A historic Salta estate founded in 1831, Bodega Colomé crafts intense and distinctive high-altitude wines, shaped by the light of the Calchaquí Valleys, cool Andean nights and a remarkable expression of Argentine Malbec.

Bodega Colomé — The extreme expression of Argentina’s great high-altitude wines

Founded in 1831, Bodega Colomé is one of Argentina’s most historic wine estates. Located in the province of Salta, in the heart of the Calchaquí Valleys, it has become a leading name in high-altitude viticulture, with vineyards planted at exceptional elevations in a striking Andean landscape.

The estate is particularly admired for its deep, luminous and structured Malbecs, shaped by an extreme climate: intense sunlight, marked diurnal shifts, poor soils and slow ripening. This combination gives the wines concentration and depth, while preserving the natural energy that sets Colomé apart from more classic expressions of Argentine Malbec.

History

Bodega Colomé is one of the oldest names in Argentine wine. Its contemporary rise is closely linked to Donald Hess, the Swiss entrepreneur and art collector who acquired the estate in the early 2000s with the ambition of revealing the unique potential of Salta’s vineyards.

This renewed vision brought modern facilities, demanding viticultural standards and international recognition for Colomé as one of the benchmarks of high-altitude Malbec. The estate is also associated with a strong artistic identity, notably through its museum dedicated to James Turrell, where light, landscape and perception echo the character of the surrounding vineyards.

Terroir

Colomé’s vineyards are located in the Calchaquí Valleys, across several high-altitude sites. Some parcels lie at around 2,200 metres, while the Altura Máxima vineyard reaches approximately 3,111 metres, making it one of the highest commercial vineyards in the world.

At these elevations, intense sunlight encourages concentration in the grapes, while cold nights preserve balance and extend the ripening cycle. The poor, stony and well-drained soils reinforce the wines’ personality, often giving dark fruit, spice, floral notes and remarkable persistence.

Viticulture and winemaking

The estate follows a careful approach to viticulture, adapted to the extreme conditions of Salta, with precise vineyard management and a constant search for natural balance. In the cellar, vinification seeks to preserve the identity of the fruit and the strength of place, with ageing tailored to each cuvée in order to support structure without masking terroir expression.

Wine style

The wines of Bodega Colomé stand out for their intensity, deep colour and unmistakable Andean character. Malbec takes on a more vertical and spicy dimension here than in many other Argentine regions, with firm tannins, dense black fruit, floral notes, cool-night freshness and a long, persistent finish.

Emblematic cuvées

Colomé’s range highlights several expressions of the estate: Estate Malbec, Auténtico Malbec, Altura Máxima Malbec, as well as wines produced from varieties such as Torrontés, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc depending on the vintage and selection. Altura Máxima remains the estate’s most spectacular cuvée, sourced from an extreme-altitude vineyard and produced in limited quantities.

Cellaring and food pairings

The great Malbecs of Colomé have genuine ageing potential, especially the most structured cuvées such as Altura Máxima and Auténtico. They pair naturally with grilled meats, lamb, aged beef, gently spiced dishes, smoked preparations and mature cheeses. With time in bottle, they gain complexity, developing nuances of fine leather, tobacco, dried herbs and spice.

In summary

Bodega Colomé is an essential reference for understanding the greatness of Argentina’s high-altitude wines. In Salta, the estate brings together history, extreme landscapes and contemporary precision to craft powerful, vibrant wines deeply connected to their Andean origin.

Dominant aromas

Ripe black fruits, violet, sweet spices, dried herbs, cocoa, graphite, smoky notes and a floral touch depending on the cuvée and vintage.