Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1037369
54 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018 T he Calchaquí Val- leys in northwest Argentina are a gift from nature: Spanning three provinces and 520 kilometers, this magical land - scape boasts everything from valleys, rivers, and red-hued, rocky mountains to long stretches of desert and the lush Yunga forest. A haven for explorers, it's an area that seems destined to become a national park rather than a wine - growers' paradise. But after brothers David and Salvador Michel left their homeland of France in 1892, they arrived in these largely uninhabited lands and stumbled upon the Cafayate desert, which sits at an elevation of more than 5,500 feet above sea level. Despite being seemingly unsuitable for grape-growing with its obvious lack of water supply, the area still showed great potential to the brothers, who opted to establish a winery there named Michel Torino. Known today as Bodega El Esteco, the winery is among the most recog - nized in Argentina for helping pioneer the distinguished Calchaquí Valleys re- gion. It's also celebrated for producing striking wines with vibrant personali- ties. "It is one of the most beautiful and remarkable places in the world, but it is not all about its breathtaking landscapes laced by rivers, mountains, and valleys or about its culture, a blend of the most charming Argentine folklore," says El Esteco Winemaker Alejandro Pepa. "The Calchaquí Valleys are a gem in the world of winemaking. Standing at an altitude with ever-pres - ent sunshine and the perfect tempera- ture range, the environment is ideal for the creation of high-end wines." El Esteco Winemaker Alejandro Pepa.