Dominio del Plata Winery

Dominio del Plata Winery is a family-founded Argentine wine producer based in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, one of the country's most important wine regions. The winery was established in 1999 by Susana Balbo, an enologist and entrepreneur who had already spent roughly two decades working as a consulting winemaker in Argentina and abroad. Balbo created the business after deciding to develop a winery under her own name and direction. She began with a rented, small-scale facility and released the first wines under the Susana Balbo and BenMarco labels in August 2000. The winery expanded substantially during the 2000s. Construction of its present facility began in 2001, when the company also planted its proprietary vineyard. Subsequent improvements added a barrel room, bottling operations, storage capacity, and expanded production infrastructure. These investments allowed Dominio del Plata to move from limited initial batches to a more developed portfolio and an annual production capacity reported at approximately 2 million liters. The winery primarily uses stainless-steel fermentation tanks, while concrete tanks and oak barrels are used for selected wines and processes. Dominio del Plata's portfolio is organized around four principal wine brands: Crios, BenMarco, Susana Balbo Signature, and Nosotros. Crios is positioned around accessible, youthful, fruit-driven wines and includes varieties such as Malbec, Torrontés, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah-Bonarda, rosé, and red blends. BenMarco represents a more traditional Argentine style, with wines emphasizing concentration and primary fruit character. Its range includes Torrontés, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Mendoza-style Expresivo blend. The Susana Balbo Signature range is built around the founder's personal stylistic preferences, with selected barrels blended for complexity and concentration. Nosotros is a focused Malbec made from a selection of the winery's best barrels and intended as a tribute to the wider production team. The business became increasingly family-managed after 2010. Susana Balbo's son, José, joined the company after earning an enology degree from the University of California, Davis, and has worked as winemaker and export manager. Her daughter, Ana, who studied business administration at Universidad de San Andrés, became involved in marketing. In 2013, Edgardo del Popolo was appointed chief executive officer. That same year, the winery opened Osadía de Crear, a restaurant project associated with Ana Balbo and chef José Cacciavillani. The venue offers food influenced by Mediterranean and Argentine cooking, alongside deli-style sandwiches and salads. The winery has developed an international export presence and is reported to sell its wines in 36 countries. The United States, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Japan are identified as especially important markets. Its brand identity combines Argentine varietal and regional expression with a modern, internationally oriented approach to winemaking. Environmental initiatives reported for the winery include water recycling and efforts to reduce packaging weight. Dominio del Plata has also received ISO 22000 certification, a food-safety management standard covering traceability and related production and distribution processes. The company is closely associated with Susana Balbo's reputation as one of Argentina's leading winemakers. Before founding Dominio del Plata, Balbo helped develop a distinctive floral and citrus-oriented style of Torrontés while working at Michel Torino in Salta, contributing to her reputation as the “Queen of Torrontés.” At Dominio del Plata, that heritage is reflected in the continued presence of Torrontés alongside internationally recognized Argentine varieties, particularly Malbec.

Dominio del Plata Winery was founded in 1999 in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, by Susana Balbo. By that point, Balbo had spent approximately twenty years as a consulting winemaker in Argentina and other countries. Her earlier career included work at Michel Torino in Salta, where she developed a distinctive floral and citrus-led style for Torrontés, and later positions at Mendoza wineries including Bodega Martins and Catena Zapata. She became the first woman to graduate in enology in Argentina and later gained recognition for her work with Torrontés. Balbo initially operated Dominio del Plata from a rented small winery. Production was limited, but the first wines under the Susana Balbo and BenMarco labels were released in August 2000. The company entered a period of simultaneous internal and external expansion from 2001 through 2009. Groundbreaking for the current winery took place in 2001, alongside the planting of the company's own vineyard. A series of renovations over the following years increased fermentation, maturation, bottling, and storage capacity. The completed facility covers approximately 7,000 square meters and relies primarily on stainless-steel fermentation tanks, with concrete and oak used for selected production purposes. The winery's portfolio developed around four principal brands. Crios was designed as a young, fresh, fruit-forward range. BenMarco offered wines with a more traditional Argentine profile and an emphasis on concentrated primary fruit. The Susana Balbo Signature range reflected the founder's personal approach, using barrel selection and blending to create wines with greater complexity and concentration. Nosotros, whose name means “us” in Spanish, was conceived as a tribute to the team: winemakers select approximately 40 of the best barrels for the Malbec, which is then aged in new French oak for an extended period. After 2010, the business underwent organizational changes as members of the Balbo family joined its management. José Balbo, trained in enology at the University of California, Davis, took responsibilities as winemaker and export manager. Ana Balbo, a business administration graduate of Universidad de San Andrés, became involved in marketing. Edgardo del Popolo was appointed CEO in 2013. The same year, Ana Balbo and chef José Cacciavillani spearheaded the opening of Osadía de Crear, a restaurant at the winery serving food with Mediterranean and Argentine influences as well as sandwiches, salads, and deli offerings. Dominio del Plata developed an export network reaching 36 countries, with the United States, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Japan identified as leading markets. The winery has reported annual output of approximately 2 million liters. It also adopted environmental and operational measures including water recycling and reduced packaging weight. ISO 22000 certification provided a formal framework for food-safety management and traceability across winemaking and shipping activities. The winery's identity remains linked to Balbo's expertise, family participation, and Argentina's principal wine varieties. Malbec is central to the premium and core portfolio, while Torrontés connects the business to Balbo's earlier contribution to Argentine white-wine styles. The portfolio has also included Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah-Bonarda, rosé, late-harvest wines, and blended reds. Recognition cited for individual wines includes professional scores and medals for Crios, BenMarco, Susana Balbo, and Nosotros bottlings, although these awards relate to specific vintages rather than a general corporate ranking.

