A Taste of Argentina's Wine Country at the Estancia
Argentina is one of the world's great wine countries, and during your stay you're likely to try wines from several of its regions. Vineyards stretch along the foothills of the Andes, where snowmelt, poor sandy soils, a dry climate and year-round sunshine make for ideal growing conditions. Most are planted with European grape varieties, and Malbec and Torrontés in particular have become famous around the world.
Córdoba's Wine History, from Jesuits to Friulians
Córdoba has a wine-growing tradition that goes back centuries. Vines were planted soon after the city was founded in 1573, and the Jesuit estancia at Jesús María had one of the largest wine cellars in the Spanish colony of the River Plate. Local legend has it that a wine from there, christened "Lagrimilla" (little tears), was the first from the Spanish Americas to reach the king of Spain.
Winemaking got a second wind when immigrants from Friuli in northern Italy founded Colonia Caroya in 1878, about 50 kilometres from Córdoba city, in the heart of the old Jesuit country. Their traditions, and even some of their dialect, live on today.
Small Family Wineries Worth Discovering in Córdoba
Córdoba's wines are yet to reach the fame of Mendoza or Salta, but the province is fast becoming one to watch for small, characterful wineries, many of them family-owned. Their wines tend to be elegant and balanced, with a real sense of place, and choosing local producers is a lovely way to support small businesses in our province.
Sharing Argentine Wine Around the Los Potreros Table
Whether it's a glass by the fire after a day in the saddle or a bottle shared over dinner with new friends, wine is part of every evening here. We choose the wines to suit each group, mixing well-known regions such as Mendoza, Salta and Patagonia with discoveries from Córdoba's smaller wineries. The Begg family are always happy to share an informal tasting, and trying the different wines of the region is great fun.
