Mendoza
Argentina’s wine country is a mountainous desert region at the feet of the Andes, blessed with over 300 sunny days per year. Mendoza produces the bulk of wine in the country and ranks among the world’s other international capitals like Bordeaux and the Napa Valley.
The provincial city of Mendoza is centered around the Plaza de la Independencia with its spurting fountain and fans out into Sequoia-lined avenues. Locals are unhurried and the year-round siesta extends into the late afternoon. In the nearby countryside outside the city, it’s all vineyards. Luján de Cuyo is the much heralded area from which many of Argentina’s finest Malbecs hail from.
Deeper south is the agricultural oasis and wine region of the Uco Valley on the frontal range of the Andes. Uco still feels like the final frontier with vast spaces and the silhouette of the jagged Andes staring you down from every angle.
Ingredients
Mendoza is best tackled with a wine glass in hand. The wine universe here is deep with hundreds of wineries ranging from family-run garage operations to gleaming, shiny new wineries. Winemakers push the envelope in search of terroir so now, besides Malbec, there are other grapes on the up like Cabernet Franc. Learn by tasting in blending sessions, from the tank, the barrel and the vines directly. We’ll hook you up with passionate winemakers, vintners, owners, and sommeliers that live and breathe Mendocino wine all day every day.
Things We Love
Liquid Gold: The saying, “What grows together, goes together” couldn’t be more true in Mendoza. Vines and olive trees pepper the entire province and many wineries make their own small-batch production of artisan oil. We adore local olive varieties like “Arauco” with its peppery, fresh, green flavor. Besides gracing every Mendocino table, you can learn more through olive oil tastings to engage in the process of how the humble olive is transformed into “liquid gold”.
Bubble Trouble: Malbec usually steals all the thunder when it comes to wines in Mendoza. It’s a lesser-known fact that most wineries make a house sparkling wine in the traditional champenoise method. This lovely tradition was brought by European ancestors and passes from the winery to the table– nearly every meal starts in Mendoza with an aperitivo of dry bubbly. Definitely try them when in town…y Salud!
Starry Nights: With little light pollution outside the city, the stars and galaxies seem so close that you can reach out and touch them. The light of a full moon is almost like the sun, lighting up the Andes with its soft light. To best appreciate the marvels of the night sky, we highly recommend a fireplace, a nice bottle of wine, and some good company.
and the meaningful
Hotels
Cavas Wine Lodge
Surrounded by vineyards in the heart of Malbec country, this is truly an oasis for wine lovers. Here, the sleek, spacious cabañas (each one with its own private fireplace, rooftop terrace and splash pool) are in the front line of the Andes where snowy peaks slice the horizon. During fall harvest, help pick grapes from Cavas’ own vines (used to make the house wine), enjoy a live tango on a balmy summer night, or cuddle up on the rooftop terrace to contemplate the sunset. Warning: you may not want to leave!
Entre Cielos
Tucked away off a tree-lined avenue in Chacras de Coria, the low-slung modernist architecture is surrounded by vines with the Andes framed in the background. Rooms are named after the wine categorization (Reserva, Grand Cru, etc.) and are tastefully decorated with hardwood floors, hand-woven textiles, and local contemporary art. We love the patio area to soak up the glorious Mendoza sunshine and the hotel’s greatest asset is their Turkish-style hammam. It’s the perfect detox after a hard day of wine tasting.
