Cafayate
Cafayate is a town located at the central zone of the Valles Calchaquíes in the province of Salta, Argentina.
It sits above mean sea level, at a distance of from Salta City and from Buenos Aires. It has about 12,000 inhabitants.
The town is an important tourist centre for exploring the Calchaquíes valleys, and because of the quality and originality of the wines produced in the area. The town was founded in 1840 by Manuel Fernando de Aramburu, at the site of a mission. In 1863 the Cafayate Department was created, of which Cafayate is the capital.
Etymology
The Cafayates were a tribe of the Diaguita-Calchaquí group, which, together with the related Tolombón, inhabited the Valles Calchaquíes prior to the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores. Their language was known as Cacán. Like other Diaguita tribes, they had recently fallen under the influence of the Incas, after a prolonged resistance. They later mounted a fierce resistance to the Spaniards.Even though most agree that the root of Cafayate is Quechua, the meaning of the term is disputed. Some claim it to mean "Box of Water", others to be a deformation of Capac-Yac or Capac-Yaco. Another Cacán version understands it as "Grave of Sorrows".
Wines
The wine production is most important in the Valles Calchaquíes.The wines produced in the region benefit from the low-humidity mild weather of the valleys that receive an average of less than 250 mm of precipitation per year.
The most characteristic type of wine cultivated in the area is torrontés. Most wine-cellars around the town host free guided tours.