1 Day Winetour Mendoza - The Grapevine

Your host picks you up from your hotel at 8.30am to visit three of our best wineries in the country. This region is considered to be the very home of Malbec, particularly the sub-regions of Agrelo and Perdriel, where the cost of land equates to the quality of the grapes. These two sub-regions epitomise “Terroir” made for the Malbec grape. They are about a thirty minute drive from the city centre, with a view of the majestic Andes mountains all the way. Our first visit will be to BENEGAS, Owner Federico Benegas Lynch has lovingly restored this 106 year old winery using hard-to-find “adobe” craftsmen, so that the building looks as it was, when built a century ago. Nothing old in his wine making skills though, except his vines all ranging from 30 to 80 years, the latter planted in the dry Mendoza riverbed. Has some very old Cabernet Franc descending from pre-phylloxera Bordeaux. Michel Rolland has a hand in this operation, probably more because it’s a chance for two “wine passionate” men to share the odd bottle. The tasting here includes their Benegas and Benegas Estripe lines. Another twenty minute drive and we will reach ENRIQUE FOSTER. Enrique Foster has taken little time to make a big impression on the local and international wine scene. The Spanish-American owner has declared it his ambition to create the best malbec coming out of Argentina and for this reason they produce nothing else but this dark varietal that seems to have found its home in this vineyard zone. With vines more than 80 years old and the winemaking genius of Mauricio Lorca, Foster have so far not disappointed. Their three lines, the young and fruity Ique, lush Reserva and big hearted Edition Limitada are all superb wines. The mid range Reserva is garnering the most attention however for its super intensity and near perfect harmony of fruit and wood. The winery is not open to tourism but visits are allowed by the winery`s discretion. From here we enjoy a partuclarly excellent lunch in TERRUÑO before returning to your hotel by 4.30pm.

Your host will pick you up from your hotel at 8.30am for a ninety minute drive down to this relatively new and very exciting valley, where great grapes, walnuts and various fruits grow in abundance. A totally different climate (sometimes difficult), varying elevations, even in the same vineyard and abundant sweet water provide winemakers with some of the best “terroir” they could wish for. Many of the oldest, together with the most modern and progressive wineries based up in the Lujan and Maipú regions have also planted vineyards in this valley simply because of the quality of its´ grapes. Our first visit will be to PULENTA ESTATE, located on the fringe of the Uco valley, the “El Chiche” vineyard and winery was established by two of the Pulenta brothers, Eduardo (junior) and Hugo. Originally the building was a warehouse, but has been skillfully transformed, with additional wings added. Gravity is a main feature of this winery, which benefits from the experience and wisdom of Eduardo (senior), who manages the daily operations. Two of their 2002 bottlings were rated in the top seventy wines coming from the South American continent...a sure sign of greatness in the making. The tasting here will include their Sauvignon Blanc,Gran Malbec, Cabernet Franc and their Gran Corte. A one hour drive will bring us to ANDELUNA, a 100% American owned, modern winery belonging to Herman Ward Lay of snack food fame. As well as being an architecturally pleasing building, it has one of the most harmonious and congenial visitor centres in the country, with beautiful views over the vines, and the Andes as a back-drop. Great photograph opportunity here, particularly when the vines are “fully dressed”. After a tour of the winery we all “sit at the bar” (we show the ladies how to do it!) and taste four wines, including two from the reserve line. This fine winery just won the Decanter Magazine unique Grand Trophy award for their Cabernet Franc Limited Edition 2003, in addition to a Gold Medal for their superb Pasionado Grand Reserve 2003, a great and well deserved brace of wins. From here we have a fifteen minute drive to ALTUS, a small, very rural winery that hosts a top quality restaurant BISTRO LA TUPIÑA, set in a very cleverly converted vineyard workers cottage. One of Mendoza´s most talented young chefs will give us a lunch to remember, keeping the glasses well and truly topped-up. A ninety minute drive will have you back into the city and your hotel by 6pm.

Your host picks you from your hotel at 9.30am for a twenty minute drive to the fringe of the Maipú region. This is the part of Mendoza where most of the early immigrants were settled, some arriving as far back as 1878 and it is here that their parcel of free land was located. Many of these new and welcome arrivals were from

Italy

. Consequently Maipú boasts as many Olive trees as vines. They even boast their own annual Olive Queen festival. Our first visit will be to BENEGAS, Owner Federico Benegas Lynch has lovingly restored this 106 year old winery using hard-to-find “adobe” craftsmen, so that the building looks as it was, when built a century ago. Nothing old in his wine making skills though, except his vines all ranging from 30 to 80 years, the latter planted in the dry Mendoza riverbed. Has some very old Cabernet Franc descending from pre-phylloxera Bordeaux. Michel Rolland has a hand in this operation, probably more because it’s a chance for two “wine passionate” men to share the odd bottle. The tasting here includes their Benegas and Benegas Estripe lines. A thirty minute drive will take us to CARINAE winery, once abandoned, but oh so lovingly restored by an absolutely charming French couple. That the owner is an avid star-gazer, with all his wines revolving around the constellation adds to the quality commitment these people amply display, re-enforced by the consultancy services provided by the one and only Michel Rolland. After a tour of the vineyard and winery we will taste two of their wines. A short drive will take us to ALMACEN DEL SUR, arguably Mendoza´s best restaurant, set in the middle of a market garden. This company grows their own vegetables, fruits and herbs, (many of which will be included in our lunch), processes and bottles them on-site, which we will see. Amongst their client list is HARRODS, of which they are rightly very proud. We will have a lunch “par excellence” there and then aim to have you back into your hotel by 4.30pm

Any of the above tours can be combined for a multi-day tour.

Transport from and to your hotel in first class chauffeur-driven vehicle.
Professional, bilingual wine host.
Visits and tastings at premium wineries with special tastings Lunch with wine.
Bottled mineral water for the journey

1 DAY PREMIUM WINE TOURS