After searching extensively across several regions of Argentina, François Lurton planted his wines in the Uco Valley, in the foothills of the Andes Cordillera, at an altitude of 1,100 meters, in semi-desert conditions (the poor, gravelly alluvial soil is reminiscent of Pessac-Léognan!).

A pioneer of the Uco Valley, he built his winery, Bodega Piedra Negra, in the heart of 200 hectares of virgin land acquired in the middle of what, a few years later, would become the Geographical Indication of Los Chacayes. Drawing on expertise acquired all over the world, he immediately introduced environmentally-friendly growing methods, and has produced remarkable wines.