spaswinefood: Gastronomic adventures in Cafayate wine country

Cafayate, Salta Province is not the first Argentine wine destination that comes to mind. Perhaps it should because not only does Cafayate produce wonderful wines but also it is the perfect place for a gastronomic adventure. After we picked up our rental car at Salta airport we drove to the town of Cafayate. Spaswinefood had returned to Cafayate wine country, a sub-region in Salta Province known for its scenery. Here you will find colorful, grandiose landscape along some of the most scenic driving routes in Argentina. Located in the southern part of Valles Calchaquíes, at an altitude of more than 1,800 meters, Cafayate is held in high regard for the overall quality of its wine. This wine region produces high quality Torrontés, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Tannat and Merlot. Just like Malbec has drawn attention to Mendoza Province so has Torrontés for Salta Province. We had returned to rediscover/discover Cafayate wineries and to experience its culinary offerings. This article will focus on our gastronomic adventures on Salta’s Ruta Del Vino.

Patios de Cafayate © Spaswinefood

The following vignettes show why falling in love with Cafayate wine country is so easy to do.

Culinary Happenings on Plaza Central
Cafayate's Central Plaza offers many dining options. I still remember having dinner on the plaza the first time we visited seven years ago. After wine tasting along Salta’s Ruta Del Vino many head to Plaza Central for lunch or dinner.

Plaza Central, Cafayate © Spaswinefood

During our stay we ate lunch at La Carreta de Don Olegario Restaurant. This restaurant offers both inside and outside dining.

La Carreta de Don Olegario Restaurant © Spaswinefood

The day we dropped by for lunch we ate street side overlooking the plaza.

Street Side Dining, La Carreta de Don Olegario Restaurant © Spaswinefood

It was a delightful lunch on the plaza. Part of the joy of decision making is to have a short list, which you can checkout during a walk around the plaza.

El Terruño Restauarant, Plaza Central © Spaswinefood

Music on Plaza Central © Spaswinefood

While exploring dinning options you also get to checkout what's happening at Plaza Central. The day we dropped by for lunch there was music.

Dining at Cafayate Wineries
We dined at a number of winery restaurants, such as Bodega Nanni, Piattelli Estate Restauarant, and Bodega Mounier Cafe at Finca Las Nubes.

1. Retoño Restaurant, Bodega Nanni
Bodega Nanni is one of Cafayate's smaller wineries with a restaurant. When we arrived the tasting room was closed; so while waiting for the tasting room to open we ate lunch. Nanni's Retoño Restaurant is located at the back of the winery. You need to pass through a waiting area outside the tasting room before reaching the restaurant in a garden area.

Bodega Nanni Entrance Area © Spaswinefood

After walking into the garden at the back you will discover that you can dine inside or outside.

Garden Table Ready, Bodega Nanni © Spaswinefood

We choose to dine inside.

Retoño Restaurant, Bodega Nanni © Spaswinefood

I always love to look around a restaurant. In this case the colorful tables certainly caught my attention.

Table for Four at Retoño, Bodega Nanni © Spaswinefood

Table Waiting at Retoño, Bodega Nanni © Spaswinefood

That day we ordered quinoa salad and steak.

Quinoa Salad, Bodega Nanni's Retoño © Spaswinefood

Lunch is Ready, Bodega Nanni's Retoño © Spaswinefood

We selected a Nanni Torrontés wine for lunch.

Bodega Nanni, Torrontés 2015 © Spaswinefood

Bodega Nanni, Torrontés 2015 (back label) © Spaswinefood

This is quite a delightful wine to enjoy with lunch.

Bodega Nanni, Torrontés in the Glass © Spaswinefood

Sipping this delicious wine while looking onto the garden was so relaxing.

Rose Filled View, Bodega Nanni © Spaswinefood

2. Piattelli Estate Restaurant

Piattelli Estate graces the covers of tourist and wine magazines. Spaswinefood especially enjoyed dining in their restaurant.

Piattelli Winery © Spaswinefood

While in Cafayate we visited Piattelli twice. The first time we ate lunch.

Patio, Piattelli Vineyards © Spaswinefood

While the restaurant offers delightful outdoor and indoor seating options for lunch, we dined inside. Had it not been a very hot summer's day in Cafayate, we would have dined outside.

