditional Argentine production, offering elegant and refined interpretations of the cultivated varieties. Fernando's Bonarda is full, rich, and austere: rich in color but never heavy, with rare longevity and complexity. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah complete the range of reds, each with a distinctive personality that favors finesse and balance. Fernando Ugrin's stubbornness translates into bottles of extraordinary personality.
