Routes through the Mendoza wineries

Argentinian Cuisine, Mendoza Argentina, Visit Argentina No Responses »
Jan 082013

Mendoza, located in the heart of the Cuyo region of Argentina, became the eighth wine capital of the world due to the quality of its grapes. The province produces almost 10 million hectoliters per year, making it the most important wine growing region in South America.

There are more than 1,200 wineries, many of which open their doors to visitors. Along the Mendoza wine route you will find small and large companies offering guided tours, wine tasting courses, tastings and the chance to reap during harvest time. In addition, some of the largest rural estates have opened exclusive hotels in their vineyards, offering wine therapy, wine museums, sparkling wine tastings paired with art exhibitions, picnics with wine experts, horseback riding, mountain biking and dinners between oak barrels. The López winery is a classic example located in General Gutiérrez in the state of Maipú, and is always ready to provide travelers with the best service. The basic tour is free and includes a reception with an institutional video that shares the story of this company which has been in the same family for more than 100 years. The tour also includes a visit to different facilities such as the pressing and milling areas, huge stainless steel tanks for fermentation, aging and cutting presses and is topped off with a small wine tasting. The winery is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 9am – 5pm and Saturdays and holidays from 9:30am – 12:30 pm.

The Norton winery, located 14.6 miles from RP 15 in the state of Luján de Cuyo, owns almost 700 hectares of cultivated land. Visits to this winery include folklore classes and seasonal activities.

Valentín Bianchi, located in San Rafael, offers free tours every half hour Monday through Saturday and includes wine tastings and product sales.

Navarro Correas, located 6 miles from the capital city, welcomes travelers in a warm and modern location with showrooms and a wine bar.

Trapiche, located inCoquimbito, Maipú, is among the first exemplary wineries founded in 1912. Surprisingly, it utilizes one of the most ecological farming practices known as biodynamics, which uses only plant and animal waste from its own farm as fertilizer. The completely renovated building is open Monday through Friday from 9am – 5pm and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10am – 3pm.

The Salentein winery, located in the picturesque region of the Uco Vally, gives its visitors the possibility of touring the traditional wine routes, as well as visiting the gastronomic and cultural center of Killka. Guests can stay at the exclusive Posada Salentein which offers 16 rooms and personalized service. Here you can enjoy delicious meals prepared in clay ovens, grilled or barbecued meats and fresh local fruits and vegetables. There are several activities offered to guests such as architecture and art tours, horseback riding on the estate and the ability to cook alongside the chef.

Among the most luxurious lodges is Algodón Wine Estates, where in addition to the production of excellent wines, there is a golf course, a gourmet restaurant and an elegant rural-style lodge with wood burning stoves, a library and a pool with solarium. Located in San Rafael, it is home to organic vineyards hydrated by melted ice water. Courtesy visits are available Tuesday through Sunday between 10am – 4pm. There are also options that allow you to develop special blends.


Tips:

  • It is recommended that you make reservations before visiting wineries in order to book the best tours, in the pertinent languages and in small groups.
  • You can tour the wine routes on your own or with a guided tour. If you decide to tour on your own, make sure that you have a designated driver since most tours require driving.
  • Any time of year is good for visiting wineries. However, harvest time in Argentina is during the summer months between January and March or April, according to the region.

Offer: Wine colors in Mendoza

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Posted by Paula Colantonio at 15:21 Tagged with: , ,

Wine tasting in Buenos Aires

Argentinian Cuisine, Buenos Aires tourism, Visit Argentina No Responses »
Dec 222012

 

Some say that happiness is the sum of small moments lived to the fullest. For me, traveling is the utmost pleasurable experience. It consists of a combination of several things: marveling at the transparency of a lake, experiencing the silence of the mountains, smelling the fragrance of pine trees in the middle of a forest, coming in contact with a seemingly impossible architectural masterpiece, feeling the excitement of admiring art, laughing at local humor, feeling an intimate connection with nature, enjoying a sublime meal, etc. This is what I hope to bring to my readers. First hand experience of all the richness Argentina has to offer.

