14/06/2024

Located in central western Argentina, the province of Mendoza is home to the Gonzalez Reeds factory and plantations. It is a region known worldwide for its wine production, and in the world of woodwind instruments, also for the manufacturing of reeds.
And the characteristics that make it so particular for viticulture are also unique for the cultivation of Arundo Donax, a species of cane that is used to make reeds for clarinets and saxophones, as well as for double-cane instruments.
Although the distance to the sea is not very far, it is interrupted by the imposing Andes Mountains. This means that rainfall is scarce, with about 3000 hours of sunshine annually. This makes this region a semi-desert, with warm summers and cold winters, which will determine marked sprouting and harvest seasons.
In turn, the Andes is responsible for supplying irrigation water. It comes from the melting of snow from the mountain during the summer. It descends towards the plain loaded with minerals, and is transported to our plantations by a network of canals developed throughout the province.
Hundreds of years of sediments being deposited by wind and water on our lands created an excellent substrate for cane growth.
This combination of factors is unique in the world, and that is why the material we use at Gonzalez Reeds is unmatched. The canes that grow in our plantations have a much denser structure than the Spanish and French material that most manufacturers use.
The wood is more stable, which improves the life of the reeds, prevents tip waviness, and overall offers a much more consistent experience. By having a more complex composition, the sound we will obtain is richer, more nuanced and deeper.
Making reeds for woodwind instruments will only be as good as the material used. Not only is it important to have advanced technology, but the starting point is excellent raw materials.