Marcelo Vacaflores is a fourth-generation winemaker who has a small, artisan wine production with his father in the Cinti Valley which is found under the label San Francisco de la Horca.
The wines of Marcelo Vacaflores focus mainly on Muscat, from dry to sweet wines, and the vineyards are found in the Cinti Valley of Bolivia running between 2,300 and 2,400 meters in elevation.
Uvairenda winery is one of the best known quality wine producers in the Samaipata valley of Bolivia’s Santa Cruz wine regions. Started by Bolivian born, US-based entrepreneur Francisco Roig following years of studying the different wine regions of Bolivia, this family winery chose the steep slopes of Samaipata where they can harvest rain water and take advantage of the breezy position. Their wine label, 1750, includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Syrah and Torrontés, all coming from their vineyards located at 1,750m altitude.
Although the Santa Cruz valleys were historically planted with grapes, we can consider Francisco Roig one of the modern pioneers of the Samaipata valley – establishing the first premium winery focused on exports in the region following his first experimental plantings in 2004.
Bolivian-born but US-based, Roig is a successful entrepreneur and decided that he wanted to give something back to his native home by establishing a business there which would generate income and work for the local community. Following an extensive study of Bolivia’s wine regions, he settled on the hills of Samaipata because of the unique microclimate.
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Planted on terraces on an east-facing slope, the vineyards experience good airflow with breeze ventilating the vine rows and take advantage of the morning sunlight. Varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Syrah, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Merlot for red wines, and Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay for white wines.
The team also source some old vines of Pedro Giménez from a neighbour for their single-varietal Pedro Giménez dry white wine.
The grapes are all hand-harvested and vineyard management is sustainable with no use of herbicides in the vineyard.
In this interview, I speak with Darren Armstrong (who worked for Chufly Imports, the US importer of Vinos 1750) about the unique microclimate in Samaipata:
The focus of Vinos 1750 is to make fruit-forward and refreshing wines with white, red and rosé in the collection.
The winery currently produces a varietal Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pedro Giménez, Torrontés and Syrah rosé, which are all made by their long-standing winemaker María Eldy.
The wines are currently exported to the US, France, Chile and Luxembourg.
Just a short walk from the centre of Samaipata, Uvairenda winery and vineyards are open for tastings and a tour of the vineyard and boutique winery, often with the winemaker María Eldy.
You can try the full range of Vinos 1750 and order a plate of charcuterie so you can linger for longer in the gardens and enjoy the view over the valley and vineyards.
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Bodegas y Viñedos de La Concepcion is an important producer in Bolivia with its vineyards and La Concepcion winery in the heart of the valley which shares the same name. Just 28km from Tarija, the vineyards are all over 1,750 metres above altitude. One of my favourites is their high altitude Syrah.
Check out our interview with owner Claudia Morales on 80 Harvests:
Bodega Sausini is a charming boutique winery in Bolivia’s main wine region of Tarija. Sausini winery was started by Mario Hinojosa in 2006 as a passion project to make the sort of wines he likes to drink.
Sausini’s wine production includes Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and a rather delicious dry Muscat. Bodega Sausini also makes small, artisanal singani.