Although considered part of the Mendoza region, the Uco Valley can be recognized in its own right on several counts. Among its specific merits is its higher-altitude location at the foot of the Andes mountains which benefits from high daytime temperatures dropping at night to produce balanced sugars and acidity with proper ripeness. The soils are alluvial featuring a clay and rock base with a stony, sandy surface. These free-draining soils are excellent for quality viticulture as they stress the vines, leading to decreased vigor and lower yields, and consequently wines with a higher concentration of flavor.