The Maya civilization rapidly declined in the 16th century due to Spain's conquest wars. The splendid cities and temples collapsed, and the complex class society disintegrated. The fall of the last independent city-state, Nojpetén, in 1697 marked the complete end of the traditional history of Maya civilization. During that time, the Maya people preserved valuable artifacts and treasures by hiding them in caves, ruins, and underground springs in preparation for external invasions.
These sanctuaries of Maya civilization have become a symbol today. Mi Terruño winery in Mendoza, Argentina, has projected this mythical image onto its wine, naming it "Mayacaba." This wine, which means "hidden treasure," also signifies the winery's "most precious wine."
Mi Terruño was founded in 2004 by the Baigorria family, who have been involved in the wine industry since the 1960s when Argentina began cultivating Malbec. The winery's name means "my terroir." It embodies a philosophy of valuing the unique terroir and craftsmanship of the Mendoza region. Currently, the winery is run by the three siblings Ignacio Baigorria, Gabriela Baigorria (Export and Marketing Director), and Maria Baigorria (Head Winemaker).
Mi Terruño winery is located in the Mendoza region. Mendoza is at the western edge of Argentina, bordering Chile and situated between the Andes mountains, making it one of the driest regions in the world, with only 250mm of annual rainfall. The winery owns vineyards in Maipú, Santa Rosa, Luján de Cuyo, and Uco Valley, with each vineyard located at elevations ranging from 450 to 1,200 meters.
Mendoza has abundant water flowing from the Andes mountains and a suitable amount of sunlight. After warm and sunny days, cool breezes come from the Andes mountains. The significant temperature difference between day and night slows grape ripening, extends the growth period, and enhances the flavor, aroma, firm structure, and balanced acidity of the grapes. The soil originates from the Andes mountains, consisting of gravel and sand sedimentary deposits and clay limestone accumulated over thousands of years, with low organic matter and excellent drainage. It is also rich in mineral content.
The history of wine production in Mendoza is as old as Argentina's colonial history. The first grapevines were brought in the mid-16th century by priests of the Catholic Jesuit order from Spain to make communion wine. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Spanish grape varieties spread across South America, and Mendoza grew into a major cultivation area thanks to the water resources of the Andes mountains and its dry climate.
Malbec, originally cultivated in southwestern France and Bordeaux, was introduced to Argentina in the mid-19th century by French agronomist Michel Pouget. Pouget traveled to Buenos Aires at the invitation of then-President Domingo Sarmiento to introduce several European varieties, including Malbec. Subsequently, Malbec thrived in Argentina's dry climate and high-altitude regions, spreading rapidly. Today, Mendoza produces more than 70% of Argentina's wine and is recognized globally as a representative region for Malbec.
The Mayacaba Malbec from Mi Terruño Winery is produced from 100% Malbec grapes. It exclusively uses grapes harvested from old vines averaging over 100 years old. The deep-rooted vines absorb rich minerals from the soil, creating complex and profound fruit flavors. The harvested grapes undergo natural lactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks and are aged for 20 months in French oak barrels. The wine maintains its natural texture without filtration before bottling.
The completed wine exhibits a reddish garnet color with a hint of blue, and on the nose, well-ripened plum, dried fruit, and black raspberry aromas harmonize. On the palate, flavors of spiced plum, black berries, mocha, and herbs blend, and silky tannins feel rich in the mouth.
Mayacaba has consistently received high scores in international evaluations, proving its value as a premium wine among Argentine Malbecs. James Suckling awarded 93 points to Mayacaba Malbec, while Wine Advocate gave it 92 points, and Wine Enthusiast rated it 94 points. It won a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Wine Trophy. Domestically, it received the top award in the new world red wine category at the "2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards," having won awards in a total of four occasions at this competition. The domestic import and distribution are handled by Zennihon Liquor.