spaswinefood: Argentine Wines: Salta Province's Valles Calchaquíes

Our drive through Salta Province was a totally awesome experience where we experienced colorful grandiose landscape. Salta Province is known for Torrontés, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Tannat and Merlot. In Salta Province we drove north to the small town of Cafayate. Cafayate is a sub-region within Salta Province, which is held in high regard for the overall quality of its wine. It is located in the southern part of Valles Calchaquíes, with an altitude of more than 1,800 meters. We especially enjoyed discovering the town of Cafayate and we visiting the wineries in the area.

Scenic driving in Salta Province © Spaswinefood

A Cafayate artist painting a mural for the wine celebration © Spaswinefood

Bodegas Etchart
Our first wine tasting in Cafayate was at Bodegas Etchart. Bodegas Etchart was founded over 170 years ago. They produce several very good wines including a late harvest Torrontes. Torrontes, a very dry white wine, is another wine that Argentine wineries claim is unique to Argentina. This time we took the tour. The tour was unique in that they were actually producing wine as we watched. After tasting we bought several of their wines, including the late harvest Torrontes which is quite good.

Bodegas Etchart outside the small town of Cafayate © Spaswinefood

Ruta Del Vino sign near Bodegas Etchart © Spaswinefood

Bodegas Etchart Wines © Spaswinefood

Bringing the grapes to the bodega © Spaswinefood

Placing the grapes into the crusher © Spaswinefood

Etchart Bodega was founded in 1850 © Spaswinefood

We try several of the reds and the late harvest Torrontes © Spaswinefood

We also visited several “organic” wineries in the Valles Calchaquíes.

One of the "organic" winneries, Bodega Nanni © Spaswinefood

Another organic winery, Bodega Nubes © Spaswinefood

Vineyard at Bodega Nubes © Spaswinefood

On a trip through the scenic Quebrada de Cafayate, we unexpectedly discovered a small boutique wine hotel, La Casa de la Bodega about 16 km northeast of Cafayate. Unfortunately, we are a bit too late to taste their wines.

La Casa de la Bodega ©Spaswinefood

Pool at the boutique hotel © Spaswinefood

Bodega El Esteco
Bodega El Esteco produces several well-known labels, including Elementos, Don David and Ciclos. The tasting can be on the expensive side because you have to buy a “flight” of three to four wines. Each taste is a glass of wine for each label. So we each take a different flight and share. We try all of them and end up buying because they are good.

Main building at Bodega El Esteco © Spaswinefood

Tasting room at Bodega El Esteco © Spaswinefood

Tasting wines at Bodega El Esteco © Spaswinefood

Our hostess, Florencia, serving the wine at Bodega El Esteco © Spaswinefood

Entrance to boutique hotel at Esteco © Spaswinefood

If you are looking for luxury accommodations in Cafayate then Patios de Cafayate Hotel & Spa at the El Esteco is worth exploring.

Bodega Colomé
After Cafayate we continued north on Ruta 40 to Molinos where we took another ripio (gravel) road detour to visit Colomé. Colomé is an impressive estancia consisting of a luxury boutique hotel, vineyard, the James Turrell Museum and Bodega Colomé. We had lunch and tried some of their wines which are very good but expensive.