Cafayate IG

Cafayate holds 2,798 hectares, which is 75.6% of Salta's vines in the 2025 INV count. Rain is under 200 millimetres a year, there are about 320 sunny days and the swing between day and night is around 15 to 20°C. The soils are sandy loams and alluvial gravels that drain freely and hold little organic matter, which keeps the vines from growing too vigorous.

El Esteco is the big name. French brothers David and Salvador Michel founded it in 1892, Grupo Peñaflor bought it in 2004, and it farms 520 hectares around Cafayate with some vines up to 80 years old. Etchart farms 380 hectares at Finca La Florida, close to 1,800 metres. Piattelli's vineyard is at about 1,795 metres on free-draining sandy soil. Colomé has its La Brava vineyard here at 1,750 metres.

The name to look for on the label is Valle de Cafayate. "Cafayate" on its own is a registered trademark, so the INV only allows Valle de Cafayate on bottles. I look for Torrontés that keeps its perfume and its freshness, and for Malbec with some lift to go with the colour.