Our Team in Argentina

Creating world class wines is never a one person endeavor. Rather, it is the fruition of dreams and the culmination of an incredible amount of work from many, many individuals who constitute a great team. And at Elemental we are truly blessed to work with such an incredible team, from the dedicated individuals planting and pruning vines, to those involved through the harvest, to individuals in the back office, marketing etc. And of course, no great wine would ever be produced without a great agronomist and incredible winemaker. Top that up with the ability to gain great insights from legendary winemakers and experienced advisors, and the ingredients are present to craft beautiful wines. We are privileged to work with such an amazing team!

Santiago Achával — Consultant Winemaker

As owner of Achával-Ferrer wines, Santiago has been recognized as one of the world leaders in winemaking by Wine Spectator and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. His wines consistently score in the high 90's. As The Vines of Mendoza’s Consulting Winemaker, Santiago provides us invaluable  insight and a master’s touch — critical to ensuring we produce wines of great depth and complexity. Santiago’s extensive experience ensures we are able to extract the very best of the Uco Valley terroir.

Santiago, an Argentine living in Cordoba, first became interested in wine after taking weekend trips with friends to the Napa Valley while completing an MBA at Stanford in 1989. There, he tasted fine wines and learned about the winemaking process. After completing his studies, he returned to Argentina and worked five years in a corporation. His free time was spent engaged with the culture of wine, mingling with local experts and expanding his knowledge through research and experimentation.

But his passion for wine prevailed and he became managing partner of Achával-Ferrer, developing innovative techniques that brought Malbec to international attention in terms of quality and winemaking. Santiago continues to share his vast knowledge of Mendoza’s rich wine culture with visitors to the Uco Valley, Mendoza and has been recognized as one of the world leaders in winemaking by Wine Spectator and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. We are privileged to draw on Santiago’s wisdom and incredible experience — ensuring we have the perfect  finishing touches to our boutique wines.

Mariana Onofri - Advisor

Mariana, one of the first certified sommeliers in Argentina, provides incredible experience to the team as a seasoned vintner and wine professional. She provides great insights into our annual winemaking plans and is integral in our wine blending sessions. Mariana is also able to share valued insights into the wine industry, drawn from her own experience as an award winning wine producer.

Her vast experience at renowned estates in wine regions globally ensures that we have  an incredible partner with the necessary expertise to craft exceptional wines. Mariana worked at Chateau La Violette in Pomerol, Bordeaux, France and as a sommelier in La Bourgogne in Punta Del Este in Uruguay. She also completed winemaking internships in Napa Valley and France. Her all round wine industry experience as a sommelier, winemaker and Director of Wine at The Vines of Mendoza provides exceptional advisory insights to  us at Elemental Wines.

Pablo Martorell - Winemaker

Our chief winemaker, Pablo Martorell, is a well established winemaker who continues to rack up an impressive list of accolades and high scoring wines. Born and raised in Tunuyán, Mendoza, he studied winemaking from an early age, starting in high school. He worked throughout his studies at some of the most important wineries in Mendoza, including Bodega Nieto Senetiner, Catena Zapata, Trivento and Bodega Flecha de los Andes, under world renowned Michel Rolland’s tutelage.

He also has global experience having worked in Bordeaux, France and in Napa valley in the United States. His experience includes working for Chateau de Lauret in Pomerol and for Chateau Peyre Lebade and Chateau Clarke in Medoc, all of which belong to the Rothschild Group.

Pablo’s accolades from Wine Advocate and Wine Enthusiast along with his high scoring wines ensure that our Elemental wines are beautifully crafted — by the hands of a true artist!