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Sad to say...we have less than 2 months left in Buenos Aires....so here is our last trip in the north-west provinces....but what a trip!
We'll have to agree that I book my trips months ahead...playing with the school calendar as soon as I can put my hands on one...summer 2017 anybody? Well, this is Argentina...last year the school was off for the all week of 1st of May. This year, I fly in on Tuesday morning for my little crazy two weeks round-the-world. I show up at school the same Tuesday afternoon...to find out, this year they only have 1st of May, a Wednesday off....flights are paid, hotels are sorted out, long distance tickets are in hands....we are going...the school will be off for four more days for Tiffany and Leslie. And all this, with the staff having a big laugh at my planning...and giving me their ok for our little trip....few more provinces of Argentina under our belt in the next few days!
We have dived Argentina, we have skied Argentina, we even initiated ourselves to horseriding and polo in Argentina...but so far...where are all those vineyards that I love to visit. Here we
are...it's wine time....and actually way more than this...
We first had our short flight to Salta, thanks to Cathay for all those miles I keep using for the best deals. There will be two entries from the North of Argentina. No pictures of Salta here, I'm keeping them for our next entry. This entry is about our 500km loop in two days doing Salta...Cachi...Cafayate and back to Salta. Out of the 500km, there must have been 200km of "ripio", aka tracks without much sort of pavement...and some few thousands turns. We also headed to a nice altitude of 3400++ meters on our way to Cachi.
We first did the "ripio" track to Cafayate going through Cachi. Cachi is a gorgeous little town, amazing place to stroll around...way different to anything I had seen in Argentina so far. Northern Chile and Bolivia are not that far, and it feels...
Than great stop in the Estancia hotel in front of the little Church in Molinos. Address is in the Lonely planet...that guide book is impressing me big time lately for their pick when it comes to food...well...they do wonders in the middle market,
not sure backpackers must be that happy with the new prices for a meal of those nice places.
I loved driving Patagonia, I believe this area is actually way more fun to drive than Patagonia. And yes, lets admit it, this is the ground of the new Paris-Dakar...and the little Clio may not be equiped for it, 4 days was all I needed to put it to a serious test...and we lived a seriously scary experience...to come in our next entry....don't worry...everything is fine...under the sun!
The drive to Cafayate going through Cachi is full of "ripio"....but so beautiful. On the way back from Cafayate to Salta, the road is full paved, the 60km next to Cafayate are impressive...the next 110km are pretty boring.
So here we are in Cafayate...arriving at 5pm just in time for a nice icecream. We are staying in a new B&B just a "quadra" (block) from the main square...Casa Arbol, nice, cheap, and very friendly owner...you will not find them yet in the LP, but you should stay here!
Cafayate is a gorgeous little town, great place to walk around...getting ready...for the wine!
Every great wine has an history....but every great wine that I drink has also a story. For Cafayate, my great wine is called Altimus, produced by the Bodega El Esteco. I only realized once I did my homework that they also produce the very decent "supermarket" wine Elementos, and Don David...great wine to enjoy while enjoying some polo! I was also going to discover their topshelf serie, Ciclos.
Today it's also a first, as Leslie is coming with me for his first serious winery visit. That visit wasn't cheap....but we had a great guide, Veronica for both of us for two hours....and what an amazing time we had. I also have to admit, Leslie is a great buddy when it comes to visit a winery....a first, not a last...and I guess in the future, we may enjoy some great son-father wine trips.
Don't worry, he smells....yes he tastes...we cannot yet call this drinking...but this is a full education on taste and terroir...and as long as he is so great company...why not!
We tried few of the Ciclos wines...first the classical Torrontes. Than came a very interesting Sauvignon Blanc,
with 20% of it aged in oak...we than went on a blend and the ultimate Malbec before finishing on a Torrentes late harvest (nice), and a way less interesting Malbec late harvest.
On our way back to Cafayate, we stopped to stock on the best Cafayate is providing in blends and Malbec...the next few weeks will be interesting at home! I love to spend 2 hours in a single winery...but you won't see me doing tomorrow 4 wineries in the same day with Leslie...so it's one winery...and than straight to the shop for everything else we have missed!
It was already time to pick up Tiffany...last nice lunch and we were on our way back to Salta. The first 60km took us a while to ride...it was like drive 500 meters...stop for a picture, drive 500 more meters...stop again....
Put it simply, I love Cafayate...a place to come back...for more food, more great wine. With the way the region is growing in terms of wine...coming back in ten years time could be a very different experience...but nonetheless a great one!
Next entry, Salta and the north of Salta...more amazing experience...and
more Paris-Dakar driving...
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
All that wine
It makes you want to start with the 1st barrel and work your way through.