Bodega El Esteco

Bodega El Esteco was founded in 1892 by French brothers David and Salvador Michel, who emigrated from France to Salta and partnered with David's Italian wife Gabriela Torino to establish a winery in the heart of Cafayate. Originally named Bodega La Rosa Hnos. Michel Torino (Michel Torino Brothers), the estate quickly became one of the most important producers in the Calchaquí Valleys and helped pioneer the commercial export of Cafayate Torrontés in the early 20th century, making it among the first Argentine wines to reach international markets. The original adobe-walled winery and aging cellars (still in use today) date to the founding period and represent some of the most significant colonial-era industrial heritage in the Argentine northwest. The Michel Torino family operated the estate for over a century, navigating multiple economic cycles in Argentine agriculture and continually expanding the vineyard holdings across Cafayate. In 2004, the estate was acquired by Grupo Peñaflor, the largest wine group in Argentina (owner also of Trapiche, Finca Las Moras, Andean Vineyards, Mascota Vineyards, and Santa Ana), and relaunched as Bodega El Esteco with substantial investment in cellar modernization and a strategic focus on premium high-altitude Calchaquí expression.

• Founded 1892 in Cafayate by French brothers David and Salvador Michel with David's Italian wife Gabriela Torino; originally Bodega La Rosa Hnos. Michel Torino
• Pioneered the commercial export of Cafayate Torrontés in the early 20th century; among the first Argentine wines to reach international markets
• Original adobe-walled winery and aging cellars from the 1890s remain in use today, representing significant colonial-era industrial heritage
• Acquired 2004 by Grupo Peñaflor (parent of Trapiche, Finca Las Moras, and Andean Vineyards) and relaunched as Bodega El Esteco

El Esteco operates 780 hectares of estate vineyard split across two main holdings: 520 hectares in Cafayate (Salta) clustered around the winery, and 260 hectares at Chañar Punco in the southern Calchaquí Valleys of Catamarca province. The Cafayate estate sits at approximately 1,700 to 1,800 meters above sea level on sandy alluvial soils with pebble and gravel pockets, ideal for high-altitude Torrontés and the historic old-vine Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon plantings (some dating to the 1940s). Chañar Punco sits at approximately 1,500 meters in a slightly warmer microclimate that allows for ripening of more delicate red varieties. The combination of high-altitude desert climate (annual rainfall under 250 millimeters, more than 300 days of sunshine, diurnal temperature variation 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, and ultraviolet radiation 30 to 40 percent more intense than at sea level) and old-vine material is the foundation of El Esteco's stylistic identity. Significant portions of the Cafayate estate are certified-organic, and the winery has invested heavily in sustainability programs including water recycling, solar power, and biodynamic-influenced viticultural practices.

• 780 hectares total: 520 ha in Cafayate (Salta) at 1,700 to 1,800 m above sea level; 260 ha at Chañar Punco (Catamarca) at approximately 1,500 m
• Sandy alluvial soils with pebble and gravel pockets in Cafayate; ideal for high-altitude Torrontés and old-vine Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon
• Some Cafayate plantings date to the 1940s; the estate is among the largest holders of old-vine Calchaquí material
• Significant portions of the Cafayate estate are certified-organic; investment in water recycling, solar power, and biodynamic-influenced viticultural practices

El Esteco produces approximately 4 million bottles per year across a tiered range of four principal product lines. Elementos is the entry tier (a varietal-driven line covering Torrontés, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bonarda at accessible price points); Ciclos is the mid-tier (more textured, oak-influenced wines including a Malbec-Cabernet-Tannat blend); Don David Reserve is the prestige tier (single-estate cuvées including old-vine Torrontés, old-vine Malbec, and a Cabernet Sauvignon, all from Cafayate's most distinguished blocks); and Altimus is the flagship icon wine (a high-altitude Cafayate red blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, and Tannat aged in French oak, regularly ranked among the top Argentine wines of the year by international critics). The cellar is led by senior winemaker Alejandro Pepa, who has overseen significant stylistic refinements since taking the role under Grupo Peñaflor ownership: hand-picked fruit for the Don David and Altimus tiers, gravity-flow handling, careful temperature management during fermentation, and disciplined use of French oak (new and second-fill) for the upper tiers. Particular attention is paid to retaining the natural acidity and aromatic precision of Cafayate Torrontés, and the Don David Old Vines Torrontés is widely regarded as one of the benchmark expressions of the variety in Argentina.

