Salta, Argentina's second most important wine region, is home to a number of boutique wineries, such as Bodega El Transito. Given Salta Province's wines are quite distinct from Mendoza, this is what makes this wine region so very special. When Spaswinefood visited Cafayate we made sure to visit, not only large producers, but also a number of small wineries. Often smaller wineries like, El Transito are not well reported in the online literature. Even though Cafayate's tourist office has El Transito on the list it did not originally make our short list. Fortunately, this tiny boutique winery is one block from central plaza, which makes it quite visible.
Bodega El Transito finally caught my attention when we visited Bodega Nanni. We decided to drop in for a tasting. I was glad that we did so. The winery is owned by Andrés Benjamin Nanni, whose family has been making wine in Cafayate for over 120 years. The family wine making tradition began with the arrival Andrés great-grandfather Pietro Marini, an Italian immigrant.
I was struck by the amphora's (clay pot) display at the entrance to the winery however, I neglected to ask if the amphoras are being used for wine making at this winery. None of the wines I tasted were qvevri wines.
When we entered the winery we walked into an inviting tasting room.
Sure, it is the wine tasting that is most likely to create an impression. However, often I find it is further research that helps me better understand the experience.
Bodega El Transito Wines
El Transito wine lines include Pietro Marini, Pietro Marini Roble and Pedro Moises.
Their Pietro Marini line includes Torrontés, Malbec Rosado, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Pietro Marini Roble (oak) line includes Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah. Whereas their Perdo Moises is a red wine blend.
From the above lines we tasted the following wines:
1. Bodega El Transito, Pietro Marini Torrontés 2016
From the Pietro Marini line I tasted a Torrontés.
2. Bodega El Transito, Pietro Marini Roble Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah 2013
From the Pietro Marini Roble (oak) line I tasted their Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah.
3. Bodega El Transito, Perdo Moises Red Wine Viñas Viejas 2011
Their Perdo Moises line is a red wine blend. Wine-searcher describes this blend of Malbec, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon as a "Rare Red Blend". They note that some wine regions do a regional twist on a Bordeaux Blend.
Our wine tasting experience was quite delightful. I like the fact that our tasting included a wine from each of their lines. Overall, their wines a very good everyday wines at fair prices. The only downside to these wines is they maybe very hard to get outside Argentina. I did discover some availability in Buenos Aires. Besides doing a wine tasting El Transito also offers a winery tour.
The wine barrel decor and regional artifacts that adorn this winery add to its overall charm.
On the way out of the winery I paused to take another photo.
It was a pleasant surprise to discover Bodega El Transito wines. This tasting added to my overall appreciation of Cafayate's small producers. In this particular case I was introduced to a small producer with a rich history, dating back four generations. Since arriving back home I delight in reviewing our time in Cafayate, #1 on the list of 2017 Best Wine Destinations.
Cafayate wines include Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Tannat and Merlot. Just like Malbec originally drew attention to Mendoza Province so did Torrontés to Salta Province. Today both of these regions are now known for producing many ecellent wines. It was indeed awesome to experience the wide range of quality Cafayate wines, such as those at El Transito. In other Spaswinefood's posts I write about our other discoveries on Salta’s Ruta Del Vino.
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| Bodega El Transito © Spaswinefood |
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| Amphora Display, Bodega El Transito © Spaswinefood |
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| Amphoras (Clay Pots), Bodega El Transito © Spaswinefood |
When we entered the winery we walked into an inviting tasting room.
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| Bodega El Transito © Spaswinefood |
Bodega El Transito Wines
El Transito wine lines include Pietro Marini, Pietro Marini Roble and Pedro Moises.
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| Bodega El Transito Wines © Spaswinefood |
From the above lines we tasted the following wines:
1. Bodega El Transito, Pietro Marini Torrontés 2016
From the Pietro Marini line I tasted a Torrontés.
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| Bodega El Transito, Pietro Marini Torrontés 2016 © Spaswinefood |
2. Bodega El Transito, Pietro Marini Roble Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah 2013
From the Pietro Marini Roble (oak) line I tasted their Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah.
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| Bodega El Transito, Pietro Marini Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah 2013 © Spaswinefood |
3. Bodega El Transito, Perdo Moises Red Wine Viñas Viejas 2011
Their Perdo Moises line is a red wine blend. Wine-searcher describes this blend of Malbec, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon as a "Rare Red Blend". They note that some wine regions do a regional twist on a Bordeaux Blend.
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| Bodega El Transito, Perdo Moises Red Wine Viñas Viejas 2011 © Spaswinefood |
The wine barrel decor and regional artifacts that adorn this winery add to its overall charm.
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| Wine Barrel Decor, Bodega El Transito © Spaswinefood |
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| Artifact, Bodega El Transito © Spaswinefood |
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| Remembering Bodega El Transito, Cafayate © Spaswinefood |
It was a pleasant surprise to discover Bodega El Transito wines. This tasting added to my overall appreciation of Cafayate's small producers. In this particular case I was introduced to a small producer with a rich history, dating back four generations. Since arriving back home I delight in reviewing our time in Cafayate, #1 on the list of 2017 Best Wine Destinations.
Cafayate wines include Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Tannat and Merlot. Just like Malbec originally drew attention to Mendoza Province so did Torrontés to Salta Province. Today both of these regions are now known for producing many ecellent wines. It was indeed awesome to experience the wide range of quality Cafayate wines, such as those at El Transito. In other Spaswinefood's posts I write about our other discoveries on Salta’s Ruta Del Vino.
Things to do In/Near Cafayate
Besides wine explorations along Salta’s Ruta Del Vino just north of Cafayate, on Ruta 68, you will find a beautiful canyon, Quebrada de Cafayate on the Rio Conchas. We enjoyed exploring the scenic Quebrada de Cafayate. Visitors should also journey north on Ruta 40 to Molino. There you can take a ripio (gravel) road detour to visit Colomé Winery, one of Argentina’s top wineries. Moreover, Cafayate, home to indigenous people, the Kallchaki is also known as the Cradle of Folklore. Cafayate is a fun place to explore.
Getting to/from Cafayate
Getting to/from Cafayate is part of the charm of visiting this region. Cafayate does not have an airport and is only accessible by car or bus. The shortest route (Ruta 68) is 165 kilometers of winding road from Salta, capital city of Salta Province. Flights to Salta from Buenos Aires and other major cities in Argentina are available on Aerolinas Argentinas and other carriers. It is well worth the effort to visit Cafayate wineries. Moreover Cafayate offers a good range of choices for restaurants and accommodations. While in Cafayate we stayed at Patios de Cafayate, Bodega El Esteco.
Cafayate is a very special place, an absolute must for wine enthusiasts. Naturally this Spaswinefood enthusiast looks forward to writing about our most recent Argentine wine country explorations. You can check out my travels in Argentina and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.
Sharon
January 2017
Cafayate, Salta Province
Argentina
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