Extreme Altitude Wines

Although small compared to other Argentine wine regions —producing only 3% of Argentina's wines— the area around Cafayate has become world-famous thanks to its high and extreme altitude wines.

We categorize high altitude wines based on vineyards situated at an elevation between 1,500 and 2,200 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.). Extreme altitude vineyards are found above 2,200 m.a.s.l., where a handful of winemakers in the Calchaquí Valley are producing wines at the very limits of where it is possible to grow grapes.

Why does altitude matter?

Altitude is a key factor in winemaking. Everything that makes a wine distinctive —tannins, polyphenols, color, flavor profile— comes from the grape skins. To survive the dramatic temperature swings, higher levels of solar radiation, and long ripening periods at extreme altitudes, grapes must develop thick, resilient skins that winemakers harness to create highly concentrated and complex wines.