Bodegas Callia

Bodegas Callia - Syrah from Argentina

Located in the Tulum Valley in Argentina, Bodegas Callia is in a magical place. Here, the vines receive constant sunlight, gentle and dry winds, and abundant water that comes down from the mountains and combines with the stony soils to create high-quality, fruity, and round wines. Bodegas Callia is part of the Dutch group M.P. Wines, which owns three wineries: Bodegas Callia and Bodega Pyros in San Juan, and Bodegas Salentein in the Uco Valley in Mendoza.

The current winery is modern and innovative and was built while maintaining high quality standards and respecting the historical and landscape heritage of the region. Every detail was carefully calculated, such as native vegetation, and construction was carried out using the world's most advanced antiseismic techniques. The winery has wineries in three valleys: the Tulum Valley, the Perdernal Valley and the Zonda Valley.

Tulum Valley

Callia's winery in the Tulum Valley receives year-round sunshine, resulting in a tremendous variety of microclimates in the different soils, ideal for healthy and vigorous grapes.
It is the most important valley in the province and is 630 meters above sea level. In this valley, 45,280 hectares are planted with grapes. It is an area characterized by the heterogeneity of the soils, which come from alluvial deposits and can be clayey, sandy or silty. The rainfall in summer (December, January and February) is 90 mm per year.

The predominant grape variety in this region is Syrah, but Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Bonarda, Malbec, Chardonnay and Viognier are also important.

The estates in this valley are:

• Pie de Palo Estate: Vineyard area of 180 hectares (124 hectares of Syrah), with further plantings of Malbec, Chardonnay and Viognier. Year of planting: Between 1995 and 1998
• 9 de Julio Estate: 110 hectares of vines (23 hectares of Syrah, 37 hectares of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Ancelotta). Year of planting: 2000

Valle de Pedernal

The Pedernal Valley vineyard is the new promise for provincial grapes due to its mountainous location and elevation. Located at the foot of the Andes, at an altitude of 1,380 meters above sea level, with stony and alluvial soils that give the grapes intense colors and fruity aromas.

It belongs to the department of Sarmiento. Irrigation is provided by the slope. It is a valley characterized by a great thermal amplitude (20°C), which allows an optimal development of the cultivated varieties. The area under grape cultivation is still small, although the area is gaining more and more prestige due to the excellent quality of the grapes produced there.

The predominant varieties are: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay.

Valle Zonda

Valle Zonda is located 800 meters above sea level and is crossed by the San Juan River. The area under grape cultivation is 1,135 hectares. The predominant varieties are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Tannat.

The oenologist behind Bodegas Callia

Gustavo Daroni was born in the province of San Juan, where he also grew up, and is 40 years old. He has been interested in the world of wine since childhood, as it is a family passion. His grandfather of Lebanese descent was the first winemaker in the family. He was followed by his uncle, who played an important role in his career, telling him stories and anecdotes in the wineries where he worked. Both distinguished themselves as hard workers and lovers of wine and its industry, which led Gustavo to have a deep admiration for them and oenology. He studied at the Instituto Superior de Enología de San Juan, worked at Bodegas Graffigna SA and has been with Bodegas Callia since the age of 23: He began by visiting vineyards and analysing grapes until he became the winery's oenologist.