Susana Balbo: The First Lady of Argentine Wine

Written by Sofia · Argentina Through Wine

If you ask anyone in Mendoza about the pioneers who turned Argentine wine into a global powerhouse, two names inevitably rise to the top: Nicolás Catena and Susana Balbo. While Catena unlocked the high-altitude secrets of Malbec in the Uco Valley, Susana Balbo fought her way through a male-dominated industry to earn the title "Queen of Torrontés" and, eventually, "The First Lady of Argentine Wine."

1. Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Cafayate

In 1981, Susana Balbo made history by graduating cum laude as Argentina's first female enologist. Yet despite her top academic marks, no major winery in Mendoza was willing to hire a woman as a winemaker.

Refusing to back down, she accepted a position at Sucesión Michel Torino in Cafayate, Salta — a remote high-desert region over 1,000 kilometers north of Mendoza. At an elevation of over 1,700 meters (5,500 feet), Cafayate was known for growing Torrontés, a native white grape that was then produced as a heavy, oxidized, rustic wine for domestic taverns.

"They told me a woman couldn't lead a crew of male vineyard workers. I proved them wrong in the high altitude of Cafayate."

Through careful temperature-controlled fermentation, cold stabilization, and meticulous vineyard selection, Susana transformed Torrontés. She stripped away the coarse bitterness and unleashed a vibrant, aromatic white wine brimming with jasmine flowers, white peach, and crisp citrus acidity. Today, her style remains the international benchmark for Argentine Torrontés.

2. Founding Susana Balbo Wines in Agrelo

After nearly two decades consulting for international estates in Europe and South America, Susana fulfilled her lifelong dream in 1999: establishing her own estate winery in Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo — the historic heartland of Mendoza Malbec.

Her winery, Susana Balbo Wines, introduced several iconic labels that defined modern Argentine winemaking:

• Crios: Created to honor her children, Ana and José (who are both active leaders in the winery today), focusing on fresh, fruit-forward expressions of Malbec, Torrontés, and Cabernet Franc.
• Susana Balbo Signature: Terroir-driven single-vineyard wines showcasing barrel-fermented Torrontés, high-altitude Cabernet Franc, and complex Malbec blends.
• Nosotros: Her flagship ultraluxe Malbec, sourced from the finest single vineyard micro-lots across Mendoza each vintage.

3. Gastronomy & Michelin Recognition

Susana Balbo was among the very first winemakers in Mendoza to realize that world-class wine requires world-class hospitality. At her estate in Agrelo, she established Osadía de Crear and Espacio Crios, pairing seasonal Argentine cuisine with curated wine flights under the shadow of the snow-capped Andes.

Her family's dedication to culinary excellence reached a new peak when the prestigious Michelin Guide officially awarded Michelin stars and recommended listings to top Mendoza dining venues, solidifying Mendoza as South America's premier wine and culinary capital.

4. Planning Your Visit to Susana Balbo Wines

Visiting Susana Balbo Wines is an essential stop on any Mendoza wine tour. Located just 35 minutes south of downtown Mendoza in Agrelo, the estate offers hands-on blending sessions where visitors can create their own custom wine, gourmet multi-course wine-pairing lunches, and private tastings in the barrel cellar.

If you are planning your trip to Mendoza from Buenos Aires, make sure to check our step-by-step logistics guide on transport, flights, and timing: Buenos Aires to Mendoza: Full Travel & Logistics Guide.