BODEGA AMALAYA (GRUPO COLOME) Every wine comes with a story According to Ana, the Bodega Amalaya may not have happened if not for Donald Hess’s pioneering and adventuring spirit. It was one of his first investments into Argentina in the Arenal vineyards. Its name “Amalaya” can be literally translated into “Hope for a Miracle” and is quite appropriate as the land at the time was considered to be almost completely worthless.
The journey, the process and the history behind a bottle of wine can be enjoyed as much as the contents. Each and every sip of wine is a result of patience, consideration and love which creates a story worth telling. Take Amalaya wine at Bodega Amalaya, one of the wine brands created by Grupo Colome, as an example. This is a story of risk, adventure and faith. We spoke with Ana Papadopulos, head of Trade Marketing and Communication for Grupo Colomé S.A regarding this tale.
“No one, not even the Incas had tried to work this land,” Ana reveals, “But there was something there that caught Donald’s attention from the start and, following his instincts, he pursued it and the results are a testament to his experience.”
Today, Bodega Amalaya is part of Hess Family Wine Estates, a group of Swiss origin with wineries in the United States and Argentina and wine lovers and connoisseurs alike take its very existence for granted. After all, The Hess Family specialise in the elaborate creation and marketing of high quality wines connected with art, gastronomy and tourism and we as consumers sometimes don’t appreciate what it takes to get from vine to wine.
BODEGA AMALAYA Since 2010, Bodega Amalaya has been one of Donald Hess’s projects in Argentina and joins the Bodega Colomé as a fine example of the strong commitment of the group to the region of the High Calchaquí Valleys, in the Northwest of Salta. “Amalaya wines was born from a deep spirit of adventure and a fearlessness to try something new,” Ana tells us, “And it seems miraculous that the soil of the Cafayate desert could produce such great quality wine. But it was really down to the incredible skill of the teams involved and their dedication to their trade.”
THE LOCATION, CAFAYATE, SALTA Cafayate is the heart of the Calchaquí Valleys, located northwest of Argentina. The region is distinguished by being the highest-altitude viticultural land in the world, with heights ranging from 1,700 meters to 3,300 meters. In Ana’s opinion it is one of the most vibrant places in Argentina for winemakers because it allows them to show the world the diversity of soils, varieties and style that this country has. Located in the Province of Salta, Cafayate is also a charming town dedicated not only to wine but also to tourism and crafts. It is reached through the famous Quebrada de Cafayate, whose imposing
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