Bodega Isasmendi
High-altitude wines with a family soul
Nestled in the heart of the Calchaquí Valleys, at 2,500 meters above sea level, Bodega Isasmendi is much more than a producer of extreme high-altitude wines. It is the result of three migrant stories that converged in Cachi, Salta, to create a family venture that honors a nearly two-century-old winemaking legacy and celebrates the magic of one of the world's most extraordinary terroirs.
The Isasmendi family's history in the wine world dates back to 1831, when Don Nicolás Severo de Isasi Isasmendi y Echalar founded Colomé, Argentina's oldest operating winery. In 1854, his daughter Ascensión introduced the first pre-phylloxera vines of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec from France, becoming a pioneer of the Argentine wine scene. This legacy remained in the family for 170 years, until the Hess group acquired Colomé in 2001.
Motivated by this rich heritage, Ricardo Isasmendi and Sylvie Bonnal founded Bodega Isasmendi in 2005, after falling in love with the Calchaquí Valleys and acquiring a 3-hectare property along with an old house-winery in Cachi. But the true soul of this project is Jean Paul Bonnal, Sylvie's father and a passionate winemaker who absorbed the art of viticulture as a child in his native French terroir.
Jean Paul is the one who imparts his magic and dedication into every bottle of Bodega Isasmendi. His love for the grapes, his almost mystical ability to communicate with them, and his perseverance in working the land inspire the new generations who now participate in this multigenerational venture, where grandparents, parents, and children work united by the same passion.
The estate has its own previous history: it belonged to Norwegian physician Arne Hoygaard, an internationally renowned scientist and beloved by the people of Cachi. The Isasmendi family proudly assumed the responsibility of enhancing this history-laden place, maintaining the spirit of its central courtyard, the heart of the house-winery, as a cordial gathering space under the shade of the large molle tree, always with a torrontés in hand.
Bodega Isasmendi's vineyards are among the highest in the Calchaquí Valleys, in Argentina, and in the world, at the foot of the imposing Nevado de Cachi. This extreme altitude benefits them with a dry climate, long summers, scarce rainfall, and intense solar radiation balanced by cool nights that generate significant thermal amplitude. The poor, stony soils, along with pure meltwater, create unique conditions for the vine.
This extreme altitude forces the grapes to develop thicker skins to protect themselves from solar radiation and thermal changes, which enhances the concentration of polyphenols and aromas. The result is a wine of great intensity, structure, and deep aromatic potential, balanced by a marked acidity that provides freshness and excellent aging potential.
The winery produces three lines of wines that faithfully express their terroir: Cellarius (young wines without oak aging: Malbec, Torrontés, and Sauvignon Blanc), Estate Single Vineyard – Finca Isasmendi (complex Malbec that expresses the identity of the unique vineyard), and Estiba Familiar Reservada (Calchaquí assemblage of great character). All are micro-vinifications with manual harvest in 16 kg baskets to preserve the integrity of the cluster.
Bodega Isasmendi's philosophy is summed up in respect and harmony: love for the land and working in tune with nature, using agroecological and sustainable practices with plant and mineral preparations that promote natural balance. It is a commitment to the local community, to the ecosystem, and to future generations, so that this magical corner of the Calchaquí Valleys continues to offer authentic wines that tell the story of their land.
Website: www.bodegaisasmendi.com.ar
Instagram: @bodegaisasmendi
