Colome

Hidden away in a corner of the Calchaquí Valley, one of the highest vineyards in the world, Bodega Colomé, was founded in 1831 by Donald and Ursula Hess. In 1998, Donald Hess embarked on an epic journey in search of the best wines in South America. He traveled to Chile and then to the Mendoza region of Argentina, but never found the special grapes he was looking for. Upon arriving in the northern Argentine province of Salta, Donald was inspired by the bright sunshine and superb terroir, which gave him the idea to pioneer a new category called “high altitude” wines. In the desert, at 2,600 meters, Donald came across the El Arenal vineyard and two years later expanded it to include Colomé, the oldest continuously operating winery in Argentina at 2,300 meters.