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ABOUT BODEGA COLOME - in their own words:

HISTORY
This is a very special year for Bodega Colomé since we are celebrating the winery’s 180th anniversary, which makes it the oldest winery in Argentina.

Bodega Colomé was founded in 1831, probably by the Spanish Governor of Salta, Nicolás Severo de Isasmendi y Echalar. In 1854, his daughter Ascensión, who was married to José Benjamín Dávalos, brought the first French pre-phylloxera Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon vines to Colomé. Grapes from three vineyards (with an area of 4 hectares each) planted in that year are still used in the production of our wines.

Colomé belonged to the Isasmendi-Dávalos family for 170 years. In 1969, the Rodó family acquired the estate and the winery, which remained in its possession for 13 years. In 1982, Raúl Dávalos, direct descendant of the Isasmendi-Dávalos family, bought back the family’s old homestead and kept it until the Hess Group purchased it in 2001.

Donald and Ursula Hess first visited the Calchaquí Valleys in 1998. They were searching for the perfect terroir and the ideal weather to produce truly unique Argentinean wines. What they discovered here was beyond their expectations: they actually found their home from home. The grandeur and natural beauty of Colomé inspired and rejuvenated them. In 2001 they purchased Colomé.
Since then, new vines (distributed among 4 Estates) have been planted to reach the current 140 hectares; new winery facilities with the latest technology and equipment have been built; the new Estate and Rural Boutique Hotel and the exclusive James Turrell Museum have been opened.
Donald and Ursula’s vision has a high regard for social responsibility issues. In the last 10 years, Hess Family has contributed to the building of the village’s community centre and church and to the betterment of the school and the neighbours’ houses. Nowadays, Colomé is the source of employment and income for most of the village’s 400 inhabitants.

Today, Bodega Colomé is a model winery producing quality premium wines. Every year, it produces over half a million litres of wine and exports its wines to over 25 countries around the world.

HIGH-ALTITUDE VINEYARDS
Our vineyards are located in the Upper Calchaquí Valleys, which are considered to be the viticultural region of highest altitude in the World between 2300 and 3111 metres above sea level, far from the hustle and bustle of cities and very close to the immensity of the Skies and the Sun.

The winery is made up of 4 Vineyards: La Brava (1750 m) in Cafayate, Colomé (2300 m), where the vineyards surround the Winery, El Arenal (2700 m) and Altura Máxima (3111 m). Both El Arenal and Altura Máxima are located in the Payogasta-Salta area.

The altitude factor has a positive impact on the quality of the grapes because the sun’s ultraviolet rays are present in a higher concentration in this region than in other latitudes or in lower areas. The higher the altitude, the most exposure of the grapes to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which makes the grape to generate a thicker and darker skin to protect itself from the rays. In this process the grapes gets a higher concentration of aromas, colours and flavours. It also generates more antocians which are the anti oxidant components that produce health benefits in the wine.

Such impact becomes even greater in our Valley because the clear diaphanous skies contribute to an even higher intensity of the sun.
Also, the great thermal amplitude between hot sunny days and cool nights (with a difference in daily lowest and highest temperatures of more than 20ºC) contributes to the homogenous and balanced development of sugars, polyphenols, colour, acids and flavours.

All these factors combine to produce an ideal final result: renowned high-altitude wines of great concentration and balance.

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