14-Day Wine Itinerary · Chapter 3 of 5
Salta & Cafayate: Extreme Altitude Wineries (Days 9–11)
Three days winding through the crimson gorges of Quebrada de las Conchas to extreme high-altitude Torrontés and Tannat estates at 1,700 to 3,111 meters.
Chapter 3
of 5
The Dramatic High North: Where Vines Touch the Clouds
Flying from Mendoza to Salta takes you into a completely different Argentina — indigenous Andean culture, red-rock canyons resembling Mars, colonial architecture, and the highest commercial vineyards in the world.
Day 9: Colonial Salta & The Scenic Drive Through Quebrada de las Conchas
Land at Salta Airport (SLA). Rent a car or meet your driver for the legendary 3.5-hour drive down Ruta 68 into the Calchaquí Valley.
- Scenic Stops: The natural sandstone amphitheater (El Anfiteatro) and the Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo), where towering red cliffs echo with Andean folk music.
- Arrival in Cafayate: Check into Grace Cafayate or Patios de Cafayate (historic 1892 estate adjacent to Bodega El Esteco).
- Evening Empanadas: Salta empanadas (baked, spiced with cumin, chopped knife-cut beef and boiled egg) paired with a crisp, floral Salta Torrontés.
Day 10: Cafayate Terroir — Explosive Torrontés & High-Altitude Tannat
Spend a full day exploring the boutique and historic bodegas nestled right around the village plaza.
- Morning: Visit San Pedro de Yacochuya at 2,035 meters elevation — consultant Michel Rolland crafts Argentina’s most concentrated, muscular Malbec and Tannat blends here.
- Afternoon Tasting: Tour Piattelli Vineyards or organic artisan Bodega Nanni, followed by Torrontés ice cream at Heladería Miranda in the main square.
- Sunset: Watch the sunset turn the Calchaquí mountains copper-red while tasting Tannat under the pergola.
Day 11: The Pilgrimage to Bodega Colomé (2,300m – 3,111m)
An unforgettable day trip up the unpaved Ruta 40 to Molinos and Colomé — Argentina’s oldest working winery (founded 1831).
- The Vineyards: Taste wines from the Altura Máxima vineyard planted at 3,111 meters (10,206 feet) — the highest commercial vineyard on planet Earth.
- James Turrell Museum: An awe-inspiring 1,700-square-meter private museum dedicated entirely to the light and space installations of artist James Turrell.