Chañarmuyo

Wines and sunsets

After visiting Talampaya and Laguna Brava, we headed north towards our next destination in this great tour of western Argentina. Two days of relaxation awaited us at the boutique hotel of the Chañarmuyo Winery - Bodega Chañarmuyo.

There are few exterior rooms arranged around the main house, with interspersed patios where the various cactus and cactus trees of the area stand out. It also has an outdoor swimming pool to enjoy in the summer season.

We were welcomed by Alejandra, the kind lady from Corrientes, who showed us around the facilities. After getting settled in our suite, we let ourselves be tempted with a snack, which we enjoyed on the terrace while waiting for a beautiful sunset, with one of the snow-capped peaks of Famatina as a protagonist.

Then Luis was in charge of the tasting of the winery's emblematic wines. Friendly, funny, he guided us and even urged us to discover the characteristic notes.

In the evening, a typical Argentine asado was waiting for us in the dining room of the guest house, with sweetbreads included. A delicious delirium, very well harmonized with the cabernet recommended by Luis.

The next morning we enjoyed the peace of a day without route, commitments or obligations. We only took a break to get to the dam, a few kilometers away from the hotel, in a -by then necessary- walk after so many calories acquired with the full board regime offered by Chañarmuyo. The water is a beautiful turquoise color. Many birds bathed and a few fishermen went for a ride in their boats.

We enjoyed lunch, grilled brotola with salad, under the pergola overlooking the vineyards.

Then we took a tour of the winery, where we were told that they are also adding a project for the production of almond and walnut trees.

Their unique wines are intense and well-defined, aimed at a high-end market. The aesthetics of the labels are also very well designed, in their premium line the Facundo Quiroga General shines for example.

In fact, in the beautiful living room there is also a huge canvas of Manuelita, General Rosas' daughter.

The best end to that day of rest was another great sunset, in the specially arranged armchairs. Contemplating it under the flight of the swallows recharged our bodies with energy. 

That night we said goodbye with a delicious cheese and tomato tart and some meat ravioli, generous dishes for those who like moderate portions. Once again the great Luis pampered us with a house grappa and petit fours.

In the boutique hotel store, before leaving, we got a bottle of Cinco Hileras, the premium blend that selects the best grapes, which in the case of 2016 is composed of malbec, tannat and petit verdot.

And so relaxed, after a gourmet feast of four meals a day, having tasted the extraordinary Chañarmuyo wines, we set off for the South of Catamarca, for another great stage of breathtaking landscapes and great adventures.