A Dream Carved in Altitude
You don’t stumble upon Atamisque—you ascend to it. The journey through Tupungato reveals sweeping vineyards, dusty roads, and finally, the gate to a sanctuary that pulses with purpose. At 1,300 meters above sea level, the estate offers more than a view; it offers perspective. Here, time stretches and slows. And in this silence, the story of Atamisque begins.
It was in the early 2000s when John Du Monceau, a French businessman, and his wife Chantal, a designer with an eye for blending modern elegance with rustic charm, arrived in Mendoza. What they saw was not just land, but legacy—an 18th-century Jesuit farm lying dormant, waiting for its next chapter. The couple envisioned a place where nature and nobility would merge, where the soul of Burgundy could take root in Argentine soil.
Atamisque was born not as a business, but as an inheritance of spirit.
The Estate: Nature as Architecture
Spread across more than 1,000 hectares of wild, whispering land in San José, Tupungato, Bodega Atamisque is not merely built—it is woven into the very fabric of the valley. It is a mosaic of terroirs, ecosystems, and experiences.
The estate unfolds like a living tapestry, gracefully divided into four distinct sanctuaries: Finca Atamisque, the heart of hospitality; the Bodega, where craftsmanship meets terroir; Estancia Atamisque, a high-altitude escape; and Estancia La Alejandra, serene and untouched.
Even the name—Atamisque—is borrowed from a native bush, signaling respect for the land’s original spirit. This isn’t about domination of landscape, but coexistence with it. Foxes, eagles, hares, and even pumas still roam freely through the estate, a testament to the balance maintained.
The architecture speaks volumes in its restraint. Lodges designed by Chantal use soft, neutral tones and floor-to-ceiling glass, allowing the drama of the Andes to be the centerpiece. There’s no pretension here. Only presence.
What sets Atamisque apart is not only its size, but its respect for the rhythm of nature. Every structure—whether a tasting room or a lodge—has been designed to harmonize with the landscape rather than dominate it. There is a gentle humility here, one that allows nature to lead. Thanks to this vision, the estate remains a thriving habitat. Guests often glimpse the untamed elegance of local wildlife: foxes darting between the vines, eagles circling the sky, or the rare silhouette of a puma at dusk.
At the core lies Finca Atamisque, a 740-hectare heartland where luxury and nature converse. It’s here that guests find the Restaurant Rincón Atamisque. This Finca is a cluster of six understated yet refined lodges, and a golf course nestled into the contours of the land. The accommodations, crafted under the artistic eye of Chantal Du Monceau, evoke a vintage charm with soft earth tones. Nothing distracts from the majesty of the Cordillera—floor-to-ceiling windows frame nature like paintings in motion, capturing sunrises, sunsets, and everything in between.
Rising higher into the sky, Estancia Atamisque sits at a dramatic 1,980 meters above sea level. Here, elevation becomes identity. Home to the Wine Club, Equestrian Club, and the intimate John Du Monceau Bodega, this area reveals yet another facet of the estate’s soul—one shaped by microclimates, mountain breezes, and wide open silence. Villas dot the hilltops, offering an immersive retreat at the edge of the sky.
A Place Where History Breathes
Before it became a beacon of modern wine and hospitality, this land held stories in its soil. In the 18th century, Jesuit hands carved out the original San José farm, whose name would eventually baptize the surrounding village. That legacy lingers.
Walking the grounds today, guests don’t just witness the future of Argentine wine—they feel the echo of a past rooted in agriculture, spirituality, and resilience. This historical dimension adds a quiet depth to the Atamisque experience, linking every glass poured to a lineage centuries in the making.
Labels That Whisper Stories
Atamisque’s labels are more than graphic design—they are talismans of its soul. Each one carries a quiet elegance, echoing the restraint of the estate itself. Wines here are not loud or showy; they are composed, introspective, yet deeply expressive.
With a production led by Philippe Caraguel, Adrián Vargas, and Jean Etienne Beaune, the winery produces around 600,000 liters annually. Grapes are hand-harvested, double-sorted, and treated with reverence. Only French oak barrels from Demptos and Taransaud are used—choices that reflect John’s Burgundian heritage.
A Garden of Varietals
While Malbec is the king of Mendoza, Atamisque is a land of polyphony. From Chardonnay to Pinot Noir, Viognier to Sauvignon Blanc, the estate embraces the cooler climate of Uco Valley to explore varieties not always associated with Argentine wine.
The result? Wines of clarity, poise, and character—each bottle an expression of a specific microclimate, of elevation, of meticulous craft. These are not wines that shout, but ones that linger on the palate and in memory.
A Life Beyond the Bottle
Atamisque’s uniqueness lies not only in its winemaking, but in how it redefines what a winery can be.
Here, you can stay in one of six vintage lodges and wake up to the pink-gold sunrise kissing the Andes. Play a round of golf where llamas watch from the fairway. Enjoy an Argentine asado beneath a carob tree. Explore the Equestrian Club, or sip wine in the John Du Monceau Bodega, set at nearly 2,000 meters above sea level.
It’s not just wine tourism—it’s immersion. A full-bodied experience.
More Than a Winery—A Legacy
Atamisque isn’t just a place you visit. It’s a story you become part of.
For the Uco Valley, it represents evolution: how a historic terrain can be reborn without being erased. For the visitor, it offers a retreat into wine, into nature, into stillness.
And for its creators, it remains what it always was: a dream, elevated.
If you’re ready to step into this elevated dream yourself, let Ampora Wine Tours craft your private immersion at Bodega Atamisque. From intimate tastings to quiet moments among the vines, we’ll guide you through the textures, stories, and beauty of this iconic Uco Valley estate. Contact us to begin your journey—because some places aren’t just visited, they are experienced.
