Wineries in Salta
The viticultural business is located mainly in the Calchaquí Valleys, a system of interconnecting valleys stretching 270 km, that it shares with the provinces of Catamarca and Tucumán. The viticulture of Salta is strongly marked by the presence of high altitude vineyards: the cultivated area starts at 5,020 fasl and reaches 10,207 fasl in Payogasta, in the department of Cachi.
The town of Cafayate, in the southwest of the province, constitutes the center of reference of the vitiviniculture of the North, standing out for the excellent quality and great varietal character of its wines. It contains 75% of the vineyards of Salta and 60% of the total area planted in the Calchaquí Valleys.
Cafayate has a hot climate and cool nights. It is characterised by wide thermal amplitude with long summers that allow good growth of the vines, and is also favoured by sandy, deep soils. The wines are lively, with good colour, aromas and flavours with intense, mature tannins. Both whites and reds are fruity with prominent varietal typicity, and alcohol tends to be high. There has been a growth of red varieties, especially Malbec, thanks to the exceptional quality achieved in the province. Among the most emblematic red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat stand out with delicate tannins and structure. Among the whites, Torrontés Riojano is considered the finest expression of Salta.
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Bodega El Esteco
El Esteco wine from Salta
Rich, dark violet in color with a nose of dark chocolate, berry, plum and herb. Explosively rich on the palate with long, structured tannins.
Terroir: Chañar Punco is a unique sub-region surrounded by the Quilmes Mountains, located southwest within the Calchaquí Valley. The Calchaquí Valley is Argentina’s best-known wine growing region after Mendoza. At 6500 feet above sea level, this terroir displays unique characteristics. Poor, rocky and calcareous soil combined with the scarce heat load, radiation, in the months prior to harvest, allows the grape to slowly develop its maximum expression. Vineyard orientation runs from North to South allowing moderate winds from the north to improve the microclimate of the canopy. Distilled water is pumped deep from the soil and drip irrigation is used.
Discover more about one of Bodega El Esteco’s best wines: CHAÑAR PUNCO 2016
Vinification:
Thanks to its remote, high-altitude terroir, the Chañar Punco possesses great personality and structure, delivering unique characteristics. Harvest is done manually early in the morning, selecting the best rows of the parcel. Pre-fermentative maceration is carried on at 45°F, and native yeasts are used for the alcoholic fermentation. Before malolactic fermentation each variety is racked into new French oak barrels of 225 liters where the fermentation process is carried out and aged for 18 months. The blend is defined after an intense selection of the best 8 barrels. The wine is bottled without stabilization and filtration in order to maintain the essence of the wine.
Rich, dark violet in color with a nose of dark chocolate, berry, plum and herb. Explosively rich on the palate with long, structured tannins.
About Bodega El Esteco
The Calchaquí Valleys region is probably one of those few places in the world that deserves to be admired, more than understood. The very nature of this location awes the visitor: among the lush vegetation of the Yunga forest, the rivers and rocky mountains, there emerges, unexpectedly, a stretch of desert where magic happens. Standing at an ideal altitude of 1,800 meters (5,500 feet) above sea level, with its ever-present sunshine and perfect temperature range, the environment is perfect for the creation of high-end wines.
It is at the heart of this valley where El Esteco stands, with its nearly 1,000 acres of vineyards condensing all the spirit of the region in their fruit. At a hidden, unthought-of location for the production of great, unique wines.
French immigrants David and Salvador Michel founded the winery in 1892, and it soon became one the pioneering establishments in the art of Argentine winemaking. Blessed by the assets of the region and the dedication of its staff, it has since then earned well-deserved recognition for the high quality of its products.
Discover more about one of Bodega El Esteco’s best wines: CHAÑAR PUNCO 2016