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Food and Wine: Salta

The little known northwest offers an eclectic menu and is the heart of the Torrontes grape growing

Salta and the Northwest - Purmamarca
Salta and the Northwest - Purmamarca

The northwest area of Argentina is famed for its stunning views, of beautiful red gorges and multicoloured rock formations, as well as its history and indigenous roots, but it is also a great area to head to for white wine. The Torrontes grape, brought to Argentina from Europe in the 1800s as an unremarkable wine, has really thrived in the dry and sunny climes of the Cafayate valley and now rivals some of the best white wines in the world.

The main area in which the Torrontes wine is grown is in the valley surrounding Cafayate, due south of Salta. This valley has a very particular microclimate with only a few centimeters of rainfall per annum. This allows the Torrontes grape to have plenty of sunlight and so produces a sweet yet refreshing wine.

The accommodation in and around the valley is fairly basic, but a driving tour that runs out from Salta, via Cachi and the famous vineyard at Colome to Cafayate is well worth the effort as you will experience the full range of mountain and valleyscapes that this area of Argentina has to offer.

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    Salta and the Northwest

    At a glance…The Northwest Region

  • Size: 560,000 sq km
  • Location: North Western Argentina
  • Recommended time: 3 to 6 nights
  • Time to visit: September to April
  • Go here for: Nature and culture
  • Further reading...

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