Drop in
El Esteco
Edge of town
- Hours9:30 to 18:30
- BookingNot for the bar
- ExtraNight visits
Choice helper
Cafayate wine tour: the wineries, the tastings and how to book
Day trip from Salta to Cafayate
★ 4.4 · 494 written reviews
Summary
A Cafayate wine tour can be the vineyard stop on a day from Salta, a guided half day in town or your own visits to wineries such as El Esteco, Finca Las Nubes and Domingo Molina.
Tasting essentials
Two questions, one wine plan
Which Cafayate wine outing fits you
Say where you are sleeping and how much wine you want, and a wine tour appears with its starting price.
Suited to you
Gorge, vineyard and town in a day
from $29
12 hours from Salta with a 45-minute vineyard visit and tasting, then 2 hours in Cafayate.
Suited to you
Wine tour with tastings and transfers
from $180
12 hours from Salta for a small group of at most 10, built around wine.
Suited to you
Full-day winery tour from Salta
from $29
12 hours with pickup and a guide in Spanish, English and Portuguese.
Suited to you
Half-day wine tour in Cafayate
from $100
3 hours, at most 6 guests, visits to 4 wineries including El Esteco and Piattelli.
Suited to you
Private day with a tasting
from $290
11 hours by car for your group only, with stops in the gorge and a tasting in Cafayate.
A Cafayate wine tour can be a vineyard stop on a day from Salta, a guided half day in town or an afternoon you plan yourself. Here is who opens their doors, when, and what it costs.
Editorial team, cafayatetour.click · Updated November 11, 2026 · 7 mins to read
In brief
Ways to do a Cafayate wine tour
A Cafayate wine tour comes in several shapes, and the right one depends on where you sleep. From Salta, our 12-hour day stops at a vineyard for 45 minutes with a guided visit and a tasting, then leaves you 2 hours in town. It is the easiest way to taste where the wine is made, but the winery is chosen for you and the time is short.
If you sleep in Cafayate, a guided half day gives wine the whole morning. One listing runs 3 hours for no more than 6 guests, collecting guests at the cathedral or a hotel and visiting El Esteco, Trassoles, Piattelli and Finca Quara for 30 minutes each. The guide speaks Spanish, so check that suits you before booking.
The third shape is your own afternoon, walking, cycling or taking a taxi between cellar doors. It is the most flexible way, because you choose the cellars and how long to stay at each. The only rule that matters is the law: Argentina forbids driving with any alcohol in the blood above 0 milligrams per litre, so whoever drives does not taste.3
Cellar doors
Cafayate wineries and their visiting terms
| Winery | Hours | Booking | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Esteco glass bar | 9:30 to 18:30 | Not needed | With cheese |
| El Esteco by night | 19.30 to 21.30 | Required | Adults only |
| Finca Las Nubes | Set times | Required | ARS 18,000 |
| Domingo Molina | 10.00 to 17.00 | Message first | English spoken |
| Wine museum | 09:00 to 18:00 | Not needed | Closed Monday |
Terms as each venue publishes them; fees are in pesos and change, so confirm before you go.1,6,2,11,13,17
The wineries that open to visitors
A Cafayate winery tour of your own usually begins with the big estates on the edge of town. Bodega El Esteco, at the junction of the main roads into town, offers tastings of wines from its vineyards at 1,700 m and at 2,000 m, and a by-the-glass bar with 8 premium labels and cheese from 9:30 to 18:30, no booking needed.7,1 The colonial core of its estate dates from the early 17th century, so the setting is part of the visit.8
Finca Las Nubes sits higher, at El Divisadero, with a view over its own vines and the town below.9 Its visits with a tasting last 30 to 40 minutes, leave at set times, cost ARS 18,000 per person and are given in Spanish, with booking required.2 Piattelli is another name you will meet, and its own site describes a Cafayate wine grown at 1,795 m.10
Family cellars complete the picture. Bodega Domingo Molina receives visitors on every day of the week, 10.00 to 17.00, with tastings and English-speaking staff.11,12 It asks visitors to send a message first to confirm a time and check the road, which is good advice for any small winery out of town.13 Salta tourism counts more than 60 providers on its wine route, from wineries to hotels and agencies.14
What makes the wine here different
Altitude is the story. Salta tourism says vineyards in the Calchaqui Valleys climb from 1,600 to 3,100 m, and it describes a dry, temperate climate on what it calls the world's highest wine route.15,19 On its page about Molinos, further up the valley, it places what it calls the highest vineyards in the world at 2,700 m.16 Ask at each winery how high its own vines grow; the answer explains a lot of what is in the glass.
