Bodega Norton Privada Red Blend
Bodega Norton Privada Red Blend is a 750mL red wine from Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza — the Swarovski family's former private reserve, blended from the estate's oldest vineyards (50–90 years old) at 40% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, the composition verified across more than a decade of vintages, and aged 16 months in French oak. It is Norton's flagship blend: concentrated, smoke-touched and built to cellar a few years. Alcohol varies by vintage — documented releases run 14.0% to 15.0% ABV, with recent vintages at 14.5–14.6%. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: Varies by vintage — documented range 14.0%–15.0% (recent vintages 14.5%–14.6%)
- Size: 750mL
- Region: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
- Blend: 40% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot (verified 2009–2021)
- Aging: 16 months in French oak, plus bottle aging before release
- Vines: Estate's oldest vineyards, 50–90 years old
- Producer: Bodega Norton, Perdriel (founded 1895)
The Family's Private Reserve, Poured for Everyone
Privada began as exactly its name says: a best-barrels selection Bodega Norton kept back for the Langes-Swarovski family — the Austrian crystal family that has owned the 1895-founded estate since 1989 — to drink with friends. Word travelled, and since the 1990s the blend has been sold commercially (also as "Privada Family Blend"). The recipe has held remarkably steady: Malbec in the lead, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot behind it, all from Luján de Cuyo vines up to 90 years old, and 16 months in French oak. Critics rate it among Mendoza's best-value fine wines — the 2021 vintage scored 94 points with Vinous and 93 with Wine Advocate (vintage-specific scores). Find the estate via the Bodega Norton vendor page or the red wine shelf.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Complex ripe fruit with a fine touch of smoke and coffee (winery winemaker notes). Palate: Rich and concentrated; recent-vintage notes add blueberry and currant with savoury cured-meat, mint and peppercorn undertones, firm structure and delicate tannins. Finish: Long, layered, oak-seasoned.
How to Enjoy
Serve at cool room temperature after a 30–60 minute decant. This is the steak wine of the batch — ribeye, lamb chops and aged cheeses — and it rewards a few years in the cellar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes are in Norton Privada? 40% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot — the blend verified across vintages from 2009 through 2021, all from the estate's oldest Luján de Cuyo vineyards.
Why is it called Privada? It was originally reserved as the owning Swarovski family's private cellar selection — "privada" means private — before being released commercially in the 1990s.
What is the ABV? It varies by vintage, from 14.0% to 15.0% in documented releases; recent vintages sit at 14.5–14.6%. The label carries the exact figure.
The family's own reserve, opened up — pick up Bodega Norton Privada at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.