Lunch, Piattelli Restaurant © Spaswinefood

For lunch we ordered the following:

(1) Tortilla Española con Ensalada y Vegetales (Spanish Tortilla with Salad and Vegetables)

Tortilla Española con Ensalada y Vegetales, Piattelli © Spaswinefood

(2) Pollo con Ensalada (Chicken with Salad)

Pollo con Ensalada, Piattelli © Spaswinefood

(3) Piattelli Vineyards, Reserve Torrontés 2015

Piattelli Vineyards, Reserve Torrontés 2015 © Spaswinefood

Needless to say, our lunch was most delightful with the Torrontés wine.

A Piattelli Lunch © Spaswinefood

A wonderful Piattelli lunch made my day. It was indeed priceless to have lunch on that summer's day.

Piattelli, Cafayate © Spaswinefood

3. Bodega Mounier, Finca Las Nubes

Before I started my Spaswinefood adventures we visited Cafayate. I can still remember our visit to Bodega Mounier. Views like those at Finca Las Nubes is why it is so easy to fall in love with this wine region.

Finca Las Nubes Vineyard, Valles Calchaquíes © Spaswinefood

This time after a pleasant wine tasting we ate lunch on the veranda. The veranda is just perfect for taking in the views.

Veranda, Finca Las Nubes © Spaswinefood

It was a delightful lunch on the veranda that day.

Lunch is Ready, Finca Las Nubes Cafe © Spaswinefood

Lunch, Finca Las Nubes Cafe © Spaswinefood

Let's take a closer look at lunch.

Salad, Finca Las Nubes Cafe © Spaswinefood

Finca Las Nubes Cafe © Spaswinefood

Bread, Finca Las Nubes Cafe © Spaswinefood

We selected a bottle of José Luis Mounier Champaña Rosado Extra Brut 2016 for lunch.

Rosé Time, Finca Las Nubes Cafe © Spaswinefood

Finca Las Nubes, José Luis Mounier Champaña Rosado Extra Brut 2016 © Spaswinefood

The José Luis Mounier Champaña Rosado Extra Brut 2016 was a perfect choice. However, catching those wine moments on the veranda at Finca Las Nubes Cafe was priceless.

Catching Wine Moments, Finca Las Nubes Cafe © Spaswinefood

While the winery dogs relaxed, on the veranda and in the garden, we enjoyed a delightful lunch.

Relaxing, Finca Las Nubes © Spaswinefood

Relaxing Veranda Style, Finca Las Nubes © Spaswinefood

After lunch it was time to leave this peaceful place.

Cafe, Finca Las Nubes © Spaswinefood

Bodega Jose L. Mounier, with its amazing views, tasty wines and food, are what makes travels along Salta’s Ruta Del Vino so ideal.

Dining at Vineyard Resorts
There are a number of resort that offer vineyard stays in Cafayate. Some of these resorts also have restaurants. If you are looking for vineyard accommodations in Cafayate then Patios de Cafayate at El Esteco, or Grace Cafayate are ideal. Viñas de Cafayate, a smaller wine resort, is another good option.

Patios de Cafayate

Patios de Cafayate Restaurante La Rosa serves breakfast daily for its guests, with lunch and dinner available for both guests and non-guests at the hotel.

Entrance, Patios de Cafayate © Spaswinefood

Each day before setting out for our Salta wine country explorations we enjoyed those tasteful and filling breakfasts. During our stay we had a number of dinners at the restaurant. Let's take a peek at one of those dinners.

While most delight in ordering that fabulous Argentine beef I ate those wonderful pasta dishes.

If you like chocolate inspired desserts this is the place. Yes, I tried a few.

Besides savoring those awesome Torrontés wines from Cafayate we enjoyed a number of other El Esteco wines during our stay.

Grace Cafayate
Grace Cafayate offers luxury accommodations at its hotel and residential villas.

Their Grace Cafayate restaurant offers authentic Argentine cuisine made with fresh local ingredients.

Grace Cafayate is surrounded by vineyards and mountains.

The setting at Grace Cafayate is stunning, which makes it just perfect for a vineyard escape.

Viñas de Cafayate
Viñas de Cafayate, a smaller wine resort, has a restaurant that is open to guests and the general public.

Clearly Cafayate's wine resorts have much to offer.

Getting to/from Cafayate

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. Cafayate wineries were delightful to visit.

Our second visit was a totally awesome gastronomic adventure. Just in case you are still wondering why we began our most recent Argentine adventure in Cafayate. I could say it is because Cafayate is #1 on the list of 2017 Best Wine Destinations but that is not the only reason. I invite you to join me in my travels in Argentina and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.

Sharon

January 2017

Cafayate, Argentina

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Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Gastronomic adventures in Cafayate wine country

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