• Four tiered product lines: Elementos (entry, varietal-driven), Ciclos (mid-tier, oak-influenced), Don David (prestige single-estate), Altimus (flagship icon blend)
• Approximately 4 million bottles per year; among the largest Argentine producers of premium Torrontés
• Senior winemaker Alejandro Pepa leads the cellar under Grupo Peñaflor ownership; disciplined use of French oak in upper tiers
• Don David Old Vines Torrontés is widely regarded as a benchmark expression of Cafayate Torrontés; Altimus is regularly ranked among the top Argentine wines of the year

Adjacent to the winery, El Esteco operates the Patios de Cafayate luxury wine hotel, a Relais & Châteaux property and one of the most prominent wine-tourism destinations in northern Argentina. The hotel occupies a colonial-era complex centered on a series of patios linking guest accommodations, dining rooms, a spa, and direct access to the historic 1892 winery; the architectural restoration preserved the original adobe walls and colonial detailing while introducing modern luxury amenities. The dining program (named Café El Esteco) is integrated with the surrounding vineyards and gardens, with a strong emphasis on regional Salta cuisine (empanadas salteñas, locro, humita, cabrito al asador) paired with the winery's range. Guests can take guided cellar tours, vineyard walks, harvest experiences (during the late February to early April Cafayate harvest), and curated vertical tastings of the Don David and Altimus cuvées. The hotel and winery together form one of the most visited destinations along the Ruta del Vino in Salta, complementing the Museo de la Vid y el Vino (just down the road in Cafayate) and the broader cellar-door circuit of the valley.

• Patios de Cafayate luxury wine hotel adjacent to the winery; Relais & Châteaux property; one of the most prominent wine-tourism destinations in northern Argentina
• Colonial-era architectural complex restored with original adobe walls and detailing preserved; centered on a series of patios linking accommodations, dining, and the historic winery
• Café El Esteco dining program integrated with surrounding vineyards and gardens; emphasis on regional Salta cuisine paired with the winery range
• Guided cellar tours, vineyard walks, harvest experiences, and curated vertical tastings of the Don David and Altimus cuvées available year-round

El Esteco has been a consistent presence in international critical coverage of Argentine wine since the early 2000s, and the post-Peñaflor era has consolidated the estate's reputation as the commercial anchor of Cafayate. Tim Atkin MW's Argentina Special Report has consistently identified El Esteco's Altimus and Don David Old Vines cuvées among Argentine premium wines, and critics including James Suckling, The Wine Advocate (Luis Gutierrez), and Decanter regularly review the upper-tier range positively. The estate's combination of historic depth (the 1892 founding and the colonial-era infrastructure), substantial vineyard holdings (the largest in the Calchaquí Valleys), commercial scale (4 million bottles per year), and continued investment in premium expression (the Don David and Altimus tiers) has made it one of the most influential Argentine wineries of the early 21st century. As the commercial face of Cafayate, El Esteco plays a significant role in establishing Calchaquí Torrontés and Malbec in international markets, complementing the boutique reputations of San Pedro de Yacochuya, Bodega Colomé, El Porvenir de Cafayate, and the broader artisanal community.

• Consistent presence in Tim Atkin MW's Argentina Special Report, James Suckling, The Wine Advocate, and Decanter coverage since the early 2000s
• Largest vineyard holding in the Calchaquí Valleys (780 hectares) and one of the largest Argentine producers of premium Torrontés
• Commercial scale of 4 million bottles per year combined with continued premium expression (Don David, Altimus) has made the estate one of the most influential Argentine wineries of the early 21st century
• Plays a significant role in establishing Calchaquí Torrontés and Malbec in international markets alongside boutique reputations of Yacochuya, Colomé, and El Porvenir