• 2013

  Edgardo del Popolo becomes CEO

  [1]Dominio del Plata Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The winery appoints Edgardo del Popolo as chief executive officer.

• 2013

  Osadía de Crear opens

  [1]Dominio del Plata Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The winery adds a restaurant and hospitality destination developed by Ana Balbo and chef José Cacciavillani.

• 2001

  Current winery development begins

  [1]Dominio del Plata Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Construction starts on the present facility, and the company plants its proprietary vineyard.

• 2001

  Expansion program starts

  [1]Dominio del Plata Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  A multiyear program of renovations adds barrel, bottling, storage, and production capabilities.

• 2000

  First Susana Balbo and BenMarco wines are released

  [1]Dominio del Plata Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The winery releases its first batches under the Susana Balbo and BenMarco labels in August.

• 1999

  Dominio del Plata is founded

  [1]Dominio del Plata Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Susana Balbo establishes the winery in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, after a long career as a consulting winemaker.

An internationally oriented Argentine winery combining Mendoza terroir, Malbec expertise, Torrontés heritage, family leadership, and a portfolio spanning accessible young wines through premium, barrel-selected offerings.

• Young and fruit-forward wine range

  Crios

  Crios is Dominio del Plata's youthful, accessible range, centered on fresh fruit expression and approachable styles. The portfolio has included Chardonnay, Torrontés, rosé of Malbec, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah-Bonarda, and red blends. The name refers to “offspring” in Argentine slang and reflects the line's connection to the next generation and to Susana Balbo's family-oriented winery identity.

• Argentine-style wine range · 2000

  BenMarco

  BenMarco is presented as a more traditional Argentine wine range, emphasizing concentration, varietal character, and primary fruit aromas. Its reported portfolio includes Torrontés, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Expresivo, a Mendoza-style blend. The line was among the winery's first commercial offerings, with initial BenMarco wines released in 2000.

• Premium wine range

  Susana Balbo Signature

  The Susana Balbo Signature range expresses the founder's personal stylistic preferences. Susana Balbo selects barrels showing complexity and concentration and combines them into finished wines. Reported offerings include Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Brioso, Late Harvest Torrontés, and Late Harvest Malbec.

• Premium Malbec

  Nosotros

  Nosotros is a premium Malbec named for the Spanish word meaning “us.” The wine is described as a tribute to the people who make the winery's production possible. Enologists select approximately 40 of the best barrels each year, and the wine is aged for about 18 months in new French oak.

• 2013

  Expansion into winery hospitalityStrategy

  Background

  The winery sought to extend its visitor experience and connect wine production with food and tourism.

  Action taken

  Dominio del Plata opened Osadía de Crear, a restaurant associated with Ana Balbo and chef José Cacciavillani.

  Aftermath

  The winery added a food-service and hospitality component featuring Mediterranean- and Argentine-influenced cuisine.

  Source

• 2001

  Investment in a proprietary winery and vineyardStrategy

  Background

  After beginning with a rented small facility and limited production, Dominio del Plata needed greater control over winemaking, maturation, bottling, and storage.

  Action taken

  The company began construction of its current winery and planted its own vineyard, followed by several years of facility renovation.

  Aftermath

  The expansion increased production capability and supported the development of a broader multi-brand portfolio.

  Source

1. 1Dominio del Plata Wineryen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Dominio del Plata Winery official websitedominiodelplata.com.ar