Visiting Vasija Secreta Winery

No sooner did we enter Vasija Secreta Winery than we could perceive its wine-growing past. We were welcomed by the Wine Museum, a show of the origins and transformations experienced by this industry that used to be a craft till today. Old elements used to make wine, such as filters, wine press and scales, remain as relics of the most ancient venue in the Calchaquí Valleys. In spite of having changed its name, it is still known as La Banda Winery.


Memories in Sepia

We went on a tour in the company of a specialized guide, who told us: “These are photographs of the Spanish families called Quintana and Aramburu, who founded the winery back in 1857. The building preserves the typical features of colonial estancias, built around an inner yard, with ample galleries and roofs made of cane and mud”. Today, it is owned by the Córdova Murga family, from Salta, and the old utensils were replaced by renovated techniques. Old wooden barrels of French oak with different contents and origin are still kept.

We crossed the different rooms and saw that even if there are mechanical resources, some of the phases are still carried out by hand. Vieja Vasija specializes in the making of Torrontés wine, taking advantage of the dry environment with plenty of sunshine and the right among of humidity under the roots of its white grape vineyards. Likewise, crimson grapes are grown, but to a lesser scale.

The harvest takes place between February and April. Once destemmed, the grapes are put in large pools made of concrete where the juice is fermented. White grapes are separated from crimson grapes. The latter are crushed with their skin, so that the red wine may acquire its tone and flavor.

The stabilization, decantation and clarification stages follow. Afterwards, the Torrontés variety goes through filters and is bottled as a young wine. Red wines go through wooden barrels to absorb tannins and age. Bottling is done mechanically. Corking and labeling, however, are done by hand.

Later on, we visited the cellar. It was a somewhat dark room with very broad walls and a low roof. Bottles of red wine from the present and previous year harvests rested there. The constant humidity and temperature the wines breathe through the barrel woods for 4 months to 1 and a half years are essential for the final result to come out as expected.


Glasses High

After the impeccable explanation and the questions made by visitors, it was time to move onto the wine tasting room. As we slowly savored the Torrontés and the Malbec, we rested assured that this small almost craft winery stands out especially for its Torrontés, Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec labels. Its line called Lacrados is one of the most highly claimed abroad.