Bodega Amalaya was born in 2010 in the high-altitude plains of the Calchaqui Valley in Salta, Argentina. It is the vision of Larissa and Christoph Ehrbar (wine pioneer Donald Hess’s successors). They believed in the unique ’high-vibration’ qualities of Cafayate’s terroir and the ability to craft high-quality, fresh, vibrant and contemporary high-altitude wines.
In an area considered unfarmable by even the Incas, most saw nothing more than the rugged landscape of the high desert, Donald Hess saw the potential for great wines. The Calchaqui Valley sits in the northwestern region of Argentina in the eastern foothills of the Andes, at an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level. This high altitude defines the terroir of the region, allowing viticulture to thrive despite its close proximity to the equator. At 1,800 meters the vines receive intense sunlight during the day, while remaining cool at night, helping to retain the crisp acidity and concentrated fruit characteristics of the grapes. This diurnal temperature variation extends the growing season, leading to a more balanced finished wine. Here, in the Cafayate wine region, in the province of Salta, the continuing commitment of Hess Family Estates is found in Amalaya.