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. He aims to make great wines in Mendoza and, in doing so, to 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 responsible and sustainable business practices.
Kaiken’s ‘Ultra wines are a step up from the Clásico and Terroir Series. The Malbec, from high-elevation vineyards in Vistaflores (at 1,400 metres), Gualtallary (at 1,300 metres) and Altamira (at 1,100 metres), has enticing black fruit and spicy aromas and offers good structure and soft tannins on the palate.
