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Published: November 7th 2007
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Argentina has been the world’s fifth largest wine producer for some time now. I never knew this ...
(I just found out that the world’s first Barbie boutique was opened here recently and we actually saw the shop in Buenos Aires....oops back to the subject matter)
Since I arrived in Argentina six months ago, I've been very intimate with 'Malbec' wines (we have loads of wine corks to prove our seriousness in being wine connoisseurs) which this country is famous for.
I could not wait to visit Mendoza, Argentina's most important wine region to indulge in more of the goodness this place has in store.
Katharine and I took the over night 'Andesmar' bus which left Buenos Aires at 8pm and arrived in Mendoza city at 9.30am early the next morning. The Andesmar bus was by far the most amazing bus ride ever. We chose the 1st class category of seats which sat only six passengers at the bottom deck of this huge double decker bus. Our plush leather seats reclined all the way down into a bed. They had a bus attendant which served us dinner, breakfast, wine and champagne throughout the journey
and needless to say, we arrived
feeling like a million dollars.
Mendoza is well known for its dry and sunny climate which is only disturbed a few days in a year during spring brought about by the Zonda winds and this is considered by most in this province a blessing.
Well, guess what? We arrived smack on the 1st day of that blessed wet spring day. It was not really too wet but it did make us anticipate what the weather was going to be like the next few days when we were there.
Fortunately, the sun smiled at us during the next few days we were there and we had a great time.
Mendoza is home to approximately 690 wineries and they are distributed evenly via its systematic 'wine roads' or routes throughout Mendoza. We didn't take long to check out the wine scene here and booked a wine tour which took us to two bodegas or vineyards (one vineyard in Maipu area and another in Lujan de Cuyo) and got to exercise our experienced taste buds.
I was pretty sure they suspected we were not really there to listen to the process of how wine was made but more
to have our fill of "cheery spirits" from the unassuming but characterful Mendozian vino tinto.....
The tour also included a visit to the olive and dry fruit factory in which we learnt and tasted really fresh and tasty olive oil and fresh dried produce of tomatoes and raisins which was a journey for the senses. The last stop of the day was a liquor and chocolate factory. We brought back a small bottle of port and a bottle of herbal looking liquor (which was pretty tasty) for our amazing trip to the Andes mountain range the next day and to see Aconcagua the highest mountain in the Americas.
The full day tour of the mountains was to be the highlight of our trip.
We had great weather, got to see mountains covered with snow and most importantly caught the view of Andes mountain range and of course Aconcagua.
We made a stop at the famous campsite of the mountain range called Puente Del Inca also known as the Inca's bridge which is a bridge made by nature which sits over the Vacas river or better known as Mendoza river.
It was really cold out there even with the
Mendoza
In Cafe El Palenque... sun full on. Thankfully we were served with authentic Argentinean stew of lentils and meat which was home made goodness and perfect for that cold winter day....
The rest of the days and nights saw us walking through the beautiful parks (which was the same size as the entire town!), testing out bottles of Malbec goodness for the sake of increasing our knowledge of wines....as well as chowing down some good old Asado-barbequed meat of beef and chivito (goat). It was our first time trying a chivito and it did not disappoint us at all. There was a Mexican restaurant in Aristides Villanueva which was the best Mexican food since Mexico and El Palenque a little rustic cafe on the same busy street buzzing during the night for the party folk.
Katharine and I had great fun as usual, bringing home with us loads of wine filled memories of Mendoza which we will speak fondly of everytime we have that glass of wine.
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diane
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great photos as always!
You guys are amazing photographers! you really should capitalise on this.... then you can afford to drink more and be continue to be very merry!