Torrontes is the white to try first. The province describes its aroma as roses and white peach, and notes that in the mouth it can seem sweet while being a dry wine.18,20 The same climate suits reds such as Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Syrah, Bonarda, Tempranillo and Barbera, so most tastings move from white to red.19
There is history too. The first vines of Salta were planted in 1556 at La Vina, on the road south from the city, with plants brought from Chile by a priest.21 Today 99% of the grapes grown in Salta go into fine varietal wines, a share the province calls unique in Argentina.22 Our Torrontes guide goes deeper into the grape and how to read a label.
Cellar doors
Estate, hillside or family cellar
Book a slot
Finca Las Nubes
El Divisadero
- Visit30 to 40 minutes
- FeeARS 18,000
- LanguageSpanish
Message first
Domingo Molina
Family winery
- Hours10.00 to 17.00
- StaffEnglish spoken
- ExtraTastings
Choosing the best wine tours in Cafayate
The best wine tours in Cafayate match the time you have. With only a day from Salta, the vineyard stop inside the gorge day is the practical choice, and the extra cost of a wine-led day buys more tastings rather than more time in the valley. A wine tour from Salta with tastings and transfers, limited to 10 guests, starts from $180.
With a night in Cafayate the field opens. The guided half day from $100 fits 4 cellars into 3 hours and spares you the logistics. A self-planned afternoon costs only the tasting fees and the taxis, and lets you linger where you like the wine. Mixing both works well: a guided morning, lunch, then a single unhurried tasting of your own choosing.
Reviews are the best guide to what a winery stop feels like. Guests on our day mostly praise the tasting, while one wished for more time at the winery and different wines. That is the honest limit of a short stop: it is a sample. If you leave wanting more, the town has many more cellar doors within easy reach.
Price your group
What a wine tour costs your party
Select a wine outing and the size of your group.
Compare all 4 options
What a wine tour costs your party
Select a wine outing and the size of your group.
- Gorge and vineyard day12 hrs from Salta · for one person from $29
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View - Winery day12 hrs from Salta · for one person from $29
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View - Half-day wine tour3 hrs in Cafayate · for one person from $100
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View - Wine tour with transfers12 hrs, small group · for one person from $180
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View
Starting prices as on the booking platform, converted at the ECB reference rate. You see the exact price at booking.
A wine day in town
Planning your own wine afternoon
Morning
Wine museum
Self-guided visit of 30 to 60 minutes.4
Late morning
Glass bar
El Esteco pours by the glass from 9:30.1
Lunch
Regional food
Empanadas, tamales and goat cheese in town.5
Afternoon
Booked tasting
Finca Las Nubes visits take 30 to 40 minutes.2
Evening
Night visit
El Esteco by night from 19.30, booked ahead.6
Booking, hours and what tastings cost
Hours differ, so plan around them. El Esteco's glass bar needs no booking during the day, while its evening visits run from 19.30 to 21.30, need a booking and admit only guests of 18 and over.1,6 On the first Wednesday of each month it also runs a booked horseback ride through its vineyards for at most 8 riders.23
Fees are set by each winery and quoted in pesos. Finca Las Nubes publishes ARS 18,000 per person for a visit with tasting; others quote on request or at the counter.2 Carry cash and a card, and ask what a tasting includes before you pay, since some pour a set flight while others charge by the glass. Prices in pesos move often, so trust the figure each winery publishes itself, and a quick message the day before avoids surprises at the counter.
Book ahead for anything that needs a slot. The Finca Las Nubes visits leave at fixed times through the day, so arriving between slots means a wait.2 For the wine museum in town, no booking is needed: it opens Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00 and its self-guided visit takes 30 to 60 minutes.17,4 That makes it an easy filler between booked tastings, and a good first stop if you want the background before you taste.
Video
A wine lover's guide to Cafayate
Samuel and Audrey - Travel and Food Videos on YouTube · Your tap on play is what loads the video.
The characteristic aromas of Torrontes recall roses and white peaches, and the aroma of the Torrontes grape itself is always present.
Tasting checklist
Before the first glass
Plan3
- Book any winery that runs set visit times
- Check opening days; the museum closes Monday
- Choose who drives and stays sober
Bring3
- Pesos and a card for fees and bottles
- Water between tastings
- A hat for walks between cellars
At the winery3
- Ask how high the vines grow
- Taste the Torrontes before the reds
- Ask whether the fee includes a flight
Walking, cycling or a taxi between cellars
Several wineries sit close enough to town to walk to, and on a cool morning that is a pleasure. Out-of-town cellars are another matter: Yacochuya lies 6 km northwest of the center and El Divisadero 6 km out, distances that are easy by car or bike but long on foot in the afternoon sun.24,25 Walk to the cellars in town, and save the outlying ones for a bike in the cool morning or a taxi after lunch.
