About Us
Fincas Patagónicas
Fincas Patagónicas is a family-held wine, agriculture and tourism group based in Argentina. Led by Patricia Ortiz, our story brings together vineyards, hospitality and art.
A family’s journey into wine
Patricia Ortiz did not come from a traditional wine family. She trained as a physician, specializing in nephrology, and practiced medicine before moving into wine.
She has described entering the industry “as a consumer.” After traveling through the United States and Europe with her husband, Jorge Ortiz, the two became increasingly interested in wine and Mendoza. They bought their first vineyard in Tupungato in the early 2000s.
2003: a decisive step
In 2003, Patricia and Jorge acquired the winery and vineyards then owned by California producer Kendall Jackson. This acquisition marked the beginning of a new chapter for the group.
They invested in new oak barrels, stainless steel tanks, bottling equipment and vineyard development. From the beginning, their strategy was not simply to own vineyards, but to control quality and reposition the business.
Wine, hospitality and art
At the same time, they acquired the Club Tapiz property, converting an 1890 historic house near Maipú into a small vineyard hotel.
They then engaged local artist Sergio Roggerone to transform the property’s old winery into Pour la Galerie, now home to Galería del Minotauro and the El Hilo de Ariadna exhibition.
A winemaking dialogue
Another important turning point was the group’s relationship with Jean-Claude Berrouet, the longtime winemaker associated with Château Pétrus. He began working with Tapiz around 2012, contributing particularly to wines such as Las Notas and Retratos.
That relationship reinforced Patricia Ortiz’s strategy of combining Argentine vineyards with international expertise, rather than positioning Tapiz purely as a traditional Mendoza producer. The goal is not to make French wines in Argentina, but to benefit from the insights of such a renowned winemaker in order to deliver the best possible wines of Argentine identity.
Lead Winemaker
Fabián Valenzuela
Fabián Valenzuela has been the lead winemaker throughout the entire tenure of the Ortiz family at the head of Fincas Patagónicas.
That continuity has been central to the way the group has grown: one technical direction across every vintage, from the earliest years to the wines that reach the market today.
Beyond the winery
Patricia’s influence has also grown well beyond the company. She first worked in the industry as vice president of Bodegas de Argentina, then became president in 2019, the first woman to lead the organization. She remained in the role until May 2023 and returned to it in 2026.
In 2023, Wine Enthusiast nominated her for its Wine Executive of the Year award.