The Angel Oak vineyard beneath the Andes in Valle de Uco, Mendoza

Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina

The Angel Oak Wines

The Angel Oak, a centuries-old live oak near Charleston, South Carolina — The Angel Oak, Johns Island, near Charleston, SC

Superior grapes. Super premium wines.

We've always been drawn to The Angel Oak. This centuries-old, majestic live oak on John's Island, SC gets better with age. Like a great wine, it's strong, bold and stable, with a subtle, timeless beauty.

Who knew we'd find these very same characteristics in Argentina's rugged countryside?

Freshly picked Malbec grapes in harvest crates

From the Valley of Mendoza to Tasting Rooms in Charleston

The Angel Oak vineyard lies in picturesque Valle de Uco, one of the world's most extraordinary wine regions located just southwest of Mendoza, Argentina. Situated on the eastern slopes of the towering Andes Mountains, our winemakers work in the heart of a hot, dry desert, where rain is rare and the setting is largely stones and sunshine.

For grapes, it's a dream come true.

Here, irrigation is ultra-pure and the soil is virtually pest-free, with water originating in snow melt from mountain peaks and a long, arid growing season with 300 days of sunshine a year. We are certified organic and the vines, planted in 2007, are nestled into a rich bed of rock, sand, clay and loam. Low humidity, drastic swings in day-to-night temperatures and altitudes of approximately 3,400 feet: all these elements come together to create the ideal environment for making superior wines with rich, intense flavors and aromas.

300days of sunshine a year
3,400 ftabove sea level
2007organic vines planted

Harvest at The Angel Oak vineyard, Valle de Uco

The Story Behind the Brand

When we first bought a plot of private land for growing and harvesting grapes in Argentina, it simply seemed like a good idea. To us, six business partners in South Carolina's historic Charleston, it was an opportunity to craft boutique wines for our fine dining restaurants. Turns out, that vision was the first sign of many that The Angel Oak vineyard would one day be the scene of exceptional winemaking.

We're now working alongside some of the world's greatest viticulturalists. We take our time waiting for premium ripeness, and check every barrel for truly exceptional flavors. We farm our grapes to premium, super-premium and ultra premium levels. Since bottling our first vintage in 2009, we've been using these and other time-honored methods to handcraft quality reds, whites, rosés and other fine blends using our estate Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah.

Intense Aromas.
Rich Flavors.

Our small-batch, handcrafted wines are the product of an extensive, hands-on process: each grape is meticulously harvested from our certified organic vineyard and sorted by hand, then aged in stainless steel tanks and fine French oak barrels through the final blending stage, all to ensure every bottle is worthy of the “super premium” label.

I.Cultivating Super Premium Wines

All wines are made with low yield, organic certified, super premium quality farmed grapes. Our berries undergo a very delicate process on their journey to becoming excellent wines. Together with our expert viticulturists, we decide when the time is right to bring in picking crews. A 50% “green” harvest, removing green, immature clusters to promote ripening, ensures flavors of the terroir are concentrated in the juice of the grape. Bunches are gathered by hand and brought to the winery in 15 kilo bins.

II.Hands-On Sorting and Fermentation

At The Angel Oak, we take our time to make the highest quality vintages possible. This means twin sorting tables are used to ensure only the best grapes make it to fermentation. The first table is used to remove leaves, twigs and other unwanted material; the second enables individual workers to comb through the lot and extract the very best berries. What whole grapes remain are then gravity fed into stainless steel fermentation tanks or, for ultra-premium wines, directly into oak barrels.

Manual punch downs (pushing skins, pulp and other goodness floating on the surface back down into the fermenting juice), extended maceration periods and other specialty methods are used to deepen colors, textures and aromas. The result is a collection of artisanal, hand-crafted wines bursting with flavors unique to one of Argentina's most remarkable vineyard estates.

A lineup of The Angel Oak Torrontes, Malbec, Reserva and Rosé bottles

The Winemakers

Every wine in The Angel Oak portfolio is made in Mendoza by two people who know the valley intimately.

Winemaker

Pablo Martorell

Locally born and raised in the Mendoza area, Pablo is responsible for the creation of all the wines in The Angel Oak portfolio. His vast experience stems from working with many of the most notable wineries in the area, namely Bodega Nieto Senetiner, Catena Zapata, Trivento and Bodega Flecha de los Andes, under Michel Rolland. He has also worked in France at Chateau de Lauret in Pomerol, Bordeaux as well as Chateau Peyre Lebade and Chateau Clarke in Medoc, Bordeaux, both part of the Rothschild Group. He's also spent time out in California working for the Napa Wine Company. He is passionate about his wines and truly brings a global perspective to winemaking.

Sommelier

Mariana Onofri

With familial roots in vineyard management, Mariana oversees all plans for winemaking and wine blending for The Angel Oak. She started her career at Chateau La Violette in Pomerol, Bordeaux, France before becoming the sommelier at Relais & Chateaux's La Bourgogne in Punta Del Este, Uruguay. She has also worked at several other wineries throughout the world, most notably in France and Napa Valley. Mariana's discerning palate and amazing olfactory prowess are the reasons why The Angel Oak wines are so special.

Our Wines

5 wines are currently available, from a crisp organic Torrontés to a hand-numbered barrel fermented Malbec. Each is listed with its harvest, cooperage and technical data.