May 29th, 2010 by admin

Argentina is fast becoming one of the world’s most respected producers of wine, and that’s thanks to the excellent bottles coming out of Mendoza, near the border with Chile in the Andes foothills.

=============
Article Content:


Argentina is fast becoming one of the world’s most respected producers of wine, and that’s thanks to the excellent bottles coming out of Mendoza, near the border with Chile in the Andes foothills.

Wine is only half the story in Mendoza, though. The area is a natural playground, with outdoor activities for everyone from couch potatoes to extreme sports junkies. That’s what makes it such a great vacation spot. One day you can indulge in all the wine and rich food you can consume, then work it off the next whitewater rafting, hiking and paragliding in the countryside.

Haciendas

For a city of its size, there are surprisingly few decent hotel options in Mendoza, but we did manage to find a couple that we’d recommend to any visitor.

The best known hotel in the city is the beautifully appointed Park Hyatt, which is right on the central Plaza Independencia. Not only is it in the heart of the city, but it’s got several fantastic restaurants, gorgeous rooms and even a casino if you’re so inclined, all for a fraction of the price of comparable properties in the U.S. and Europe.

Also on the Plaza is the Hotel Argentino, which lacks much character, but is still a good choice for those who want a central location.

The lovely little Hotel Villaggio is a 26-room boutique property right around the corner from the Hyatt, with all the modern amenities of the larger hotel, but not the corporate feel or the corporate room rates.

If you want to go even a little funkier, try the Bohemia Hotel Boutique, which is a few blocks away from the center and has only 11 rooms with contemporary touches like internet access, cable TV and a 24-hour reception.

Outside the city there are plenty of small luxury vineyard hotels and country cottages for rent, so if you’re not tied to the city, you will have tons of great options.



El Vino

We are about to share what will probably be your most important stop in Mendoza, and one of the best tasting rooms in the entire world: The Vines. We’re not exaggerating. If you are anything like us–meaning you’re an avid traveler who reads through several guidebooks on every destination they hit–no doubt you have bought your travel guides on Mendoza and the surrounding wine country. Perhaps you have even talked to your local wine shops about which vineyards and wineries you should visit. That is all wonderful, but before you make any decisions, we would suggest–very strongly suggest!–that you visit the Vines of Mendoza website and, under the “Mendoza Travel” section, consider their “Where to Taste” suggestions.

Not only does the site list each of the four major wine-producing appellations within the Mendoza region, but it succinctly discusses what makes each appellation specific and lists several wineries worth a visit in each place. Plus, they also have bodega (winery) tour itineraries for you to check out. They are organized by appellation, ratings, size of production and historical significance. The staff is also happy to suggest wine tour companies or help you set up your tour themselves.

The first thing you should do, however, is stop by the tasting room for one of their nightly tastings, get to know the young, dynamic and extremely friendly staff, and ask for their individual suggestions for everything from wineries to outdoor activities to restaurants. That’s what we did, and we got the best advice possible, including a tip to eat at the three restaurants below. Plus, they will taste the wines with you and encourage you to let them open vintages they have never tried, so it can all get rather cozily conspiratorial toward the end of the evening.



La Comida

All three restaurants we tried were within easy walking distance of the hotels we mentioned, though we’ll forewarn you that nighttime walking in Mendoza is actively discouraged apart from main thoroughfares since there is more street crime here than in B.A.

Azafran is on a well-trafficked street and serves up classic Argentine specialties without too much fuss. Everything is fresh, hot and delicious, and there is even outdoor dining on the bustling sidewalk.

Mi Tierra is a beacon of warmth and light on an otherwise deserted street, and is housed in a former mansion with several separate rooms serving as the dining area. Despite the fact that none of the main dishes were very impressive, we had the best smoked meats and cheeses plate we have ever eaten there, with game ranging from wild boar and rabbit to pheasant and even goat.

Our favorite restaurant by far was La Sal, which is just a couple blocks from The Vines and is part jazz club, part art gallery and all delicious restaurant where local specialties are given a nouvelle twist. We tried a juicy pork loin in an apple vanilla reduction that was just out of this world.

As with any region famous for its wine, though, Mendoza has a plethora of other great dining options, including the Italian Bistro M, Grill Q parilla at the Park Hyatt, and El 23 Gran Bar for tapas in a colonial house that has been refurbished with slick, modern furniture.

1884 Francis Mallman is a beautiful gourmet restaurant with a highly esteemed local chef, but if you’re more of a partier and want cheap eats on the way out to a night on the town, the bars and cafes of Avenida Villanueva Aristides will be more to your liking. We would give you individual suggestions, but we think it’s better if you head to the corner of V.A. and Avenida Belgrano and just walk west ’till you find one that you like amidst the crowds of 20-somethings enjoying the evening.

For dessert, try Helados Ferruccio Soppelsa for some of the best ice cream in Argentina–which is saying something!–that comes in combos like banana split and brownie dulce de leche, not to mention wine flavors like Malbec and Viognier. They’ve been in business since 1927, so they know what they’re doing.



Extreme Sports

Don’t worry about eating too much, since you’ll get the chance to work off all the food and wine taking advantage of the natural grandeur of the region. There are several outdoor extreme activities companies with offices throughout the city, especially around Plaza Independencia and the adjacent pedestrianized shopping street of Paseo Sarmiento.

You will find activities like rock climbing, hiking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, rappelling, ziplining, swimming and mountain biking, so just decide what sounds best and the company will take care of the rest, picking you up from your hotel and arranging your whole day for you–usually starting at about only . Some quick suggestions for tour companies would be Argentina Rafting Expediciones, Huentata and Rios Andinos all of which are fully safety certified.

Don’t have time to get out to the country? That’s okay, because Mendoza has one of the largest urban parks in the world: El Parque General San Martín, just a few minutes’ walk from the Plaza Independencia, so spend an afternoon wandering its leafy paths before heading elsewhere.

Just don’t mix your wine-tasting and outdoor activities all on one day. Trust us, it’s for your own good!

_________________

Wine at The Vines of Mendoza: Longhorndave
Villavicencio Hotel Ruins: Longhorndave
De hoja: A6u571N
Rafting – Rio Mendoza: Iguerra

———————