The World's Highest Altitude Vineyards
Combine tasting in some of Argentina’s finest wineries with a stunning visual experience, driving through a constantly changing landscape. Our Classic Wine Route is the circuit of the Valles Calchaquies, the highest altitude wine region in the world, and can be done over a minimum of three days.
If you have more time, we recommend our Wine & History tour, a one-way trip from Salta to Mendoza (or vice versa), travelling down the wine valleys close to the Andes mountain range, visiting historic pre-Hispanic sites including the best Inca ruins in Argentina, and outstanding boutique wineries in Tucuman, Catamarca, La Rioja and San Juan. This really gets you off the beaten track into some lesser known wine areas.
Wine Tours
Wine and History: Mendoza to Cafayate
Take the long and winding road from Mendoza to Cafayate, visiting lesser known boutique wineries in San Juan, La Rioja, and Catamarca along the way.
This deep immersion into the wine and culture of Argentina is perfect for those who want to combine an exploration of the rich history of the region with some of its best off the beaten track wineries, while driving through some breathtaking scenery close to the Andes.
Our journey begins in the hub of Argentine wine production, Mendoza, taking the iconic Route 40 north through the emerging wine regions of La Rioja, Catamarca, and Tucuman.
Apart from some out of the way family wineries which can only be discovered with local knowledge, we also explore some of the most impressive pre-Hispanic historic sites in Argentina.
Click here to view map route.
Classic Wine Route
Explore the varied landscape of the Valles Calchaquies and its excellent boutique wineries in this Argentine wine tour par excellence.
Our Classic wine route combines Salta's superb boutique wineries in the highest altitude wine region in the world with the breathtaking landscape of north west Argentina.
Apart from the ubiquitous Malbec, this area is known for its fine Torrontes and Tannat, not to mention its wine ice cream!
We can often combine this trip with our Salt & 7 Colours tour by taking the mountain pass of Abra el Acay, the highest road crossing in the world outside the Himalayas, at just under 5,000m altitude.
Click here to view map route.
Wine and History: Salta to Mendoza
Take the long and winding road from Salta to Mendoza, visiting lesser-known boutique wineries in Catamarca, La Rioja, and San Juan along the way.
This deep immersion into the wine and culture of Argentina is perfect for those who want to combine an exploration of the rich history of the region with some of its best off-the-beaten-track wineries, through some breathtaking scenery close to the Andes. Apart from Argentina’s classic red Malbec, we’ll be sampling lesser-known varieties like Tannat, and discovering the Argentine take on classics like Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Pinot Grigio.
Our journey begins in the highest altitude wine region in the world, the Valles Calchaquies in Salta, famous for its production of Torrontes, a white grape variety that is unique to Argentina. From Salta’s principal wine town of Cafayate, we take the iconic Route 40 south, through the emerging wine regions of Tucuman, Catamarca, and La Rioja, before arriving in the provinces of San Juan and Mendoza, producers of 93% of the nation’s wine.
Click here to view map route.
Bolivia’s high altitude wine
Allow us to introduce you to one of the world’s lesser known wine regions: Tarija in Bolivia. With vineyards at 1,850m, this is one of the highest altitude wine regions in the world.
The quality of wine, particularly its trademark Tannat red variety, has developed hugely over the last 15 years, while its traditional singani spirit distilled from white Muscat of Alexandria grapes is also excellent.
Join us for a unique and personalised experience in one of the emerging wine regions in the world.
This trip can be combined with hiking in Calilegua or a longer tour also incorporating the new wine region of Jujuy province, Fourteen Colours and Cloud Forest.
Wine Tasting
Cafayate is the hub of Salta's wine region, and though this province only produces 2% of the country’s wine, there are some fine Tannat and Malbec blends. It’s also the best place to sample the white Torrontes single variety unique to Argentina. Don’t miss the delicious wine ice cream!
Cafayate is the hub of Salta's wine region, and though this province only produces 2% of the country’s wine, there are some fine Tannat and Malbec blends. It’s also the best place to sample the white Torrontes single variety unique to Argentina. Don’t miss the delicious wine ice cream!
The Winding Mountain Road
The stunning natural landscape of the Valles Calchaquies includes the cactus-studded hills of Los Cardones national park, and the Mars-like Los Colorados, on the road to the winery of Colome. We also visit the moonscape of Quebrada de las Flechas and the deep ochre-coloured Quebrada de las Concha...
The stunning natural landscape of the Valles Calchaquies includes the cactus-studded hills of Los Cardones national park, and the Mars-like Los Colorados, on the road to the winery of Colome. We also visit the moonscape of Quebrada de las Flechas and the deep ochre-coloured Quebrada de las Conchas near Cafayate. They’re all great places for a short hike!
Inca ruins
The 15th century Inca ruins of Shinkal in Catamarca are halfway along the Wine & History trail from Mendoza to Salta. This was the central hub controlling the southern part of the Inca empire and features the old Sun and Moon temples typical of the tribe from Cusco, Peru who controlled most of So...
The 15th century Inca ruins of Shinkal in Catamarca are halfway along the Wine & History trail from Mendoza to Salta. This was the central hub controlling the southern part of the Inca empire and features the old Sun and Moon temples typical of the tribe from Cusco, Peru who controlled most of South America before the arrival of Spanish conquistadores.
National parks
The parks of Ischigualasto (Valle de la Luna) in San Juan and Talampaya, La Rioja, are must see stops along the Salta to Mendoza wine tour: the only places in the world which exhibit geology from the whole of the Triassic period, between 248 and 206 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the ea...
The parks of Ischigualasto (Valle de la Luna) in San Juan and Talampaya, La Rioja, are must see stops along the Salta to Mendoza wine tour: the only places in the world which exhibit geology from the whole of the Triassic period, between 248 and 206 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
A word on the wine
Our private tours of Argentina and Bolivian wine country take you through some of the most spectacular landscapes in South America sipping wine along the way: what more could you ask for?
You probably all know about Malbec, Argentina's classic red: and the perfect accompaniment to a good steak. But less well known is the nation’s signature white, Torrontes: a grape whose origins are mysterious but is now a single variety unique to Argentina. Its best expression is in Salta.
What makes an Argentine wine tour extra special is the different varieties which thrive at different altitudes. The northwest is home to the word's highest altitude vineyards, some originally planted by the priests who came with the conquistadores. The high altitude of Cafayate and Tarija (Bolivia) is particularly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon and Torrontes, as well as the heavy red Tannat, first made popular in Uruguay.
When you're planning your Argentina wine tour, don't hesitate to get in touch.