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THE NORTHWEST REGION
This region comprises the provinces of Salta, Catamarca, La
Rioja and Tucumán. The Northwest oasis is located between
22 and 29 degrees of South latitude. The Torrontés is the
predominant variety in this area. It includes the following sub-regions:
THE VALLES CALCHAQUÍES
The wine region of Valles Calchaquíes is located in an area with
a geography characterised by the wind and the sun. Located in
the Southwest of the province of Salta, it is crossed by the
mythical national route 40 (nearly 5,000 km), uniting the
villages of Payogasta in the North and Tolombón in the South.
Within the broad geographical biodiversity offered by Salta, the
wine region of Valles Calchaquíes is surrounded by mountain
ranges of unusual beauty and colour; there are mountain breezes,
clear skies and historic towns.
It was in the eighteenth century that the Jesuits planted the
first vines, and ever since the valleys started mounting up
vineyards and wineries. Its remarkable growth is a result of the
high quality of its wines, and now there are more than 3,200
hectares between the departments of Cafayate, San Carlos,
Angastaco, Molinos and Cachi.
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The
advantages of the Valley lie in its location that
allows the development of a continental viticulture away from
the large water bodies and at altitudes above sea
level that moderate the temperature. The Valles
Calchaquíes vineyards have higher altitude ranging
from 1,750 metres in Cafayate up to 2,700 and 3,015
metres in Molinos and Payogasta. |
The climate is
arid, dry and mild, with great temperature amplitude that can
vary up to 20ºC (68 degrees F) between day and night, favouring
the concentration of aromas and ripening. The average period
free from frosts is 230 days and the rainfall average is less
than 200 mm per annum. More than 300 sunny days per year make
possible a better capacity of photosynthesis, which improves
productivity. In addition, the winds ensure the health of the
vineyards with less probability of diseases due to the low
humidity.
Its soils are franc-sandy with good content of potassium from
the bedrock, and the low content of phosphorus and nitrogen,
with very good permeability that prevents the accumulation of
water.
The water is brought mainly from the rivers Calchaquíes and Santa
Maria, from the ice melting on the Front Range or from wells.
The oldest and thickest vine trunks can be found in the
valleys; on the other hand, in Cachi or Payogasta there are new
vineyards.
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