Vineyards regions

SALTA 

Kwown as “la linda” (the beautiful), this province boasts imposing landscapes, a fusion of the passion of the plains and the supremacy of the Puna. The Valles Calchaquíes offer unique tour opportunities, with a variety of landscapes and cultures to be enjoyed.

The high altitude viticulture practised here reaches one of the most powerful regional expressions in the country and the world, with Cafayate as the most prominent area and 70% of the total area under vine. The most important cultivated variety is the Torrontés Riojano, which produces wines of great tipicity, due to their characteristic flavor and aroma. It is followed by the Chardonnay, Chenin and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties.

Besides the traditional wine routes, Salta offers other interesting attractions such as the magical towns and landscapes of the North: the Humahuaca and Purmamarca ravines, the Siete Colores mountain, the high Andean plateau known as Puna, the ancient fortress of Tilcara, the world’s most amazing high mountain train, the Valles Calchaquíes, Cerrillos, La Merced and other singular attractions of this beautiful region.

CATAMARCA

This is the fifth most important winemaking  province in the country with 1.11% of its surface planted with vineyards. Its capital, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, is the main tourist, commercial, and cultural center.

Its main viticultural areas include Tinogasta, Fiambalá and Capayán, accounting for 70% of the vineyards, where rosé and white grapes are widely used for vinification.

The Tourist Board of Catamarca promotes different circuits such as Balcones del Valle (Valley Terraces), Huellas del Inca (Inca Trails), Nevados de Ambato (Ambato Snowy Mountains), the Puna landscapes, the San Francisco and Las Sierras border crossings and the eastern lakes, among others.

LA RIOJA

Its mountains and hills exude radiance. There are approximately 7,000 hectares/17,297.376 acres of vineyards in the Valles de Famatina, including Chilecito, with over 80% of the cultivated surface, as well as Nonogasta and Anguinan.

The signature white varietal here is the Torrontés, that feeds off the generous sun to express its marked floral and fruity aromas.

Sites worth visiting in this province include the Valles de Famatina, the Talampaya National Park, Villa Sanagasta and the Laguna Brava nature reserve, among other destinations.

SAN JUAN

This province ranks second in vine and wine production in the country. Its viticultural oases are concentrated in the valleys of Tulum, Zonda, Ullum, Jachal and Valle Fértil, irrigated by the Jachal and San Juan rivers.

As the second wine producer in the country, it has 46,000 hectares/113,668.475 acres under vine, Syrah being its most renowned varietal.

Its capital city is home to part of San Juan’s cultural heritage, which makes it a must-see destination in the Cuyo region. The Ischigualasto Triassic Park (a World Heritage Site), the Barreal and Pampa del Leoncito are other interesting tourist options, as well as the Wine and Olive Tree Routes, together with other adventure tourism attractions.

MENDOZA

The capital of Mendoza beautifully combines modern traits with traditional wine culture, and its vast groves of trees and acequias, (narrow ditches used for irrigation) provide unique sights in the country. This magical province is proud to be considered the capital of Cuyo and one of the world’s Great Wine Capitals.

Mendoza is also the main wine region in the country and the cradle of a unique Malbec, accounting for 60% of the national wine production.

In addition to the traditional Wine Routes in Luján de Cuyo, Maipú or Valle de Uco, Mendoza offers visitors the chance to explore museums, wine tasting cellars, estates and old country houses in the heart of the mountains. There are also a great many other attractions, including rural and adventure tourism programs, ski centers, the General San Martín Park (the city’s green lung), high mountain tours, as well as national festivals such as the National Vintage Festival, Mendoza’s landmark celebration.

• The East: With 70,000 hectares/172,973.767 acres under vine, this is the biggest winemaking region in the province. The area includes the departments of La Paz, Santa Rosa, Junín, Rivadavia and San Martín. Its land is irrigated by the Tunuyán river, which flows into the El Carrizal dam, one of the main tourist spots in the region.
  

• Luján de Cuyo and Maipú: They are the two oldest and most traditional wine-growing departments. This area is also known as primera zona – Argentina’s premium winemaking area. This label is not accidental, but the result of the prestige of its wines, historically considered among the best in the production of the country.
  

This is also the area with the most varietals in the province, including the renowned Malbec, a vine intimately related to its terroir, of unsurpassed quality and bouquet in any other wine region in the world. 

Agrelo and Perdriel are two of the regions where ideal agricultural and ecological characteristics converge, making these two areas the most sought-after in the province.

• Valle de Uco: Formed by the departments of Tunuyán, Tupungato, and San Carlos, this region is bordered by El Cordón del Plata mountain range, at the foothills of the majestic Andes and one of the most attractive areas for foreign investment.

• Southern Area: Surrounded by the natural beauty of the departments of San Rafael, General Alvear, and Malargüe, this area lies at the foothills of the Andes and is irrigated by the Atuel and Diamante rivers. It is home to century-old wineries, the pride of the national wine industry. 
  

PATAGONIA

This is the southernmost and lowest wine region in Argentina, with 3,700 hectares/9,142.899 acres under vine. It is composed of clearly defined areas in the provinces of La Pampa, Neuquén and Río Negro, with vineyards along the banks of the Negro and Colorado rivers. The industry is in its beginning stages in Chubut.  

The Alto Valle del Río Negro comprises approximately 80% of the vineyards in the region and includes the departments of Confluencia in Neuquén and General Roca in Río Negro.

San Patricio del Chañar, another district in Neuquén, is a remarkable wine-growing oasis due to the development of new ventures that invest in the excellent agricultural and climatic conditions of the area.

There are countless beautiful locations to visit in this area, starting with a ride along the seven lakes area (province of Neuquén), then visiting the city of Bariloche (province of Río Negro), the Perito Moreno Glacier and Chaltén, with its many trekking options (province of Santa Cruz). Fishing tours and other activities are also available.