Cycling between wineries is popular, and Salta tourism names the Quebrada de las Conchas along route 68 among the sought-after routes for riders.26 For a winery loop, stay on quiet roads, carry water and keep tastings small. A bike does not exempt you from common sense, and the valley sun burns even on a cool day.
A taxi or a hired driver is the relaxed choice for a group that wants to taste properly. Settle the fare and how long the driver will wait before leaving town, and give the driver your list in order so the route makes sense. Remember that alcohol may not be sold to anyone under 18 anywhere in Argentina, so tastings are for adults only.27
Harvest season and the wine museum
The harvest is the liveliest time to visit. Salta tourism says wineries run harvest activities in February, March and April, with guided picking, talks by agronomists and winemakers, vineyard visits, led tastings and paired meals.28,29 If your dates are flexible, aim for those months and look at the winery pages for special events.
The Museo de la Vid y el Vino is the best rainy-day stop in town. It opened on 11 March 2011 on the site of an older museum known as La Bodega Encantada, and the province describes it as one of the most technologically innovative museums in the country.30,31 Texts are in Spanish and English, and the route is wheelchair friendly.32,33
General entry costs ARS 10,500, Argentine visitors pay ARS 6,000, and children under 12 go in free.34,35 The visit is self-guided in one direction, with at most 25 people inside at once.4 Pair it with a tasting nearby and you have a full wine morning without leaving town. On the day trip from Salta it also fits inside the free time, if you skip a long lunch and eat empanadas on the go.
FAQ
Quick questions get quick answers.
Does the Cafayate day trip include wine?
Yes, a vineyard stop.
Our day from Salta includes a 45-minute vineyard visit with a tasting.
Which wineries can I visit in Cafayate?
Do I need to book a winery tasting?
How much does a tasting cost?
It depends on the winery.
Finca Las Nubes charges ARS 18,000 per person for a visit with tasting.2
Can I drive between wineries?
Only if you do not drink.
Argentine law forbids driving with a blood alcohol level above 0.3 Choose a designated driver.
When is the grape harvest?
February to April.
Wineries run harvest activities in February, March and April.28
What is the minimum age for tastings?
18.
Alcohol may not be sold to anyone under 18 anywhere in Argentina, so tastings are adults only.27
Sources
- Bodega El Esteco (official site) · Experiencias - El Esteco ↩
- Finca Las Nubes / Casa Tukma (official site) · Turismo Finca las Nubes ↩
- Government of Argentina (argentina.gob.ar), Derecho Facil · Ley simple: Transito y consumo de alcohol ↩
- Museo de la Vid y el Vino, Cafayate (Province of Salta) · Museo de la Vid y el Vino ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Cafayate ↩
- Bodega El Esteco (official site) · Experiencias - El Esteco ↩
- Bodega El Esteco (official site) · Experiencias - El Esteco ↩
- Bodega El Esteco (official site) · Experiencias - El Esteco ↩
- Finca Las Nubes / Casa Tukma (official site) · Turismo Finca las Nubes ↩
- Piattelli Vineyards (official site) · Vinos Cafayate ↩
- Bodega Domingo Molina (official site) · Turismo ↩
- Bodega Domingo Molina (official site) · Turismo ↩
- Bodega Domingo Molina (official site) · Turismo ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Cafayate ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Cafayate ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Molinos ↩
- Museo de la Vid y el Vino, Cafayate (Province of Salta) · Museo de la Vid y el Vino ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Ruta del Vino de Altura ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Ruta del Vino de Altura ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Ruta del Vino de Altura ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · La Vina ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Cafayate ↩
- Bodega El Esteco (official site) · Experiencias - El Esteco ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Cafayate ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Cafayate ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Cafayate ↩
- Government of Argentina (argentina.gob.ar), Derecho Facil · Ley simple: Lucha contra el alcoholismo ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · La Vendimia 2026 se vive en Salta ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · La Vendimia 2026 se vive en Salta ↩
- Museo de la Vid y el Vino, Cafayate (Province of Salta) · Museo de la Vid y el Vino ↩
- Salta Ministry of Tourism and Sports (visitsalta.ar, official tourism site of Salta) · Cafayate ↩
- Museo de la Vid y el Vino, Cafayate (Province of Salta) · Museo de la Vid y el Vino ↩
- Museo de la Vid y el Vino, Cafayate (Province of Salta) · Museo de la Vid y el Vino ↩
- Museo de la Vid y el Vino, Cafayate (Province of Salta) · Museo de la Vid y el Vino ↩
- Museo de la Vid y el Vino, Cafayate (Province of Salta) · Museo de la Vid y el Vino ↩
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