jamimayorga

I will be in Mendoza for 3 days in Mid September and want to visit several wineries. Can you please recommend which wineries I visit. I understand that lunch at La Familia Zuccardi is delicious and plan on that...where else should I go? Also, do you recommend an organized tour or renting a car?

Carson

I was just there last week.

What I did was had a list of 8 wineries that I wanted to see and made arrangements in advance with Cintia at WOW Argentina. She set it up with a local group, Nativas Malbec travel, run by a gentleman named Frederico. Our guide was Paola, a native of Mendoza, and she was truly a delight.

I highly recommend the 5-course lunch with wine pairings at Ruca Malen. The lunch at Altus in Tupangato was also very good, maybe more on the authentic Argentine parrilla criolla style.

As far as other wineries, Norton is a really good tour. The Swarovsky's have really made a huge investment in the winery and its impression. See if Sabrina can tour you. And above all, DON'T miss Achaval Ferrer. They are doing amazing stuff and the tour is fun, hosted by great guides who are very proud of the winery. Everything there is so handcrafted it was amazing, the attention to detail and presentation of the wines. I also recommend that you go to Andeluna if you make the trip to Tupangato.

If there was any winery that was snooty, it was Catena Zapata. They have a good pedigree and some nice wines, but the Mayan temple style of architecture (oddly juxtaposed with contemporary, Vegas-looking interior finishes, like brass stair rails) pretty much says how they feel about themselves. They also charged for the tasting, which I don't mind really. It was more the premise that they were doing you a favor.

A winery that is not yet set up for tasting but that you can tour with advance notice is Vinos Cobos, where Paul Hobbs is involved in the production of the three tiers of wines being made there. They were very kind, and though not set up for visitors hosted us on a tour through their newly finished building, first of two to be constructed.

Have fun---it was really great.

jamimayorga

Thanks for the info...it really helps. I had a feeling Zapata would be like that that.

Carson

You are so very welcome. That was sort of a rambling dissertation and I have much more intelligible stuff to share, including photos that I would be happy to send you. It was my second time to Mendoza in the past two years. The emergence of investment and stability in the wine industry there has yielded some great results for the quality of the wines and the local economy. At Andeluna, they were happy to share that all of the stainless steel tanks and equipment were locally made, a huge boon for the local workers. This is the result of the recognition that is happening in the wine markets for Argentine wines and would not have been the case 10, or even 5, years ago. Hopefully they can prosper but still retain the wonderful feeling of hospitatlity I experienced at most of the wineries. They are so proud of what they are doing and flattered that it is attracting international intention sufficient for visitors from all over to show up at their door.

Mendoza is a very old, historic city. I would be happy to share my exeperiences staying in town two years ago vs on the wine route this time.

All the best,
C.

jamimayorga

We will be in Mendoza for 2 full days and are staying at Club Tapiz. On our first full day we have a scheduled group winery tour that is part of our travel package. It will include Norton, La Rural, and lunch at La Familia Zuccardi. I would love to hear your suggestions of how we should spend the next day. We have thought about renting a car and seeking out more wineries, or just visiting the town. Or renting a driver to take us around. We are really open to anything.

jami

woodie

jamimayorga:

Look into a day trip to the "High Country". We did this tour a couple of years ago and it was great. Huentata were the tour group and we have no problem recommending them.

Perhaps you can get more information on the web on the company and/or the tour.

Woodie

globetrots

Here's a story about setting it up locally. There are a few good companies in Mendoza you can deal with directly. Don't try to do it all on your own as you need an appointment at most of them and you'll drink better wine if it's through someone they know.
http://www.luxurylatinamerica.com/ar...a/mendoza.html

jamimayorga

Thank you for this information. Good to know that we should not try to venture out on our own.