Page 197 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

C ÓRDOBA AND THE ANDEAN NOR THWEST  PB

C ÓRDOBA AND THE ANDEAN NOR THWEST  195

away from town is the Estancia
Colomé, a huge vineyard and
agri cultural estate owned by
Swiss busi nessman Douglas
Hess. It has an art gallery, a
smart restau rant, and a visitor
center offering a winery tour
that ends with wine tasting and
sweeping views of the beautiful
surrounding mountains.

p Cachi
Road map B1. 85 miles (136 km) N
of Cafayate. * 4,000. @ n Ave
Guemes & Benjamin Solillas, (03868) The 16-ft (5-m) tall cardones at the Parque Nacional Los Cardones
491-902. _ Fiesta de San José (Mar). a Parque Nacional some of the gigantic cacti can
Founded in the 18th century, Los Cardones reach heights of 16 ft (5 m),
Cachi is a quiet village with a these plants grow only a few
rustic atmosphere, retaining Road map B1. 16 miles (25 km) N of milli meters every year. They
only a few original adobe Cafayate. @ n Ave San Martín s/n, are found between 8,858 ft
(03868) 496-005. Open daily.
proper ties from that period. This ∑ parquesnacionales.gov.ar (2,700 m) and 18,044 ft
picturesque village, known for (5,500 m) above sea level.
its pretty plaza lined with palms Created in 1996, the 158-acre Rare bird species such as the
and orange trees, sits at the foot (64-ha) Parque Nacional Los endemic Steinbach’s canastero
of the towering, snowcapped Cardones protects the cardón and the little-known Zimmer’s
Nevado del Cachi which stands cacti that cover this dusty valley, tapaculo can be spotted
at 20,932 ft (6,380 m). The small as well as other species of flora throughout the park, along
Museo Arqueológico Pío that are suited to with condors, falcons, and
Pablo Díaz to the east the arid climate. numerous species of tyrant
of the plaza has The preserve was and finch. Parque Nacional Los
displays of items established to protect Cardones is also an important
used by the origi- the cardones, which were paleontological site, containing
nal inha bitants of Wooden shovel, Museo widely being used for traces of dinosaur footprints
Valles Calchaquíes. Arqueológico firewood or to make dating from more than
Also worth a visit is furniture. Although 70 million years ago.
the extensively restored Iglesia
San José, north of the main
plaza, with a classic white façade, The Wines of Salta
wooden floor, and remarkable There has been winemaking in the scattered oases of the
cactus-wood altar. Small shops province of Salta since the days of the Spanish conquest. In
around the town center sell local the 17th century, wine makers in the area supplied priests and
crafts that include ceramics and monks, who needed wine for mass. Today, there are terroirs at a
ponchos with lovely designs. variety of altitudes, ranging from 5,577 ft (1,700 m) in Cafayate and
At 7,480 ft (2,280 m) above 6,561 ft (2,000 m) in Yacochuya Comarca de la Viña to 7,874 ft
sea level, Cachi’s micro climate is (2,400 m) in Colomé. Benefiting from long hours of sunshine and
pleasant for most of the year. fast-flowing streams fed by rains that wash off the high peaks to the
The rainfall it receives keeps the west, the vineyards of Salta are some of the most visually striking
maize terraces, vine yards, and in the world. Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec grapes prosper here,
as do Chardonnay and Chenin. A small num ber of vine yards are
plantations of peppers and also succeeding with Tannat, a grape more often associated with
legumes green and healthy. Uruguay. The most
A drive to the nearby hamlet famous varietal from
of Cachi Adentro offers lovely Salta is the aromatic
views of farm lands interspersed Torrontés white, a
with car pets of red pepper wine that has fallen
fields drying in the sun. out of favor in Europe
but thrives in this
region. Its success
E Museo Arqueológico Pío
Pablo Díaz has made the wine
Juan Calchaquí s/n. Tel (03868) 491- Argentina’s most
080. Open 10am–7pm Mon–Fri, Grapes ready to be picked at a bodega popular after Malbec.
10am–6pm Sat, 11am–2pm Sun.
Closed public hols.

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