This is a great story, so I am going to quote the winery website and tell it from the beginning:
“Tiburcio Benegas, together with Silvestre Ochagavía (Chile) and Agoston Harszthy (California), are considered the first three pioneers in the wine industry in America. Convinced that it was imperative to achieve excellence in their products, Benegas brought the first French grapevines ever introduced in Argentina, along with the most advanced technology available at the time”
The Benegas family has a long a tradition in the wine history. In 1883, Tiburcio Benegas bought a vineyard called “El Trapiche”, located in Godoy Cruz, Mendoza, formerly the department of San Vicente (the Patron Saint of vineyards). It was on this land that Tiburcio built the Trapiche winery, which eventually would attain international fame and prestige.
“In 1886, there were only 6.653 hectares of vineyards in Mendoza. Tiburcio Benegas, the Governor of the Province at the time, was also a pioneer in viticulture and viniculture. In order to promote this activity, he obtained a loan of 5.000.000 “pesos oro” from Europe, with which he founded the Bank of Mendoza, and set to the construction of dams and rubblework ditches in the Mendoza River to increase the vineyard plantations.”
“Tiburcio Benegas, an example of hard work and optimism, managed to become the owner of the largest vineyard of the province, in the department of Godoy Cruz. His fellow countrymen, the people of Mendoza, took pride in his property, “El Trapiche”, and it soon became a place of interest to those visiting the Province and the vineyards”. Tiburcio was the founder of the wine industry in Mendoza. He promoted the first irrigation system in the province, he crossed the Andes on a mule and then traveled by ship to Bordeaux to increase the scope of Argentine winery, by introducing fine varieties such as Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Out of the experience gained on each of his trips to France, he developed oenology in Mendoza, mainly regarding the production of quality wines: he brought oenologists from Bordeaux, imported oak casks from Nancy and the most sophisticated equipment available in those days. It is not surprising, then, that “Trapiche” was acknowledged as the best Argentine wine during the first seventy years of the XXth century.
Pedro and Alberto Benegas continued with the family enterprise, following Tiburcio´s steps. Pedro, who had studied oenology in Bordeaux, gave the rising industry a new boost at the beginning of the century. He stayed on his father´s and in Mendoza in charge of the vineyards and the winery, while Alberto, his brother, organized the administration and marketing of the wines throughout the country, from Buenos Aires. Thus, Benegas Hnos. was founded in 1908, starting a lineage that would last up to the present.
After a trip to France, Pedro Benegas came back with a more comprehensive and modern view regarding the management of vineyards and quality wine making. Until then, the Trapiche wines were made with some sophistication but fell short of the expectations aimed at by the Benegas. Pedro and Alberto decided to incorporate new brands for more demanding consumers, so they began to produce Fond de Cave, Broquel, Puente Viejo and Vezelay. Pedro Benegas incorporated the typical features of the Bordeaux wines and the blends were definitely inspired by French tradition.
Pedro Benegas died in 1943 and his nephew, Federico A. Benegas Lynch (1916-1997), who had joined the company in 1938, settled in “El Trapiche”, Mendoza, to work in the winery. At the beginning of the 70’s, the family company dissolved and the assets were sold. The Trapiche winery was demolished, and the vineyards were divided and sold. Pulenta bought the wine brands and Seagrams, the champagne brands. The only one that remained in the family was BENEGAS, owned at present by Federico J. Benegas Lynch.
Federico A. was the last winemaker of Benegas Hnos SA. With his twenty-eight years´ experience, and seeking to continue the production of fine wines in the most efficient way, entered into partnership with Camilo Gancia, to manufacture wines under the trade name “Federico Benegas”. Gancia contributed the vineyards and winery; Federico, the technical supervision. This partnership continued until the early 90’s.
Federico J. Benegas Lynch was born in the winery in 1951. He grew up by his father’s side, sampling wines and working in the vineyard. This atmosphere awakened in him a deep love for his land and its wine. He had always been close to his father and eventually, he joined the enterprise, doing what he loved most with a solid conviction. In 1997, he became a member of the Board of Directors of Peñaflor and Trapiche wineries, which were then under the control of Luis A. Pulenta and DLJ. He resigned to his position in March 2001.
It was in 1998 that Federico J. resumed his activity as winemaker when he settled on the 40 hectares of Finca Libertad, part of the old Benegas’ family property, where the vineyards are 20 to 80 years old. He started the production of quality wines, fully convinced that he would achieve the level of excellence of his ancestors. This restoration period is the landmark of the beginning of a new era in the Benegas family, who had always devoted to the art of vines from the very roots.
This wine is named in honor of the founder of the family wine history, and pretty much the initiator of the Argentine wine industry. It’s a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in oak for 18 months total, (11 months in separate lots, and 9 further months after the blend is made). A full-bodied, super-tasty Bordeaux blend, drink with Lamb, Roast Beef, or just about anything meaty and roasty, the gamier the better. Drink now – 2015
