Dal Borgo Winery
The best terrace in the Calchaquí Valley
On Route 40, halfway to Animaná, Bodega Dal Borgo sits on the lower slopes of the Sierras de Quilmes, which guarantees one of the best views of the Calchaquí Valley. The modern and elegant high-rise building takes advantage of this privilege with its huge windows and wide galleries, where quality wine completes the virtuous circle.
We arrived there almost at noon, along with Tamara Herraiz and Al Rojo Vino, on a circuit of visits to wineries in search of stories of enterprising women. It was harvest time so harvest work was in full swing in the vineyard lines.
We were welcomed by the charming and predisposed Carla Dal Borgo, a biologist by profession, who defines herself as a multitask, taking care of whatever is necessary. Her parents, Isabel and Sergio bought about twenty productive hectares for vineyards and, over time, the company grew so much that they decided to bet on the family business together with her brother, Facundo.
The winery opened its doors in mid 2021, has first class imported machinery and operates in a building whose architecture stands out for its avant-garde, sober and distinguished style.
Its flagship brand is Almandino, named after the garnet mineral typical of the area. The Reserva line has a label designed by the plastic artist Laura Asaro, who evokes the earth and the elements of nature. Bodega Dal Borgo is committed to the environment that surrounds it.
That afternoon our visit was guided by Carla herself, who had generously invited two other great women, the proactive Raquel Humano and the winemaker from Mendoza, Mariana Páez, who lives in Cafayate.
Together with her brother Jorge, Raquel has a family business of handcrafted signature wines called Inicios.
Some time ago, thanks to a gift from Javier Ríos -who serves the best empanadas in his boutique bodegón Ampi- we were able to taste the Familia Humano Rosado de Malbec, so it was an extra joy to meet one of her inspiring minds.
Mariana, in turn, brought her personal wine to life under the name Charata Wines. Charata is the local name given to the mountain turkey and in this case it designates a limited edition that comes from remarkable terroirs of the Calchaquí Valley, selected by herself. She is a wine expert who shows her affection for the province that invited her to be her permanent home, and a great wine maker: this is demonstrated by her Tannat Malbec blend that we tasted during that Saturday in March.
We toured Dal Borgo Winery with them and then we enjoyed the picada that Carla invited us, majestically prepared by the guys from Ampi. Those coincidences of fate that confirm the veracity of the popular saying? God makes them and they come together! A long and enriching lunch in which personal stories were shared among all the diners, while we tasted their corresponding wines.
The blend of Cabernet Franc and Tannat from Bodega Dal Borgo was also extraordinary, so before leaving we bought a few bottles to feed the small cellar that @tripticity_ nourishes in each of his trips.
We returned with the desire to return on a next trip to Cafayate, perhaps at sunset, because the view of Bodega Dal Borgo is as impressive as the quality of its wines, and that terrace seems predestined to soon become the best setting for sunsets in Cafayate. From today it is part of the must-visit list of @tripticity_.