Andean Icons
Consider this your official invitation to discover Chilean and Argentinian food, wine, culture, and hospitality through their uniting icon – the Andes. Rising into the sky, the dramatic, jagged Andes form a visual frontier from either side and form an integral part of the local culture –and terroir. Begin in Chile’s Central valley which is the Mediterranean heartland. Influenced by the Andes climatically and geologically, here the wine is as diverse as the land itself from robust Carmenere and Cabernet. Elegant huasos (cowboys) are spotted in the campo countryside alongside empanadas from the mud oven and a movement of farm-to-table cuisine. Stay at a stunning lodge that seamlessly merges modern architecture with local art in each suite, and sweeping vistas of the mountains.
Next, cross the Andes to Mendoza, Argentina’s famed wine capital, where the high-altitude desert climate shapes wines with incredible depth. Discover the iconic Malbec along with up-and-coming varieties like Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay, each with its own story rooted in Mendoza’s terroir from the Uco Valley to Lujan de Cuyo. Basing at an intimate, stylish winemaker’s lodge which was once the home of the country’s top wine mavens, you’ll understand what makes Mendoza and its wine, food, and people so exceptional–from sun drenched terraces wine tastings to private asadosWhile this is a journey where you can hone wine references, it’s also a unique opportunity to get to know the winemakers, tastemakers, and chefs whose passion for their craft is infectious, and as bold and layered as the wines you’ll taste.
