The Famantina Valley wine zone is located north of Mendoza in the La Rioja region. Vineyards here are at very high elevations, between 3300 and 5000 feet; clearly at these heights, ripening is rarely a problem, as there is a combination of ideal sun exposure along with cool temperatures. Vineyards are planted on sandy, alluvial soils, which are perfect for most whites as well as medium to medium-full reds. While Malbec is planted here in good numbers, is it the white variety Torrontes that is the leading cultivar here, as it represents 50% of total plantings. Other varieties found in local vineyards include Bonarda, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. (Wine/Appellations)