Extreme altitude wines
The terroir, the altitude, and the unique character of the wines of the Calchaquí Valleys.
Although small compared to other Argentine wine regions — producing only 3% of the country's wines — the area around Cafayate has become world-famous thanks to its high and extreme altitude wines.
Why does altitude matter?
Altitude is a key factor in winemaking. Everything that makes a wine distinctive — tannins, polyphenols, color, aromatic profile — comes largely from the grape skins.
To survive the dramatic temperature swings, higher levels of solar radiation, and long ripening periods at these elevations, grapes develop thicker, more resilient skins. Winemakers harness that trait to create wines of high concentration, deep color, and great aromatic complexity.
Cafayate's Malbec, for example, is often opaque when held to the light — a direct sign of the concentration that altitude imparts to the grape. Torrontés, the region's emblematic white, gains aromatic intensity thanks to UV radiation and cool nights. Tannat, more austere at low altitude, finds an unusual balance here.
Vineyards at the limit
High-altitude wines are those produced between 1,500 and 2,200 meters above sea level. Extreme altitude vineyards are found above 2,200 m, where a handful of winemakers cultivate at the very limits of where grapes can grow.
Discover the wineries and wine bars of Cafayate
Wine bars in town, historic bodegas, and extreme-altitude pioneers — the full directory of places to taste in Cafayate and the Calchaquí Valleys.
View all bodegas →Bad Brothers Wine & Food Experience
Cafayate's most complete dining and wine experience, with a menu by Chef Walter Leal — Le Cordon Bleu Paris, Académie Culinaire de France.
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