Wine Lover’s Guide to Cafayate, Salta 🍇 Vineyard Tours, Tastings & Food Adventures in Argentina 🍷🇦🇷

Video Description

Hey guys, we’re back with another video and this one is going to be all about wine tasting in northern Argentina! So, after spending a couple of days exploring the province of Tucumán, we travelled even further north to the province of Salta. First up, was the town of Cafayate, which is a wine-producing region in the Calchaquí Valleys. Here we planned two back-to-back days of wine tastings and visiting local vineyards. In this video, we’ll take you to two wineries that came highly recommended: Bodega Piatelli and Bodega El Esteco. Bodega Piatelli is a short 15-minute drive from the town of Cafayate. It is situated at the foot of the mountains and has beautiful views all around. They have an on-site restaurant that is heavy on the BBQ and also features some regional specialities. We couldn’t get a table just randomly showing up on a Sunday, but that didn’t stop us from ordering a bottle of wine and enjoying some appetizers al fresco. When it comes to wine tastings, this bodega offers two different options: you can try 7 reserve wines for 300 pesos, or 5 grand reserve wines for 380. We opted for the latter and at the time of our visit that was the equivalent of about $6 USD. First, we went on a tour of the winery and even got a peek at their cellar, and later on, we got to taste their wines. We tried a mix of whites, rosés and reds including a couple of high altitude wines. The following day, we visited Bodega El Esteco. This property is located right on the edge of town, and since Cafayate is a very small town, that means you can easily walk there. Our plan was to order a bottle of wine and enjoy a nice lunch. Thankfully, we were able to get a table this time! We ordered one of their Malbecs and paired it with empanadas, fettuccini and a gourmet burger for Sam. The food and the wine were exquisite! This winery also has a wine hotel on-site, so there's an idea for anyone visiting. Mendoza may get all the fame, but the province of Salta has its own wine region and they make some great wines! So if you find yourself travelling in northern Argentina, don't forget to make time for a wine tasting or two. #cafayate #salta #argentina Wine Lover’s Guide to Cafayate, Salta: Epic Vineyard Tours, Tastings & Food Adventures in Northern Argentina 🍷🇦🇷 Bodega Piattelli: Mountain Views, Malbec & Empanadas 🏞️🍷 Our first stop is the stunning Bodega Piattelli, just a 15-minute drive from Cafayate’s center. The property sits at the foot of dramatic mountains, with vines, rose gardens, and cacti surrounding a chic, modern winery. Although we couldn’t snag a lunch reservation on a busy Sunday, we grabbed a bottle of Malbec-Tannat, found a spot by the barrels, and toasted to our first Salta bodega experience. Wine: The Malbec-Tannat blend is ruby red with a rich aroma, smooth tannins, and a long finish. Food: We shared a trio of piping-hot empanadas—cheese, beef (cut with a knife for that classic Salta texture), and osso buco (melt-in-your-mouth, buttery beef). Each bite perfectly paired with the wine, and the sauces—one tomato-based, one spicy amarillo—added a regional kick. Tour & Tasting: From Cellar to Glass 🍾🔬 After exploring the gardens and waiting for the next tour, we joined Piattelli’s wine tasting experience. For just $6 USD, we sampled five Grand Reserve wines, including whites, rosés, and robust reds. Whites: Crisp, fresh, and fruity (think pears, apples, pineapple), but for red-lovers, just a warm-up. Rosé: A rare Malbec rosé, dry and unique—good, but not our favorite. Reds: The high-altitude Malbec from Cafayate was the star—full-bodied, silky smooth, and bursting with flavor, with no harsh alcoholic burn. Bodega El Esteco: Colonial Grandeur & Gourmet Lunch 🏰🍽️ Day two brings us to Bodega El Esteco, just on the edge of town—an easy walk if you’re staying in Cafayate. This sprawling property features colonial Spanish architecture, covered terraces, beautiful courtyards, and its own hotel, “Patios de Cafayate.” Restaurant: We managed to get a table at La Rosa and dove right into lunch with a bottle of their reserve red (aged 12 months in oak barrels—smooth, soft, and wonderfully balanced). Empanadas: Northern-style, fried and bite-sized, with juicy beef fillings and savory sauces. Mains: My dad and I had homemade pasta (since the lentil stew was out)—rustic, flavorful, and served in the pan on wooden trays. Audrey went for the “Inca Salad,” loaded with quinoa, tomatoes, onions, corn, lemon, and parsley. Burger: Sam’s “star of the show” was a towering burger with all the fixings—egg, bacon, cheese, fresh veggies, and a side of seasoned potatoes with wasabi mayo. WINE TASTING in Northern Argentina 🍷 | Visiting WINERIES & VINEYARDS in Cafayate, Salta 🍇 BLOGS https://cheargentinatravel.com/ https://thatbackpacker.com/ https://nomadicsamuel.com/ https://acrossalberta.com/ https://pictureperfectportfolios.com/