Argentina wine regions

Calchaquíes Valleys - Cafayate (Salta)

This region is located at the north of the country at 25° south latitude. The vine growing area begins at 1,500 meters above sea level and extends beyond 2,000 meters. The Calatasta and Aconquija mountains ranges are the natural boundaries of these valleys where viticulture shares the terrain with olive and tobacco farming. The annual average temperature is 18 ºC. Fine sandy, thick and thin soils with good drainage prevail throughout the area.

The main viticulture terroirs are Cafayate, Santa María and Colomé. The region covers approximately 4,120 hectares of vineyards. The main variety is Torrontés, the typical white argentine variety. With a very strong personality, Torrontés is recognized in main international markets.

Even there isn’t any certainty about the origin of the name Salta, it could come from the “quechua” language that means “´pleasant place, very adequate to settle in”.

Viticulture and Winemaking

Beauty and altitude wines are combined in the Calchaquíes Valleys, but more precisely in the zone of Cafayate, among mountains and canyons that have been the witnesses of the growth of this region until the astonishing present.

Ranked by Quebradas de Las Conchas, with its popular Garganta Del Diablo –“Devils throat” - and protected by the hills Tres Cruces and Morales, Cafayate is a magnificent place due to the beauty that surrounds it.

Its viticulture is one of the main economic activities. With 4,000 hectares of vineyards, in the highest lands in Argentina, it is the cradle of altitude wines. Between 1,700 m. and 2.800 m. is located the largest productive viticulture centre of Salta.

Cafayate Vineyards

It is known as “Salta the beautiful” because of its huge landscapes, which inspire poets and artists from all the country.

In its land, that is more than 155,000 square kilometers get together the passion of the plain land and the supremacy of the “Puna”: mountains and valleys go along the geography of this province. It was founded on April 16th 1,582 by Hernando de Lerna, governor of Tucumán (another province). Since the beginning, this city had a high development because it was located at the way of the route to Alto Perú.

This zone has achieved good results in agriculture: sugar cane, vines, tobacco, corn, wheat, rice, vegetables and mining.

Cafayate has 70% of the vineyards. La Poma, Cachi, San Carlos and Molinos are also production areas. Calchaquíes Valleys are one of the highest viticulture zones in the world, being higher than 1,500 meters above sea level.

Through its 520 kilometers of routes, with a wild landscape of carob trees and cactuses, there are 2,500 cultivated hectares. The soils, constituted by sandy sediments, provide excellent drainage conditions, which guarantee the lixiviation of harmful salts. Water is supplied by the rivers Calchaquí and Santa María that trace the shape of the valleys, and this is complemented with underground water from pits.

Colomé Winery

Tours Creativos