Kaikenes are wild geese, native to Patagonia, that fly across the Andes between Chile and Argentina. In the same way, legendary Chilean winemaker Aurelio Montes crossed the Andes to make wines in Mendoza. After several exploratory trips, Aurelio saw the enormous potential for premium viticulture in this region and founded the Kaiken winery in 2002. His aim is to make great wines in Mendoza and, in doing so, show the best of both sides of the Andes. His efforts have clearly yielded great results, with Kaiken named ‘New World Producer of the Year' by the Sommelier Wine Awards in 2024. In addition, they have now achieved B-Corp certification, illustrating their commitment to both responsible and sustainable business practices.

Kaiken's estate vineyards are planted in the heart of Mendoza and further south in the Uco Valley, where many premium producers are now sourcing fruit. Their focus is primarily on Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, a variety once almost forgotten in the region. As a result of Kaiken's protection, there are now several old vine Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Mendoza that produce excellent wines, including Kaiken's vineyard in the Vistalba district of Luján de Cuyo, which was first planted in 1910.

Originally planting the variety in secret from his father, it was through experimentation that Aurelio Montes Junior discovered that the Uco Valley's high-elevation vineyards were also well suited to growing Cabernet Franc. Aurelio Junior has pioneered this variety in Argentina and, together with a handful of other winemakers, has highlighted the country's potential to produce top-quality Cabernet Franc. Kaiken's ‘Obertura' displays an intense and complex nose, with fresh redcurrants, plums and spicy notes of pepper and clove. The grapes for Kaiken's traditional method sparkling wine are sourced from the renowned sub-region of Gualtallary, also in the Uco Valley. Here, limestone-rich soils and elevations of around 1,400 metres provide optimal conditions for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes are sourced from a vineyard situated at 1400 metres above sea level in the Gualtallary sub-region of the renowned Uco Valley. This is one of the highest zones in Mendoza and is famed for producing fresh yet balanced fruit, perfect for sparkling wine production.

The grapes were hand picked into 10 kilogram boxes and only the healthiest grapes were selected. The grapes were whole-bunch pressed and the juice was then cold settled for 48 hours. Fermentation took place at a temperature of 10ºC to produce a high quality base wine. For the second fermentation, the wine was bottle-fermented for 30 days and left on the lees for two years to enhance its structure and complexity before disgorgement.

The perfect aperitif!