Jose Lovaglio Balbo is a third generation winemaker from a local family with a rich tradition in winemaking and grape growing. At the age of 18, José set off for the USA to study viticulture and enology at UC Davis in California. He lived there for five years, learning from great teachers, and obtained his degree in 2007.
In 2008, José returned to Argentina with the goal of making wine. He joined Zemlia, a small family-run winery in Mendoza. He was in charge of releasing the first two vintages and, developed the portfolio for Fincas y Viñedos Cordón del Plata.
In 2011, José joined the winemaking team of Susana Balbo Wines and began to work with his mother, Susana Balbo, the first female
winemaker in Argentina. José highlights: “The most important things I have learned from my mother are to recover from failures, to look forward, and to trust my palate”. José now leads the R&D initiatives at the winery.
His winemaking approach embodies the will of his generation: winemakers that take the heritage of their parents to the next step and dig further into Argentina’s terroirs.
During his time in California and in the simultaneously, he context of his training at UC Davis, José worked at wineries such as Niebaum-Coppola Winery, St Supéry and Villa Mt. Eden. Later in 2015, José also worked at Chateau Le Gay and Montviel in Pomerol (Bordeaux), where he deepened his understanding of winemaking methods from historic regions. These experiences gave him a broader view of the quality potential in Argentina.