Goyenechea
GOYENECHEA WINERY
Goyenechea was founded in 1868 by Santiago and Narciso Goyenechea, Spanish Basque brothers. It is the oldest established, independent, family-owned winery in Argentina...and a "must" for wine lovers travelling through San Rafael.
By the end of the 1800's, an irrigation system had been developed on
over 5,000 hectares, on the right bank of the river Atuel, including our town of Villa Atuel, by the Navarrese emigrant Bernardino Izuel. That area was planted with grapevines, primarily by the Arizu and Goyenechea families. In the years 1930 - 40, this was the largest continuous vineyard area in the world. Wineries were built, and the most prestigious varieties of grapes were cultivated. Goyenechea's 1,200 hectares included 50 houses, a chapel, a school and a social club, used by the company's employees.
(Photo above of the tanks being used as wine cavas).