The courageous thick-skinned grapes, burnt by the sun of the Tropic of Capricorn, beaten by winds, escaping from the frost, hail, ants and parrots, are the ultimate expression of the extreme conditions of the terroir. In our ungrafted vineyard, planted since 2007 on only 4 ha, the distinguished grapes of Malbec, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, have found their place in the world, yielding grapes full of colours and subtle aromas. The estate is equally proud of its centenary-old vines of Criolla Chica, the ancient local grape variety.
Sky-high vineyards
Place
The province of Salta is renowned for its extraordinary beauty and its centuries-old wine-making heritage. The vast majority of the vines are planted in the Valles Calchaquies, a succession of valleys stretching from north to south along the Andean foothills and whose majestic landscape is dominated by a mineral desert with some green oases on the rivers banks.
The main wine estates are concentrated around Cafayate, a small town located at 5,500 feet above sea level, while the high Valles Calchaquies, difficult to access and with few resources, are the last frontier, where cultivating vines and making wine are an everyday feat.
In the heart of the high Valles Calchaquies, perched at 7,200 feet above sea level, our estate, comprising only four hectares of ungrafted vines is located in the tiny homonymous village of Seclantas Adentro.
Terroir
At this altitude, the climatic conditions are extreme: ultraviolet radiation is particularly intense, winters are cold, frost is frequent and the thermal amplitude, i.e. the temperature difference between day and night, can reach 77°F during the summer.
This thermal amplitude favors the concentration of tannins and the preservation of acidity in the grapes.
The soil, alluvial with a granite base is sandy with limestone. It is deep, low in organic matter and permeable, allowing the grapes to develop unique aromas.
Malbec grapes in the vineyards
The vineyard
Since 2007 four hectares of ungrafted vines have been planted, and their management was oriented towards the minimum intervention and the absolute respect of the terroir. The vineyard is cultivated in an organic way, and in the spirit of sustainability, in order to preserve the biodiversity of the ecosystem.
From the beginning we chose an optimal exposure for each of the grape varieties: if the malbec receives the sun directly, the tannat is protected by the foliage of the pink pepper trees.
The water, vital for the survival of the vines in this desert environment, comes from the thaw of the Andes in the spring and from the rain in the high mountains in the summer. The water is conveyed by channels of a remarkable complexity that date back to Inca times and are community-run.
From the vine to the cellar, all the stages of wine production are entirely artisanal, reflecting our strict vision, respectful of the land and its products. We decided to take care of the vineyards without any mechanical intervention.
The harvest time is chosen each year when the grapes are at their perfect maturity.
Yields are very low, as one can imagine: around 20 hl/ha.