Bodegas CARO The Art of Blending Contrasts
Harmonious and powerful blends — at Bodegas CARO, this ideal goes beyond just the wine.
CARO was born of the alliance between two wine cultures (French and Argentine), two noble grape varieties (cabernet sauvignon and malbec), and two renowned wine families, Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite and Nicolás Catena.
The partnership between DBR Lafite and the Catena family first took root in 1999. The Catenas drew on their knowledge of Mendoza’s high-altitude terroirs and their passion for fine malbec. The Rothschilds brought their centuries of skill in growing, vinifying, and aging great cabernet sauvignon, as well as their expertise in blending. Together, they created CARO — a union of their famous surnames, Catena and Rothschild, that celebrates the fusion of opposites and the greatness this synergy can yield.
Located on exceptional sites in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, Bodegas CARO sources grapes from vineyards in Lujan de Cúyo (part of the “First Zone,” where the first malbecs in Argentina were planted) and the Uco Valley.
Always eyeing the best terroir, in 2021, DBR Lafite invested in additional vineyards in the newly minted Uco Valley district of San Pablo — specifically in Tupungato and San Carlos, in the areas of Altamira, Gualtallary, and San Jose — where they planted more malbec in 2022. The winery itself was constructed in 1884 and is a designated heritage building, lying in the heart of the city of Mendoza.
Today, the estate is led by two of the most dynamic women in wine — Laura Catena (daughter of Nicolás) and Saskia de Rothschild (daughter of Baron Eric de Rothschild). Together with talented winemaker Philippe Rolet, they are further cementing the Bodegas CARO name in Argentina’s fine wine story, creating expressions of Mendoza’s rugged terroirs that show impeccable balance, refinement, and freshness.
Terroir
Nestled at the foothills of the snowcapped Andes Mountains, Mendoza is the epicenter of great wines from Argentina. Sheltered from the rain by the mountains to the west, the region is sunny and arid — one of the driest wine-growing regions in the world. With ample snowmelt irrigating the vineyards and dryness providing an almost pest-free environment, the region produces outstanding, high-quality wines.
The high altitude of the vineyards results in low temperatures at night and good ventilation during the day, slowing down the ripening process and preserving the acidity and aromatic complexity of the grapes. Plots of vineyards are divided into smaller areas which are each managed differently according to their specific needs and harvested at different dates depending on the maturity of the grapes. All grapes are hand harvested and carefully selected, with tasting taking place every two to three days to establish harvest dates.
Viticulture
Vineyard selection has been a source of pride at CARO since the winery’s inception. The vineyards are meticulously monitored, with a focus on irrigation management and bud thinning to ensure low yields in balance with sunlight and good ventilation.
Grapes are selected from CARO’s own vineyard locations, specifically dedicated to each variety. Forty percent of the cabernet sauvignon is sourced from a 20-year-old vineyard in Agrelo, a region 950 meters / 3,117 feet in elevation, and 10% from 30-year-old vines in El Cepillo la Consulta, with an elevation of 1,150 meters / 3,773 feet. The vineyard locations for malbec are 10% from a 12-year-old vineyard in Tupungato at 1,400 meters / 4,593 feet elevation and 40% from a 53-year-old vineyard in Vistalba at 1,100 meters / 3,609 feet elevation.
Winemaking at CARO
Since 2003, the wines of Bodegas CARO have been vinified in a heritage building made of exposed brick and aged under the century-old vaults of its underground cellars. Built in 1884, it recalls the Renaissance temples of northern Italy with its oculi, high ceilings and semicircular arches. The restoration of this beautiful space was done with utmost care and was a cornerstone of the Bodegas CARO project.
Under the direction of winemaker Philippe Rolet, the estate’s three wines from Mendoza are brought to life in this special building. CARO reflects the Argentine terroir and the spirit of a Bordeaux Grand Cru and is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels from the Tonnellerie des Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite; Amancaya is aged partly in French oak and partly in cement vats; and Aruma is aged exclusively in cement vats to enhance its fruit-forward style and allow the full character of the grape variety to express itself.
