Cafayate: land of wine

Owner of a dry climate, Cafayate is one of the best areas for the cultivation of vines. We tell you more about this land where wine is much more than a tradition.

Cafayate, known as “the land of the sun”, is located in the center of the Calchaquíes Valleys, a landscape of unparalleled beauty with rock formations of reddish tones, produced by years of wind erosion and tectonic movements.

This city of Salta, located 189 kilometers from the capital of the province, is famous in Argentina and the world not only for its wonderful geography but also for being one of the main wine producers in the country.

A land with history

This city originated in 1826, when Josefa Antonia Frías de Aramburu, widow of the mayor of Salta, donated a portion of her property so that the town could be founded.  

However, the history of wine in this region dates back to 1556, when the first vines arrived from Chile thanks to the migration of the Jesuits, who settled in San Carlos, 24 kilometers from Cafayate.

The name of this city would have come from the Kakán language, in which cafa-yaco means “water box”, which would represent the lower part of the valley and the area where the riverbeds of the area flow.

Years later, at the end of the 19th century, the first winemakers arrived, who planted French grape varieties in this area and continued the region’s winemaking history.

Geography and climate, great allies

The climatic and geographic characteristics are the key to making Cafayate a land in which wines of the highest quality are produced.

Its arid, dry, and temperate climate, with a wide thermal amplitude and average temperatures ranging between 15 and 29 degrees Celsius with sunny days and cold nights, as well as its sandy soils with traces of clay and stones, provide the necessary elements to create products with a unique identity.

Cafayate is internationally recognized as one of the cities where the best high-altitude wines are produced since its vineyards are located between 1300 and 3600 meters above sea level.

The altitude, dry climate, and soil characteristics result in varietals with great concentrations of color, fruit, tannins, and phenolic ripeness. The vines do not require protection or chemical curing, which helps to keep the flavors intact.

Torrontés, the king of Cafayate

When visiting this land, one cannot fail to enjoy the renowned Torrontés wine, a grape variety that is produced only in Argentina and is synonymous with this region. It is found in different styles, it is usually produced in the form of a vineyard to protect it from the power of the sun’s rays.

In general terms, the torrontés produced in Cafayate has a marked aroma of flowers such as rose, jasmine, and geranium, and its flavor, far from being sweet, reveals a fresh acidity on the palate.

In addition to this varietal, in this land, where the highest altitude vineyards in the world are located, other high-end varieties are also produced, such as Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot.

At Vinscent Wines, we put in your glass the best varietals from this wine region of excellence in Argentina so you can transform your moments into experiences of pleasure.

Content originally produced by Sabio Marketing for Vinscent