Bodega Colomé in the Calcahaquí Valley is 7,500 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest wineries in the world. It was founded in 1831 by the Spanish Governor of the region. His daughter and her husband brought French pre-phylloxera vines to the estate in 1854, and wine has been made there ever since. The estate remained in the founding family until 2001, when it was purchased by Donald Hess of the international Hess Family Wine Estates. Remarkably, the estate’s main vineyards are at altitudes of 1.5 to nearly 2 miles above sea level, resulting in tremendous sun exposure but also wide swings in day to night temperatures. With about 65,000 acres of vineyards, Colomé produces enough wine to export to 40 countries. The estate makes several labels, but its flagship wines are its various Malbecs. Starting with the 2012 vintage Colomé started a new luxury cuvee, Altura Maxima, a Malbec made from grapes grown at 10,207 feet.