One of these wonderful experiences, considered by Trip Advisor as the fifth most popular activity while visiting Buenos Aires, is a private wine tasting in the Palermo Hollywood neighborhood of the city.

 

This is an intimate event which provides wine tasters with first-hand knowledge of limited production Argentinian wines. The range includes famous Argentinian wines such as Malbec and Torrontés, and lesser known makes such as Bonarda and Tannat. They also offer tastings of Sparkling wines, Merlots, Syrahs and Blends. Each tasting includes 5 glasses of wine, 5 gourmet tapas and a talk where you will also receive restaurant and tourist recommendations for Buenos Aires. You also have the opportunity to purchase the wines that you like the best.

I attended this event and enjoyed it. I highly recommend it.

RESERVE: Private wine tasting ($48 dollars/person)

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  • Once you are subscribed to our newsletter you will have immediate access to our “Tourist Destinations in Argentina” guide with information regarding the different regions, main attractions and activities. In only 34 pages you will have a clear panorama of what you can see and do in Argentina.
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Posted by Paula Colantonio at 17:39 Tagged with: , ,

Argentinian barbeque

Argentinian Cuisine No Responses »
Dec 192012

Argentinian barbeque is an institution that can be enjoyed almost every Sunday on any patio or terrace with a grill, no matter how small it may be. Strip steak, fillet, skirt steak, sweetbreads, chitterlings, kidneys, chorizo and blood sausage are just a few of the delicacies that can savored.

The barbecue ritual also includes other customs such as serving different types of sides and incorporates different ways of eating. It is customary to serve appetizers such as cheese, olives, cured meats and homemade empanadas. As for drinks, it is a national tradition to accompany red meats with a good Malbec red wine.

The first cuts served at the table are chorizos, sausages, blood sausages or organ meats such as kidneys, chitterlings and sweetbreads. In some regions vegetables such as potatoes, peppers and onions are wrapped in aluminum and grilled. And of course, bread and salad are musts.

The most popular dressings are “chimichurri”, a cold and spicy sauce made from vinegar, oil and spices, and “salmuera” which contains water, coarse salt and peeled garlic cloves. After a few bites, if the meal is a success, a round of applause is given to the grill chef.

Tourists will take note that both in the city and in the interior regions of the country there is no designated place or time for a barbecue:

  • In urban locations, such as Buenos Aires, people use their grills on balconies, terraces and even on sidewalks.
  • In the countryside of La Pampa, instead of using the traditional horizontal grills, grill chefs use vertical stakes nailed to the ground. Diners get to enjoy the ritual that takes place around the fire which is usually accompanied by a guitar.

  • Cooking meats on a large disc is another technique that has its roots in the countryside of Argentina. Generally it is used to grill chicken with sauces or vegetables. These discs come from ploughs used during harvest time and are directly placed over the fire. Stakes and crosses are also used in Argentinian Patagonia for grilling lamb.
  • Another regional variant is the “chulengo”, a grill made of 200-liter drums cut crosswise and in half with hinges and a grid inside. These closed grills emerged some time ago as a way to protect the flame from high winds and snow that characterize the Patagonian region.
  • In coastal areas and the Litoral region, characterized by abundant rivers, grilling revolves around different types of fish such as pacu, mahi-mahi, salmon, sea bass and trout.
  • As recited in the Martín Fierro by José Hernández, in Argentina “every creature that walks goes to the grill.” Alligator is among the most exotic meats commonly consumed in the Northeast of the country.
  • Clay ovens are typical of northern Argentina and are also used for cooking with   charcoal. A small grill is placed inside the oven and meats take on a different flavor to the traditional grilling method.
CLICK here to find out more

If you would like to receive exclusive information, subscribe to our newsletter and download the FREE “Guide to Argentina”

  • Once you are subscribed to our newsletter you will have immediate access to our “Tourist Destinations in Argentina” guide with information regarding the different regions, main attractions and activities. In only 34 pages you will have a clear panorama of what you can see and do in Argentina.
  • You will receive a monthly newsletter with discounts and exclusive content.
Posted by Paula Colantonio at 16:21 Tagged with:
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