Cafayate

Cafayate can be seen in 2 days: the town and its high-altitude wineries (some over 1,700m above sea level) on one, and the Quebrada de las Conchas on the road to Salta on the other. April-October avoids the northern summer rainy season. It's cheaper than Mendoza for wine tourism, with boutique wineries offering direct, personalized visits. It's the birthplace of Torrontés, Argentina's most distinctive white wine varietal, grown in high-altitude vineyards that give it a unique aromatic profile in the world.