The province of San Juan is Argentina’s second biggest wine-producing region after Mendoza to its south. It spans across a series of valleys between the Andes and the Pie de Palo hills and its capital, San Juan, founded in 1562, and it was once called ‘The City of Statues’ by the writer Arturo Capdevila.

56% of the province’s productive area is given over to viticulture; in 2003 it had 47,000 hectares of vineyards. The province’s oldest (and best) wine-production area is the Tulum Valley.

Malbec, Merlot, Bonarda, Moscatel de Alejandría and Torrontés are the most cultivated varieties. Syrah is emerging as the region’s most promising varietal.