Chakana Estate

Founded in 2002 by Juan Pelizzatti, Chakana is a family owned winery located 960 meters (3,149 feet) above sea level at the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Agrelo, Mendoza. It is one of the leading projects among the new generation of winemakers dedicated to the discovery and expression of the Andean diversity of climate and soils.

Chakana is the name given to the Southern Cross constellation by the indigenous people of the Andes highlands. The Chakana is believed to hold the key to finding the perfect timing for the cultivation and harvesting of crops – a calendar, compass & symbolic link between earth and spirit. On May 2, 2002, the Chakana reached perfect vertical position in the sky, marking the beginning of a new farming cycle. It was then that Juan chose the name for his winery, paying homage to the Incan understanding of and respect for nature. 

Chakana wines are designed by winemaker Gabriel Bloise, whose wines get “better with every vintage” according to Jeb Dunnuck. Gabriel has participated in multiple harvests in key regions of the world, such as Tuscany, California, Priorat, and Australia. 

Gabriel & the team at Chakana is committed to biodynamic and organic viticulture & preserving the true character of the soils & region: "Higher quality fruit demands minimum intervention in the winery to create truly enjoyable wines that challenge the established criteria of manipulation: spontaneous fermentation, natural acidity, minimum or no sulphur, locally adapted varieties, no clarification nor filtration preserve the identity of wines."