Amalaya was Donald Hess first investment in Argentina in the vineyards of Arenal. It represented the “Hope for a Miracle”, a plantation in an unused land, no one ever sowed soil before, not even the Incas. Amalaya was the word that captivated Hess from the very first day. It refers to an expression of desire used by natives.
The Amalaya wines stem from an experiment at Bodega Colomé. The idea was to find alternative varieties for Malbec to make a great product. “If blends are successful in the Old World, why can’t we have them here?”, were the words uttered by Donald Hess in 2003. Years later, Colomé’s expansion drove him to search for the versatility of the New World, in a quest to find new wines.
Founded in 1831, Bodega Colomé is one of the oldest wineries in Argentina.
Located in the Upper Calchaquí Valleys in Salta, we are home to the world’s highest vineyards, sitting between 2300 and 3111 meters above sea level and to the exquisite boutique hotel Estancia Colomé. The breathtaking views and the vast expanses of untouched terrain make Colomé one of the jewels in the crown of Hess Family Estates, a family-run business made up of 7 wineries across the world
The Romero Marcuzzi family took its first steps in the wine world when Roberto Romero started his first winery four decades ago in Tolombón, a few kilometers from Cafayate.
We acquired an old winery that we brought up to date with investments in infrastructure and technology, at the same time successfully restoring the 50 year-old Torrontés and Tannat vineyards. During that period we also planted Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah vines (among other varietals) in a new vineyard.
