		MORE OUTINGS IN Jesús María

Corridor Mountain Range > Jesús María > Tours and Activities

Caroyense Tradition

Marcelo Sola

We visited La Caroyense Winery and discovered the flavors of this ancient venue. Surrounded by barrels and casks, we learnt about the history of Colonia Caroya.

We left Jesús María and headed straight towards the next village: Colonia Caroya. We set out with the awareness that we would be able to taste good salami and wine as we toured the town streets. This place is known by its very particular Salami National Festival and, to tell the truth, these small but important reasons were the right reason to wish to know this picturesque site.

Just like Jesús María, Colonia Caroya is a small village created mainly by Italian and Spanish immigrants, who left their unquestionable mark on the local customs and arquitecture. Its economy is based on agricultural and livestock activities and, recently, on tourism. Thousands of visitors come to the town every year to taste regional jams and homemade salami, which remind everyone of those prepared by “la nonna”.

We were welcomed by the cool shade of the ancient banana trees on San Martín Avenue. Most of the town shops are located on this particular wide street which is four kilometers long.

About halfway along the avenue stands La Caroyense Winery, which is an unquestionable local icon, just like the salamis. Without haste, we entered the facilities to learn about the history of the winery, which undoubtedly was related to the lives of many settlers.

La Caroyense Winery started as a cooperative in November 18, 1930. As its founders were from Friul, the main façade of the winery is quite similar to the church cathedral of the city of Udine.

We toured around the impressive building and learnt that it can house 16 million liters of wine, out of which only 2 million are used. Regional, generic, ritual (for mass celebrations), fine varietal and bivarietal wines, grappa and even grapes in grappa are made inside the venue.

As our tour advanced, the guide told us about the winemaking stages: reception, crushing and fermentation, filtering and pasteurization until the final product is obtained.

Fortunately, we arrived in the place we so much wanted to see: the winetasting room, where visitors may also purchase the wines they liked best. After feeling the delicious aroma, we tasted the fine wine made at La Caroyense. Thus, we discovered the flavors of this hundred-year-old winery, which we recommend that you should visit as you pass through this place.